Russian guy cycling around Asia has arrived in Vinh

(Baonghean.vn) - Without using any modern means of transport, with only his bicycle, Russian guy Igor Reva traveled 9000 km from Russia to Vietnam alone as part of the journey "Cycling to explore Asia with Igor".

Russian guy Igor Reva.

Dream around the world

With a passion for photography and filmmaking, Igor has long dreamed of traveling around the world. While working for a travel company in Russia, he began writing and making films with real stories from his trips and experiences. The more he traveled and wrote, the more Igor longed to travel around the world to find the stories he dreamed of.

Then, Igor accidentally met people with the same interests. One time, his group organized a bicycle trip from his hometown Omsk to Altai (a republic of Russia), a distance of 1626 km. "When I saw the waterfalls and majestic mountains here, I could not believe that I could overcome the distance by bicycle to set foot here." After that trip, it was the "springboard" for him to realize his great dream.

His mountain bike was his companion on the journey. He only brought a few sets of clothes, a tent, a sleeping bag, and food. And of course, a camera and support equipment.

Igor began planning his route and preparing the necessary equipment for his journey to explore Asia. On August 24, he began cycling from Russia to Mongolia, then through China, before arriving in Vietnam.

Unforgettable memories

“It was very difficult to get a visa to China because they asked very detailed questions. I had to wait a long time.” Because I was traveling alone, Igor encountered many difficulties on the way. “In the early days, I was almost exhausted because I had to cycle continuously. At night, I took the time to write a diary and make videos. Therefore, I only slept 2-3 hours,” Igor shared.

With limited funds, staying in motels or luxury hotels and eating delicious food are luxuries. Igor has to set up a tent to rest temporarily on the road, or if he is lucky, people will help him and let him stay at home temporarily.

People helped Igor when he arrived in Ha Long.

Cycling long distances is not easy, especially when encountering dangerous mountainous terrain and steep slopes. “Before riding on these terrains, I have to check very carefully, but sometimes I cannot foresee incidents. The bike slipping downhill and the brakes failing are normal things.” Weather is also a big factor. On nice, sunny days, he can cycle 80-100km, but on stormy days, he has to take many breaks. “On the way from Hanoi to Vinh, it rained heavily, the road was slippery and dirty. I can stand getting wet, but I am most afraid of my camera and computer getting soaked.”

For Igor, the bicycle is not only a means of transport, but also a close companion, so he takes great care of his “friend”. “Wherever I stop to rest, the first thing I do is wash the bike and oil it.”

Arriving in Vietnam, Igor visited Ha Long Bay and the capital Hanoi. “Ha Long Bay is very beautiful, a place worth visiting in life. I feel so lucky to be able to admire such spectacular scenery,” Igor excitedly shared.

"I was surprised when I visited President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, because it resembles Lenin's mausoleum."

His first impression when arriving in Hanoi was a cup of brown milk coffee and Hanoi’s specialty – bun cha. “Vietnamese coffee is delicious. Wherever I go, I like to eat bun cha, it’s filling, delicious, and cheaper than pho. The most feared dish is pig intestines.”

For Igor, Vietnamese people are friendly, hospitable, and willing to help. Here, he rarely has to set up a tent to sleep. He said, “The first day I arrived in Vietnam was Sunday. That day, I had no Vietnamese currency because all the banks were closed. Luckily, the coffee shop owner helped me find a place to eat, stay, and contact some Russians in Hanoi.”

Currently, Igor is in Vinh, he spends a day visiting the last city of Vietnam, before going to Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand. He hopes to discover interesting things and enjoy delicious food in Vinh city.

Igor is stopping in Vinh City before continuing his journey.

Traveling around the world is not too strange for modern young people. But traveling by bicycle is an arduous journey that sometimes makes Igor want to give up halfway, but thinking about his dream of conquering, he moves forward. “When you start traveling, you will have a very different view of the life around you. New countries open up before your eyes, you get to know new friends. You will have unforgettable feelings and impressions, gain invaluable life experiences. For me, that is more important than material values ​​or wealth”.

Igor Reva's plan is supported by his family and friends. Wherever he goes, he films and takes pictures. Currently, many people are following his journey on the Russian social network Vkontakt or his personal Youtube channel. There are also skeptics who do not believe in the success of his challenging and adventurous trip. But Igor Reva firmly believes in his abilities and hopes to be helped by good people. And there is no doubt that in this world, kind and generous people are still the majority.

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(Photo: Character provided; Phan Minh)