Vietnamese tourist travels alone for 45 days from India to China
Báo Lao Động•02/12/2024
Mr. Le Tran An (36 years old, Dong Nai) had a memorable backpacking trip through 3 countries: India - Pakistan - China for 45 days.
Planning long trips and tours is not something that everyone can do, especially when it is a trip abroad. With a passion for exploring new lands, Le Tran An (36 years old, Dong Nai) has made a very detailed plan to complete the trip through 3 countries: India - Pakistan - China. The reason for An's trip is very special, related to the character in the novel "Journey to the West" by Ngo Thua An. "I have dreamed of taking this trip for a long time. This is a journey along the famous Silk Road, following the footsteps of the monk Huyen Trang (Tang Tam Tang) to find the land of Buddha to practice thousands of years ago", he said. Mr. An affirmed that the journey through 3 countries India - Pakistan - China has been his dream for a long time. Photo: NVCC The journey started from Ladakh to Kashmir (India) then circled back to Amritsar to enter the city of Lahore (Pakistan). From here, he continued to the capital Islamabad of Pakistan and took a bus to Hunza Valley. Following the Karakoram Highway, the male tourist entered China, entered the Southern Xinjiang region to the Northern Xinjiang region, then went to Gansu, Shaanxi, Beijing. The total road distance was about 15,000 km. The solo trip lasted a month and a half, leaving the male tourist with many special emotions and experiences. Each country impressed Mr. An with its different cultures and natural landscapes. “India is a multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious country. This place is both modern and backward, both rich and poor. The majestic nature of India stretches across many types of terrain, the climate of each region is also very different, some are hot, some are warm, some are cold. In short, India can be summed up in one word: diversity,” Mr. An affirmed. India is a country with an extremely diverse culture. Photo: NVCC During this trip, the male tourist also had a completely different view of Pakistan - a country that often makes tourists feel wary. "Pakistani people are extremely friendly and hospitable, always helping me when I have difficulties. Hunza Valley in the fall is extremely beautiful, no different from the Garden of Eden," he said. The male tourist expressed regret that political instability has hindered the development of this country with great tourism potential, making people's lives very difficult. The 40-day trip through 3 countries allowed Mr. An to admire the majestic natural landscapes. Photo: NVCC However, of the three countries, China is the place that left the deepest impression on the male tourist. Places such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, Mount Huashan, Jiayu Pass, Crescent Springs... overwhelmed him with its natural scenery and 5,000 years of culture and history. “The most impressive thing for me is still Xinjiang, a place with a large area and extremely majestic nature. When I arrived, snow was falling on the forests, so the scenery was as beautiful as in a fairy tale. Xinjiang culture is a blend of East and West, the Uyghur people have a blend of Asian and European elements, so they have a very unique beauty,” said the male tourist. China is a place that left a deep impression on the male tourist. Photo: NVCC However, An also affirmed that inconveniences and difficulties are inevitable when traveling independently, especially when going through countries like India and Pakistan. Because he went to many places with unstable security and politics, An had to constantly go through checkpoints, declare, show visas, passports, have his luggage scanned... Many roads were even blocked because of protests or separatist groups carrying out bombings. In addition, the places An went through were rural areas with the majority of poor working class, so food hygiene and safety were not given much attention. Other services such as Wi-Fi, phone signals, electricity and water... were all extremely limited. He said he adapted quite quickly and did not think this was a big problem: "I traveled with the criterion "like others, like me" so I did not feel too miserable". Although he encountered many difficulties and inconveniences on the way, he always kept in mind "as others are, so am I" so he never felt miserable or uncomfortable. Photo: NVCC To make the trip go smoothly, Mr. An has prepared both physically and mentally and financially. He affirmed that if you intend to go on a backpacking or long-term trip, tourists should also collect the latest information in the countries you will pass through, such as the political situation, culture, weather, etc. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do, you must adapt to the culture of the other country, obey the laws of the country, endure deprivation and hardship because this is not a resort or healing trip in Europe", Mr. An affirmed. Although he has successfully completed a solo trip for more than 40 days, Mr. An believes that traveling in a large group is still the best option. This not only helps save costs but also makes it convenient for everyone to support each other. "If you go alone, you must plan carefully, in detail, and have a backup plan. In case of difficulty, you must be calm and confident, do not panic, slowly find a way to overcome the difficulty", the male tourist shared. Mr. An still encourages tourists to travel in groups to support each other on the way. Photo: NVCC Mr. An shared that the entire trip cost about 50 - 55 million VND, including airfare, visa, accommodation and other travel fees. "I spend very frugally, making the most of public transportation. Because I am a man, I can sleep on the train and eat simply. The expenses that cost me the most were probably the travel expenses, renting a motorbike and buying tickets to visit China," said Mr. An. To save money, many times the male tourist had to take a dilapidated bus through mountainous terrain and dangerous abysses. The male tourist expressed his desire to do this journey again, but in the opposite direction from China to Pakistan and India. "To me, these are wonderful countries, with majestic nature, diverse cultures, religions, ethnicities, and extremely kind and gentle people," he said. 50 - 55 million VND is the amount of money Mr. An spent on a long trip along the famous Silk Road. Photo: NVCC Besides, he also has the intention of traveling through Beijing - Inner Mongolia (China) - Mongolia - Russia. However, the male tourist still needs more time to prepare the cost as well as the detailed plan.
Comment (0)