VietNamNet Bridge – Deranville Emmanuel’s family are no ordinary expats abroad.

Ten years ago, after traveling around Vietnam and worked as nurses in Can Tho General Hospital for about six months, Deranville (41) and his wife Lydie (35) from France embraced a profound love for Vietnam.

They promised that when they had kids they would come back.

Deranville Emmanuel, Lydie, Jules, Louise and Marius, pose for a photo with their tandem bicycles in HCMC’s District 1.

“To us, Vietnam is our second home where we always want to come back, however we thought that will be better if we make a bicycle tour around countries with our kids,” said Lydie.

Now with their kids grown up Jules, 9, Louise, 7, and Marius, 3, their dream has come true. Inspired from passion for travel, sports and family values, they started the three-in-one project from Indonesia. During six months, they cycled about 4,000 kilometers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Each day they biked from 60 kilometers to 90 kilometers then took a rest and discovered the new place they accessed.

Through trips, people may have many good memories, experiences as well as explorations. “However, traveling by bicycle, we have more chance to see the real things what we saw, the real country where we came, the real people who we met and the real life which we touched,” said Lydie. Her husband added that ‘The nice thing was that we were active in every activity, we could decide how long we wanted to stay in an interesting place, what food we wanted to eat and where we wanted to stay.”

In Vietnam, they departed from Xa Xia Border Gate in Ha Tien Township toi Tri Ton, Long Xuyen, Can Tho, Vinh Long, My Tho in the Mekong Delta and then to HCMC. As for fun, they said they have two teams: male team of Deranville Emmanuel and his oldest son Jules in tandem bike, and the female team of Lydie and daughter Louise. The father’s bike pulls together a small kids bike of Marius.

Bicycling with kids must be difficult, especially when the weather gets bad and different tastes of local foods or rough road sections. “My kids are very brave, they seem to be willing to take all chances and risk to discover as much as they can. They can eat every kind of foods on the street, play with local children where we passed and individually explore the new world,” said Lydie. She added that there was only one problem when Marius got sick in Indonesia and they had to delay their time there longer than expected.

In order for the children to continue their schooling, everyday the parents teach kids French grammar and mathematics.

On Sunday they left Vietnam to continue their journey in Australia for around one week, then two months in New Zealand, two months in New Celedonia and finally two months in the U.S. “First we were just excited to carry out our dream but finally we have felt the true happiness is that our family can stay together, bike, travel together, discover new things and share feelings together and learn more about culture, history and life values.

“To me, the happiest thing is looking at my brave kids coping with natural conditions, matured behavior, stronger and healthier by the sport and better in experienced knowledge,” said Lydie. While their parents shared their happiness’, the youngest son who so called ‘Mr. Happy’ also pulled up his sleeves and showed off his biceps and said “I am very strong.”

“I am very excited for our journey to explore many new things and I would be appreciated for my parents’ love, support and care. When I get older, I will make my own journey around the world by bicycle too,” said the oldest son Jules, who is always looked very calm, matured and obedient like a gentleman. Meanwhile the curly-haired Louise shared her idea “In Vietnam, the place I love most is Can Tho City where I tried to put on ao dai in many people’s praise and I have some very nice friends there.”

 Lydie said: “It couldn’t be better to have a light package, so riders no need to bring many cloths, just some T-shirts, shorts and a good pair of sandals and some medicines. In Asia, tourists don’t need to worry about food and accommodations, as there are many street foods and hotels, guest houses offered, sometime locals will welcome you to their houses, giving food and rooms to stay.”

Not being supported by any organizations, they do it their way.

 “Do what you dream and make up your happiness. In our way, we got many things the same dreams from traveling, spending time for family and getting healthy also and to us, that’s enough,” said Deranville.

Their journey is shared in detail in the website: www.cycloglobetrotters.com.

Source: SGT