Before setting off on the cross-country journey with his 11-year-old son, Trieu Thai Huy, born in 1980 and living in Can Tho, had many concerns. He worried about possible motorbike breakdowns, about the harsh heat in central Vietnam, and about unexpected storms, floods and landslides in mountainous areas. Above all, he worried that his son might struggle with the demanding journey and fail to adapt quickly to the harsh weather along the 2,200km route.

But those concerns did not make him abandon his plan to explore the country with his son. Huy spent about three months studying the route, preparing solutions for possible problems and servicing the motorbike. The father and son also took several shorter trips around the Mekong Delta to get used to traveling together.

Huy said he wanted his son to have a meaningful summer filled with experiences - to travel, stay active and see for himself places he had previously known only from books.

Heat, flat tire and moments when they wanted to give up

Huy thoroughly checked the motorbike, reinforced the rear storage area and installed a rack to carry a small bicycle for his son, Trieu Nguyen Nhut Khang, born in 2015. When the weather was pleasant, Khang would ride the bicycle, both exercising and taking in the scenic roads. 

The father and son chose to travel slowly, around 200-250km a day. They usually set off at 5am to avoid the heat and, by 4pm, would look for a beach where they could play and cool off. Huy prioritized stopping in towns or residential areas near the sea.

“Even when we set off early, the summer heat in central Vietnam was still a major challenge for us. On some days in July, we had to ride at midday and were completely exhausted,” Huy said.

Khang also had moments when he wanted to give up. After hours on the road, fatigue, back pain and body aches made the boy much less enthusiastic than he had been at the start. At such times, Huy did not pressure his son to keep going. Instead, he found a place for Khang to rest and gently encouraged him.

One of the incidents Huy remembers most clearly happened on an isolated stretch of road in Ha Tinh. The motorbike suddenly suffered a flat tire under the scorching sun, with no repair shop nearby. The father and son had to push the bike for more than 4km before finding a place to repair the tire.

When they reached the northern mountainous region, they faced the rainy season, with a high risk of flooding and landslides.

From Can Tho, Huy's wife and family kept track of the father and son and encouraged them. Every day, Huy updated his family on where they were, what they had eaten and how they were resting.

It was not only relatives who cared about them. Strangers they met along the way also showed their kindness and affection. On one occasion, they stopped at a guesthouse near the sea in Thanh Hoa, where Huy was quoted a room rate of around VND700,000 a night. When the owner learned that the father and son were traveling across Vietnam, they voluntarily cut the room price in half. In Ha Giang, another guesthouse owner also gave a significant discount.

Such acts of kindness made their journey warmer and more memorable.

The promise after 2,200km journey

Along the way, the father and son visited landmarks featured on Vietnamese banknotes, including Cau Pagoda in Hoi An, Da Nang, Phu Van Lau in Hue, the village where President Ho Chi Minh was born in Nghe An, and the Temple of Literature and Khue Van Cac in Hanoi.

The 11-year-old's favorite destination was the Mui Dai Lanh area. Khang leisurely rode his bicycle while enjoying the clear blue water, fine white sand and pristine surroundings.

Huy also often took Khang to local markets and casual eateries instead of only places catering to tourists. He said this helped his son learn more about local food and people's daily lives.

Hanoi was the destination Khang looked forward to most. To fulfill his son's wish, Huy found his way to Huong Lien bun cha restaurant on Le Van Huu Street, where former US President Barack Obama had dinner in 2016.

After 20 days, the father and son completed their cross-country motorbike journey, covering around 2,200km at a total cost of about VND20 million.

Linh Trang