Planning for long trips and travel is not something that everyone can do, especially when it is a trip abroad. With a passion for exploring new lands, Mr. Le Tran An (36 years old, Dong Nai) has made a very detailed plan to complete a trip through 3 countries: India - Pakistan - China.
The reason for Mr. An's trip is very special, related to a 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 Xuanzang (Tang Tam Tang) who returned to the land of Buddha to practice thousands of years ago,” he said.
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 the 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 one and a half month solo trip left the male tourist with many special emotions and experiences. Each country impressed An with its different cultures and natural landscapes.
“India is a multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious country. It is both modern and backward, rich and poor. The majestic nature of India stretches across many types of terrain, and the climate in each region is also very different, some places are hot, some are warm, some are cold. In short, India can be summed up in one word: diverse,” Mr. An affirmed.
On 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 autumn 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, causing many difficulties in people's lives.
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 Hua, Jiayu Pass, Crescent Spring... overwhelmed him with its natural scenery and 5,000 years of culture and history.
“What impressed me the most was Xinjiang, a place with a vast 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.
However, Mr. An also affirmed that inconveniences and difficulties are inevitable when traveling independently, especially when going through countries like India and Pakistan.
Because he had to go to many places with unstable security and politics, Mr. An had to constantly go through checkpoints, declare, show his visa, passport, have his luggage scanned... Many roads were even blocked because of protests or separatist groups carrying out bombings.
In addition, the places Mr. An passed through were rural areas with a majority of poor working class people, so food hygiene and safety were not given much attention. Other services such as Wi-Fi, phone signal, electricity and water... were all extremely limited.
He said he adapted quite quickly and didn't think it was a big problem: "I go with the motto "like everyone else, like me" so I don't feel too miserable."
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 trip or travel for a long time, you should also collect the latest information about the countries you will visit such as the political situation, culture, weather, etc.
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do. You have to adapt to the culture of the host country, obey their laws, and endure deprivation and hardship because this is not a resort or medical treatment in Europe,” Mr. An affirmed.
Although he has successfully completed a solo trip that lasted 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 easier for everyone to support each other.
“If you go alone, you must plan carefully and in detail, and have a backup plan. In case of difficulty, you must stay calm and confident, do not panic, and slowly find a way to overcome the difficulty,” the male tourist shared.
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'm a guy, I can sleep on the train and eat simply. The expenses that cost me the most are probably travel expenses, motorbike rentals, and tickets to visit places in China," said 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 wish to make this journey again, however in the opposite direction from China to Pakistan, India.
“To me, these are wonderful countries, with majestic nature, diverse cultures, religions, ethnicities, and gentle, simple and extremely kind people,” he said.
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.
