Le Thi Viet Ha's cycling journey from Can Tho to Hanoi to watch the parade and parade to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2 was simple, packing only a few sets of clothes, a scarves and some essential household items.
On July 24, Ha began her alone cycling journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. Initially, the young girl from Dong Nai (old Binh Phuoc) planned to take a plane, but after the company created conditions for her to work online, Ha came up with the idea of cycling across Vietnam to experience each route of the country herself.
Born into a family with a revolutionary tradition, Ha's grandfather worked as a deliveryman during the war; worked as a driver for the army, his mother and aunt were both teachers and party members.
Ha said that her mother was a very patriotic person. She often sings a song that reminds her: "Don't ask what the Fatherland has done for us, but ask what we have done for the Fatherland today". This motivated the young girl to choose to cycle across Vietnam, which was also a way for Ha to "recall history", showing gratitude to the previous generation.
On the journey, a special mark comes right from the very beginning. Starting the trip on July 24 to July 27 - War Invalids and Martyrs Day, Ha stopped at Ho Chi Minh City Cemetery to burn incense in memory. Since then, in any locality she has set foot, she has visited the martyrs' cemetery to express gratitude. He was especially moved when he burned incense at the house of Vietnamese Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Thu.
What Ha received most during this trip was gratitude. "Before leaving, I just thought that I was a Vietnamese person, my generation's generation, burning incense for the heroic martyrs as a way of gratitude. But when I went to each cemetery with my own eyes, listened to the explanations, and learned about the battles, I truly absorbed the great sacrifice and loss. The more I went, the more grateful I became," Ha said emotionally.
Ha's journey is meaningful but also full of challenges. Having to face storm No. 5, the old bicycle was constantly damaged: sometimes off the chain, sometimes in a hurricane. "S shoes are torn and tires are constantly changed, but luckily I still completed the journey safely," Ha shared.
The days of wandering around in the harsh sun of the Central region made Ha exhausted and had to rest more. Facing steep slopes and flooding in Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Thanh Hoa, she was forced to walk for kilometers.
Seeing curious people on the roadside, Ha stopped to interact and share the story. Some moments were recorded by passersby and posted on social networks, quickly receiving attention and encouragement from the community.
"The greetings, bottles of water given by strangers, videos shared with wishes make me feel warm. That is the motivation for me not to give up, and I believe the journey has contributed a small part to spreading the spirit of solidarity in the three regions," Ha said.
During her days in Hanoi, in the atmosphere of red flags with yellow stars, Ha took the opportunity to make small videos, interact with people, and record interesting experiences as a way to spread kindness and the spirit of community solidarity.
"Coming to Hanoi to watch the parade this time, I was really touched by the patriotism of the people. Everywhere are bright red flags with yellow stars. I bought an additional flag- printed shirt to get along with everyone. On the important day of the country, our young generation wants to contribute a small part to make life more meaningful, expressing the spirit of North - South gathering together as a family", Ha shared.
