Hieu, who is self-employed, discovered his passion for exploring after his first guided tour to Singapore in 2018. He soon transitioned to independent travel, customizing itineraries, transport, and destinations. To date, he has visited more than 40 countries, including off-the-beaten-path regions rarely frequented by Vietnamese tourists.

Two minutes trapped inside smoke-filled car

In May 2025, Hieu and two friends embarked on a two-week trip through three West Asian countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia.

The group flew from Vietnam to New Delhi, India, where they spent a day before continuing to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. After exploring Azerbaijan, they traveled to Georgia, spending three days in Tbilisi before renting a car to visit Kazbegi and nearby destinations.

In Tbilisi, the group picked up another friend who was studying in Germany. As Hieu had not yet converted his driver's license into an international driving permit, they decided to let the new friend drive. However, the friend mainly traveled by public transport in Europe and had limited driving experience.

On the morning of May 8, 2025, while returning to Tbilisi after leaving Kazbegi, the group was involved in an accident on Jvari Pass. At an elevation of about 2,400 meters, it is the highest point on the Georgian Military Highway between Gudauri and Stepantsminda.

Hieu said the weather was harsh that day, with temperatures around minus 5 degrees Celsius, and rain and heavy snowfall, leaving the road slippery. The car was descending at about 50kph when the driver briefly lost concentration, crossed into the opposite lane and collided head-on with another vehicle.

“In an instant, I instinctively put both hands in front of my head. About a second later, all the airbags deployed, something I had never experienced before. The two friends sitting in the back panicked, screamed and rushed out of the car. The driver was also largely unhurt and quickly got out,” Hieu recalled.

Hieu, however, remained trapped in the front passenger seat because he could not release his seat belt. The front of the car near where he was sitting began emitting smoke, making him even more anxious. As he struggled to release the belt, images of a car exploding, like in a movie, kept running through his mind.

“I tried everything I could to release the belt. After about two minutes, it finally came loose and I managed to get out,” he recalled.

Once outside, the group quickly checked on the other vehicle and its driver. Fortunately, no one suffered serious injuries.

It was still freezing outside, with heavy snow continuing to fall. Hieu and one of his friends tried to contact local residents and police.

The police subsequently helped arrange a tow truck and an ambulance. The driver dealt directly with the car insurance company and received full coverage for the repair costs. The group signed a report with the police and paid a $100 fine, equivalent to around VND2.6 million.

The accident forced Hieu and his friends to cancel that day's itinerary. They took a taxi back to Tbilisi to rest and continued their journey the following day.

Hieu and his friends realized they had been too careless and had not adequately researched local traffic conditions.

“When traveling independently overseas, it is especially important to prepare information and contingency plans for unexpected incidents. On subsequent trips, I usually drove myself so I felt more secure, and I researched the route and read about other travelers' experiences. I also always buy travel and vehicle insurance,” he said.

West Asia remains region worth visit

Despite the accident, the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Armenia trip gave Hieu many memorable experiences.

In Azerbaijan, he was most impressed by the unusual mud volcanoes at Gobustan National Park. Small volcanic vents constantly bubble and spew cold mud and gases from underground across the arid landscape, creating the sensation of standing on another planet.

Yanar Dag, the “burning mountain” on the Absheron Peninsula, also fascinated Hieu. Natural flames rising from gases escaping from underground create a spectacle unlike anything he had seen on previous trips, he said.

In Georgia, Tbilisi is the place he most wants to return to. The capital impressed him with its good food, relatively affordable prices and friendly people.

During the trip, the destination that intrigued Hieu most was Akhtala Monastery in Lori Province, northern Armenia. Nestled in the mountains, the monastery features distinctive Armenian architecture and history and is associated with numerous fascinating legends.

Linh Trang