Young man cycled from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in 16 days to watch the April 30 parade

Joining in the bustling atmosphere of the whole country celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), Dao Quang Ha (24 years old, Thai Binh) decided to ride a bicycle from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City to watch the parade with his own eyes.

On April 5, Quang Ha set off from Hanoi with an old bicycle equipped with a bright red national flag fluttering in the wind.

He cycled through the provinces of Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. On April 9, he arrived in Ha Tinh and said that if all went according to plan, he would arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on April 21.

Dao Quang Ha and his old bicycle on his cycling journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Character provided).

Quang Ha said that during the first 3 days of the journey, because his body was not yet used to the rhythm of movement, his knee hurt. At that time, he thought he would have to give up. However, after seeing a doctor and taking medicine, the pain went away and Quang Ha was able to continue the journey.

Quang Ha said he came up with the idea of ​​cycling to Ho Chi Minh City about half a month before his departure date. It didn’t take him too much time to prepare for the trip, as he only needed to bring some clothes, basic supplies, and repair his old bicycle.

"The bike I used for the trip was my grandfather's old bike. Many people who travel long distances by bike will choose a sports bike or an off-road bike, but I chose to ride my grandfather's bike because he loved me very much when he was alive.

"He passed away when I was in 7th grade, I haven't done anything for him yet. When I ride in his car, I feel like I'm taking him out, always having him by my side," Quang Ha shared.

Quang Ha has had many impressive trips across Vietnam (Photo: Character provided).

The 24-year-old man also shared that his cycling journey this time was supported by his relatives and friends, because this was not the first time he had made a long trip alone.

He once traveled across Vietnam by motorbike and walked across Vietnam for more than half a year to explore the beautiful natural scenery and impressive cultural features throughout the country.

Notably, during his cross-Vietnam walking trip in 2024, Quang Ha stopped in Dien Bien province on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory (May 7, 1954 - May 7, 2024).

At that time, he not only witnessed the people cheering and waving flags to warmly welcome the parade groups on the street, but also contributed by helping to transport speakers to play music to help the parade group.

Quang Ha supports the transportation of music speakers to accompany the parade (Photo: Screenshot).

"In Dien Bien, I used to ride a motorbike, carrying a loudspeaker to play music following the parade, marching during training. Since then, many people have known me and jokingly said that I was the "loudspeaker carrier", my image also brought a lot of laughter to everyone.

That's why, when they knew I would be in Ho Chi Minh City this time, many people made plans to come and take souvenir photos with the "speaker carriers" (laughs). For me, being cared for and loved by everyone is a lucky thing," Quang Ha shared.

Quang Ha also said he is enjoying his journey, hoping to participate in many activities towards the anniversary, having fun and emotional days in the city named after Uncle Ho.

"When I arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, I will also experience staying at local people's houses like in previous trips. I think this will contribute to highlighting the spirit of national solidarity and spreading the love and help of Vietnamese people," Quang Ha shared.

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/chang-trai-dap-xe-tu-ha-noi-vao-tphcm-trong-16-ngay-de-xem-dieu-binh-304-20250410154802313.htm