Cao Le Tuan Tu, 41, of HCMC, said the idea came after he attended the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification in April.

Nguyen Xuan Duy (left) and Cao Le Tuan Tu walk across Vietnam after starting in HCMC on June 5.

He says: "I want to walk to fully experience my country and its people."

With no experience in long-distance walking, Tu knew he needed a companion for the 1,700-kilometer, three-month trek. Many friends dismissed his idea as unrealistic, others declined due to poor fitness or personal commitments.

Just as he prepared to set off alone, Tu received a call from Nguyen Xuan Duy, 21, a student from Nam Dinh, who offered to join. After a few conversations, Duy flew down to HCMC ready to take on the challenge.

He says: "I am young and want to explore the country in my own way. I was lucky to meet Tu, someone who shares the same vision."

They trained briefly before setting out. Each carried a 10-kilogram backpack with clothes, personal items, medicine, raincoats, reserve food, and a small tent in case they cannot find lodging. Their trip is self-funded.

On June 5 they set out from the Independence Palace with red flags fixed to their backpacks, heading up National Highway 1A. Tu chose the same date President Ho Chi Minh did to start his journey to liberate the country.

The first few days were the hardest, unaccustomed as they were to the intense activity, with their feet quickly blistering and the 10-kilogram bags weighing down their steps after 10–12 hours of walking. Every evening Tu would search for the most affordable lodging through online apps.

"I have traveled to many places around the world, but this is the first time I know what true hardship is," he says.

They encountered the central region’s scorching 40-degree heat. Heat from the asphalt below drained their energy, and steep slopes strained their calves and backs.

"We were tired but never thought of quitting. We kept pushing each other forward."

After 20 days their bodies adjusted, the pains eased, their pace steadied, and they began to enjoy the trip.

They planned to pass through a province or city every one to three days. Larger provinces like Khanh Hoa and Ha Tinh took up to six days. Along the way they stopped at war cemeteries and historical sites.

During the trip, strangers offered encouragement, water, meals, and even fruits from their gardens, with children waiting by the roadside for hours to hand them mangoes or avocados.

Tuan Tu (left) and Xuan Duy take a break at President Ho Chi Minh’s hometown Nghe An in early August 2025.

Their most memorable encounter was with a scrap collector in Quang Tri Province. Seeing them drenched in sweat, she thought they were in trouble and rummaged through her pockets for money to give them.

"I kept explaining that we were walking across Vietnam, but she may have misheard it as ‘looking for work’ and felt sorry for us," Tu says.

"Before we left, she gave us her number and told us to call if we needed food or shelter. We nearly cried."

On August 11 Tu and Duy reached Nam Dan, Nghe An, and have another 270 kilometers left to reach Hanoi. They plan to arrive on August 24 to join the activities ahead of the parade.

Their journey will not end there. They plan to cycle back from Hanoi to HCMC, but have no schedule yet.

"We will revisit the places we passed to thank the kind-hearted people who kept our journey going," Tu says.

"No matter where I go or what I do, I am always proud to be Vietnamese and will keep moving forward as long as I can."

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