The journey through Vietnam of two boys

After a full month of departing from Ca Mau cape, Bui Dinh Thuc and Pham Duc Hiep have gone through 5 provinces and believe they will arrive at the Independence Palace on April 30.

"But the final destination in our walking journey across the country is Lung Cu flagpole, Ha Giang in early 2025," said Thuc, 23 years old, from Hai Duong.

Explaining the reason for wearing army clothes to travel across Vietnam, Thuc said that in February 2020, he entered military service and became an engineering soldier stationed in Thuong Tin, Hanoi. After days of harsh training, he became curious about the soldiers' journey of climbing forests, wading streams, and overcoming rain of bombs and storms of bullets. The young man cherished the idea of recreating the march to the places where his father's generation had gone and visiting the old battlefields. The plan was responded to by teammate Pham Duc Hiep, a boy of the same age, from the same hometown, and who was also an engineering soldier, offering to join.

"Instead of walking from North to South like the previous generation, I chose to walk from South to North because I wanted to reach the Independence Palace on April 30. This is also a way to experience the happiness of a soldier in the moment. At the end of the war, I was able to return to my hometown when North and South were together as one family," Thuc said.

The two boys' decision was supported by their families.

Initially, the two planned to make the military trip as soon as they were discharged from the military in 2022, but had to postpone it to early 2024 due to some family reasons. During this time, Thuc actively jogged and increased his endurance while Hiep chose to exercise in combination with scientific eating and health preparation.

When leaving, Thuc and Hiep agreed to use the military equipment they kept after serving, such as helmets, blankets, hammocks, shoes, plastic sandals, and raincoats. They ordered what was missing at Joint Stock Company 22 or 26 of the Ministry of National Defense. The two boys discussed that along the way, if they came across a martyr's cemetery, they had to go in and burn incense. When they encountered people who were working, they had to stop and help, and apply for jobs along the way to get funding. However, their backpacks are always prepared with dry food and spare drinking water.

In early March, Thuc and Hiep moved from Hai Duong to Ca Mau and began moving along the Ho Chi Minh trail to the North. Every day two people carry 10 kg backpacks containing personal belongings and travel 20-30 km. At night, they rent rooms or hang hammocks to sleep outdoors if it's dark in a deserted place without a motel.

During the first week of the operation, two soldiers said their bodies ached and their feet were blistered. They admit that the march of their ancestors in the past was much more difficult when they had to carry military equipment, weapons, and food supplies on their backs to the battlefield, but now just traveling by road is tiring. Along the way, Thuc and Hiep encouraged each other to try hard, only stopping when they reached their destination. They traveled through Ca Mau province in 9 days, through Bac Lieu in 6 days, and in the next two weeks went through three provinces of Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Ben Tre.

Thuc said it had only been a month but the two of them couldn't remember how many martyrs' cemeteries they had visited. The strongest impression on them is the Bac Lieu province cemetery with more than 4,000 graves. When he heard them express their desire to burn incense, the mandarin was very worried that the two young men wouldn't be able to do it. But after three hours of perseverance, they completed the task.

"My uncle is a martyr, his grave is in Tay Ninh, so the family's biggest wish is to one day be able to burn incense in person, but it has not been possible. Understanding that wish, I want to send this message on behalf of families far away. heart to the martyrs," Thuc said.

During a month of marching, Thuc and Hiep also stopped many times to assist people in farming, clearing wild plants or carrying heavy objects. Every time we come to a family and ask to take a bath, seeing that the homeowner hasn't washed clothes or dishes, they proactively help. Along the way, they met people working under the hot weather. They stopped to give them water and food before continuing their journey.

Thong Thong marches and works part-time to earn money for the trip, but so far they have only had two days working as servers at a coffee shop in Bac Lieu province. As for the remaining provinces, due to scheduled travel, they have not found suitable jobs. To save money, Thuc and Hiep mainly eat dry food, sleep in hammocks or are allowed to sleep overnight by local people.

Late on the evening of March 5, Mr. Son, 70 years old in Ca Mau, invited two young men wearing army clothes to his house to rest and eat after hearing about their journey through Vietnam. "Knowing that my two children had served in the military and understanding the purpose of their journey, I felt sorry for them and wanted to help. I didn't have money, but I had food and a place to sleep," Mr. Son said.

The marching videos shared by the young man on his personal page attracted millions of likes and comments. Many people expressed admiration for the daring journey. They also waited to welcome Thuc and Hiep on the way to give them water and food.

Mr. Le Thanh Sang, 41 years old, in Tan Phong commune, Gia Rai town, Bac Lieu province, started following the journey across Vietnam of two guys wearing army uniforms since mid-March. Having served in the military, it is difficult to understand. During the march, when he heard that Thuc and Hiep worked part-time at a coffee shop in Bac Lieu, he immediately found them.

"You two are young but have strong will and determination to live without dependence, so I admire them and want to hear more about their journey beyond the clips. I myself also want to share a few things. As the previous generation, help make their journey complete," Mr. Sang said.

During the journey, Thuc and Hiep were also asked to be checked by local militia and self-defense forces. When presenting their discharge papers, personal information and explaining the purpose of the trip, the two boys were praised and enthusiastically supported by everyone.

Once on the way from Ca Mau to Bac Lieu, the two of them met an army commander who was on a business trip and stopped by his car to ask questions and offered to give him a ride. They thanked and refused because they were determined to make the trip on their own two feet. Hearing about the journey, this person encouraged his two subordinates, even though they had been discharged from the army, to try to accomplish their goals.

After a month of walking, Thuc and Hiep said they were used to the intensity of the movement and their bodies no longer ached. The more they go, the more they understand that "as long as you are determined, persistent, and persistent, you will achieve your goal".

After leaving Ben Tre, the two boys continued through Long An, Tien Giang and set the goal of reaching Ho Chi Minh City as planned.

"There is nothing more proud than wearing a green soldier's shirt to the Independence Palace, standing solemnly under the red flag with yellow star flying on National Unification Day," Thuc said.