Vietnamese tourist spends 220 million VND on motorbike trip across China in 30 days

(Dan Tri) - During his 30-day journey, the total distance Trung conquered across China was 12,000km. On average, he drove 500km per day, but the longest day was up to 1,200km.

Spend 35 million VND to bring motorbike to China

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Trung (currently living and working in Hanoi) has had a passion for motorbikes and conquering roads for over 10 years. Having traveled all over the country, the more he traveled, the more he wanted to step out into the world. China is one of the places he wants to conquer the most because of its rich history and culture, diverse landscapes and the advantage of being close to Vietnam.

With a passion for motorbike travel, Trung decided to fulfill his dream of conquering roads in China.

After the trip to Yunnan in 2023, Mr. Trung made a long-term plan to bring his motorbike to the neighboring country. The expected backpacking route is more than 12,000km long, passing through many types of terrain across China, from Yunnan through Tibet, the Dunhuang desert (Gansu province) to Sichuan and then back to Yunnan to Laos and Vietnam. 3 months before the trip, he contacted a tour company to provide services to transport the motorbike and apply for a license to drive in China. When entering the host country, the local police will issue the Vietnamese guest a temporary driver's license and a temporary license plate with a period corresponding to his visa. In addition, he also has to prepare a permit to enter Tibet (issued when entering China). Foreign guests will use this permit to go through checkpoints on the registration system. All procedures take about 2 months with a total cost of about 35 million VND.

Before the trip, he prepared full luggage and solid physical foundation.

A month-long trip requires careful preparation. He took his "horse" for a general maintenance and prepared a pair of spare tires. But then, he found a place in China where they could change tires, so he didn't bring them anymore. However, the cost of replacing spare parts in China is about 30% more expensive than in Vietnam. Along with that, the Vietnamese guest prepared his health and endurance because the journey would pass through many areas with very harsh weather. The car passed through places where the temperature dropped to minus degrees Celsius until entering the scorching desert, passing through areas with an altitude of about 4,000m above sea level, so he could suffer from altitude sickness. Functional foods and brain-nourishing blood circulation drugs were indispensable items. After completing the licensing procedures, in September, Mr. Trung set off with a mixture of excitement and nervousness in his mind.

China is a paradise for backpackers.

Driving from Hanoi to Dien Bien, Trung crossed the border into Laos. At Boten town in Luang Namtha province (Laos), he arrived at the border gate to enter China. Here, the police issued him the necessary permits and explained the traffic laws.

The transportation system in China makes Vietnamese visitors fascinated.

"The feeling of sitting on a familiar horse, rushing on highways or through tunnels and mountains makes me excited. The transportation system in China is great, a paradise for motorcycle enthusiasts. Only when passing fixed stations, do passengers have to stop for document checks. I usually drive at a speed of 100km/h to 120km/h in accordance with local traffic laws," the Vietnamese passenger excitedly shared. The first stop on the journey was the specialty tea growing area of ​​Yunnan province - Pu'er. This place is famous for the tea of ​​the same name. After that, he continued traveling 500km to Dali, a land of lush fruit trees all year round with nostalgic architecture. Moving to the Yunnan plateau, he arrived at the ancient town of Lijiang located at an altitude of about 2,400m. At this altitude, he gradually got used to the thinner air.

Religious buildings in Tibet are magnificent.

On average, the guest drives about 500km per day. There was a day when he reached a record of 1,200km with more than 13 hours of continuous driving. But for him, it was a passion, so he did not find it difficult. Finishing the journey in Yunnan, Mr. Trung officially set foot in Tibet. This is a place where foreign visitors must have a permit to access. But from here, traveling becomes much more difficult due to the complex terrain and thinner air. Mr. Trung will always remember the memory of going through a long stretch of road and bad terrain on the G219 highway, the 840km long Qinghai - Tibet section. Local people said that at night, there will be many black bears appearing in this area. They often wander out onto the main road to beg for food. Hearing that, the Vietnamese guest became even more curious to witness this moment. But unfortunately, he did not encounter it. In return, the next morning when he continued driving on the road, an image from another planet appeared before his eyes, making Mr. Trung burst into amazement.

Step into the Dunhuang desert like another world.

On both sides of the road, there were many wild animals running around, such as deer, ground squirrels, otters, and wild sheep. This area is the core of the reserve, so the appearance of many wild animals is familiar to the locals. But for Mr. Trung, everything was too strange. The deeper he went into Tibet, the more different scenes appeared. This is a land with a long-standing Buddhist culture with many architectural works designed on a very majestic scale. Along with that, the roads became more and more dangerous every day, and the air became colder and thinner. The scenery in Tibet made him feel like he was lost in another world. Witnessing the Potala Palace, the tallest palace in the world, which owns thousands of beautiful statues, the Vietnamese visitor felt even smaller. This place also has monasteries hidden deep in the mountains, completely isolated from the outside world.

Travel a day, learn a basket of knowledge

Leaving Tibet to head straight to the Dunhuang desert on a 400km journey, the Vietnamese tourist drove his motorbike continuously. The route seemed to have no stops and both sides were covered with sand.

Scenery in Jiuzhaigou as autumn approaches.

Going deep into the desert is like stepping into the land of Mars. The space is vast and deserted. During the day, the outside temperature is very hot, but at night the difference is very large, only 6-7 degrees Celsius. Tourists who want to stay overnight in the desert can rent a hostel or a spherical house designed like in a science fiction movie. The rental price of the accommodation is not expensive, about one million/room per night for 2 people. On the way back, Mr. Trung visited Chongqing, Top 10 largest megacities in China. The Vietnamese tourist was overwhelmed by the traffic system and planning of this city. Because Chongqing's terrain is very different, built on a complex mountainous area, the traffic system here is not like other cities. "This is a place where you can see people driving or walking outside your window even if you live on the 10th floor of an apartment building. Traffic here is so complicated that anyone going out on the street must carry a GPS device to find the exit or destination," said Mr. Trung.

Hongya Cave is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chongqing.

In Sichuan, Mr. Trung cannot miss Jiuzhaigou, a strictly protected reserve. Although this is the most popular destination, the local tourism is very good and there is almost no trash around. "Each journey is an endless source of knowledge for me to experience and learn. I admire the way China does professional tourism while preserving nature very well. This is also an opportunity for me to enjoy diverse cuisine in many regions. For me, only the food in Tibet is a bit difficult to adapt to, but other places are quite delicious," he commented. And this trip is also an opportunity for the Vietnamese guest to expand his knowledge and learn many things about the world around him because what he had grasped before was small. The trip lasted 30 days, the guest estimated that he spent about 220 million VND, not including gas costs. Gasoline alone costs about 550,000 VND per day. He often fills up with 98 gasoline, which is more expensive than in Vietnam. "It's great to be able to visit places that I only knew about through books or movies. The most valuable thing about each trip is the experience and knowledge. These are things that are difficult to measure with money. I will definitely continue to pursue this passion," the Vietnamese tourist confided.

Photo: Nguyen Ngoc Trung

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Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/khach-viet-chi-220-trieu-dong-phuot-mo-to-khap-trung-quoc-trong-30-ngay-20241222170939062.htm