Couple walks 1,500km from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi to attend National Day

On the morning of June 5, at the Independence Palace, Tuan Tu (41 years old, self-employed in Ho Chi Minh City) and Xuan Duy (20 years old, university student) put on their backpacks, put on their cloth hats, and shoes... and began their journey of walking more than 1,500km with about 3 million steps, to Hanoi to attend the 80th anniversary of National Day on September 2.

"Before leaving, we did not train physically like many others, we were very comfortable and not worried," Tuan Tu shared with Dan Tri reporter.

The first 10 days were hard, with blisters on my feet.

Having set foot in more than 25 countries around the world , Tuan Tu has not had the opportunity to fully admire the beauty of every region of the country.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day, he wanted to walk along National Highway 1A to the capital to visit President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, immersing himself in the bustling atmosphere of the great holiday.

After coming up with the idea, from the beginning of 2025, Tuan Tu searched for a companion to conquer the challenge. Although he knew the walking journey was very harsh, Xuan Duy agreed to participate because he was on summer vacation.

In their backpacks, each person had 5 sets of clothes, some personal items, a tent, a pair of sandals and a pair of shoes. From the beginning of their journey, Tuan Tu and Xuan Duy always carried the red flag with a yellow star on their backpacks.

"We cherished and preserved the flag throughout the journey to show our national pride and patriotism. Because generations of our ancestors shed so much blood to bring peace and independence to the country as it is today," Tuan Tu confided.

According to him, the first 10 days were the hardest. Because they were not used to walking under the sun and did not know how to divide the distance, there were times when both of them were almost exhausted.

On the first day of the journey, the couple traveled 23km from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to Di An, Binh Duong province (old). After finishing dinner, the two boys fell asleep with blistered feet and aching bodies.

"We had to buy pain relief patches and put extra insoles in our shoes to help reduce the pain.

At that time, the fatigue was similar to that of a new bodybuilder. Without determination, the two of us could easily get discouraged and give up," Tuan Tu said.

After 2 weeks, the couple got used to the pace of travel and knew how to allocate their energy and time appropriately. The pain in their legs disappeared and they felt more relaxed to enjoy the scenery and chat with the locals.

On this journey, Tuan Tu was the one who planned the travel. After dinner, he spent time drawing the route for the next day, determining the resting points with the goal of traveling 20-22km/day.

"Every day, my companion and I have 3 main breaks for breakfast, lunch and dinner before returning to our accommodation, not to mention small breaks lasting 15-20 minutes to help cool down our bodies. We just encourage each other to try to achieve the set target to return to the capital before September 2nd," he said.

Regarding the cost of the entire trip, he revealed that the two of them spent 300,000 VND/day. Of which, the couple chose a simple breakfast of sticky rice or bread, lunch and dinner with ordinary rice for about 30,000 VND/meal, the remaining amount was used to rent a motel.

"This is not a vacation trip, so we prioritized choosing a motel with a fan and no air conditioning to save costs. Some motel owners knew the meaning of the trip so they decided to reduce the price, which made us very happy," he confided.

Touched by the feelings of people along the way

As of August 12, Tuan Tu and Xuan Duy have entered the 69th day of their walking trip. The two are traveling through Nghe An province.

Initially, the couple planned to arrive in Hanoi in early September. At the current pace, Tuan Tu and his companion are expected to arrive in the capital on August 23, about a week earlier than expected.

After more than 2 months of diligent walking, the couple’s faces were dark, their arms and legs were tanned and they were thinner. However, their eyes still shone with pride and determination.

On social networks, there are some comments that walking thousands of kilometers is a form of torture for the body. Tuan Tu believes that each person has a different way of experiencing life.

"This year, I am 41 years old, and I no longer have the opportunity to walk thousands of kilometers across the country. This is the right time to return to the capital to participate in a big, important and meaningful event of the country," Tuan Tu said.

Recalling the past journey, the couple felt proud to see the lives of people in many provinces and cities. Simple landscapes such as rice fields, village roads or sunset... sometimes forgotten because of the hustle and bustle of life were imprinted in their minds.

According to Tuan Tu, the journey through old Phu Yen (now Dak Lak) with many steep passes and experiencing the hot sun and Lao wind in Ha Tinh were the two most difficult challenges.

"The more we traveled, the healthier we felt. We didn't want to stop because we were used to traveling on the road every day," Tuan Tu said.

In addition to the natural scenery, the simplicity of the local people also moved the two. The help from bottles of water to food from the locals gave them the energy to keep going.

Tuan Tu still remembers, on the way through Quang Tri on a hot summer afternoon, seeing two young men walking unsteadily, a woman returning from a funeral hurriedly shared her sticky rice, fruit and some snacks.

"Seeing us sweating profusely, the woman went into a local's house to ask for more water to drink. Until now, we still remember her gentle face, simple smile and thoughtful care," he said.

Tuan Tu and Xuan Duy are expected to end their trip at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, participate in National Day activities on September 2 and visit some famous places. Although the date of their return to Ho Chi Minh City has not been set, the couple plans to make the return trip by bicycle.

"We want to come back to say thank you to the kind people we met along the way. They are the source of encouragement and joy that helped us forget the fatigue of the journey of more than 1,500km," Tuan Tu confided.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/doi-ban-di-bo-3-trieu-buoc-chan-tu-tphcm-ra-ha-noi-du-le-quoc-khanh-20250812215003457.htm