Cycling through Vietnam for a cause

Online Travel Vietnam: Cyclist Nguyen Manh Hien has embarked on a journey biking through Vietnam to raise awareness on environmental issues and HIV prevention.

Having recently completed his 3rd year at Hai Phong's Maritime University, Nguyen Manh Hien, 22 years old, a Hai Duong native, decided to spend his summer holiday to carry out a dream that he had planned on since his first summer at the university - cycling through Vietnam, all the way from Hai Phong to Ca Mau in 21 days.

Hien set off on June 27, 2010 and now has made it more than half way into his 2,400 kilometre journey. Hien stops to rest every now and then, and takes that opportunity to meet up with local volunteering groups to talk about the purpose of his trip and distribute materials on environmental protection and HIV prevention.

Moving to Hai Phong to attend university three years ago, Hien has since become an active member of different environmental clubs and his participation in these clubs has enabled him to become more aware and want to take actions for a better environment, he says.

In order to prepare for this special journey, Hien started his physical training since his days as a freshman at the university. Besides a daily running routine, he cycled home once a month - a distance of 60 kilometres to Hai Duong.

For this trip, Hien starts his day at 4.30 am doing volunteer work then begins cycling at 7 am, setting a destination goal that he tells himself to achieve before the end of each day, no matter what obstacles, including heat or rain. Everyday, Hien cycles about 120 kilometres, stopping only for lunch and rest at around 8 or 9 pm. He sleeps either at a friend's house, a temple or a local volunteer's place.

With this journey, Hien wants to send a message to young people that anything can be done with sheer determination and willpower.

Here are some pictures of Nguyen Manh Hien during his cycling trip through Vietnam.

To buy the VND 2.8 million (USD 145) racing bicycle that Hien is using to make his journey through Vietnam, Hien had to borrow money from a friend, and even that amount wasn't enough. He still owes the bike shop owner an amount of VND 500,000 (USD 25) Hien had to work part-time and borrow money in order to pay for all the costs he incurs during this trip; including food, phone top-up cards, money to photocopy materials and money to buy water (Hien drinks about 10 litres of water everyday). Hien has received a small amount of financial support from Phat Minh Temple and an official in the power industry of Hai Phong

Source: Dtinews.