Human Interest: A man and his home-made bicycle

There is a nice little story in the Vietnamese publication Thanh Nien.

After setting out on June 1, from Ho Chi Minh City, Hung (the only name given) returned yesterday after cycling across Vietnam - "a distance that could have taken him some one third the way round the world".

During the journey the 39 year old Hung, spoke in all 64 of the nation’s provinces and cities and slept more than a hundred nights outdoors while over 30,000 people visited his web-site to convey their kudos and encouragement.

This is the part I like - Hung made his bicycle from spare cycle parts for just over US$15. His kit for the entire trip included only cam-era, flashlight, gas cooker, tool set and whatever he could fit in a basic rucksack.

(have I really posted 114 articles on Vietnam!)

Just goes to show, a man and a home-made bicycle can often achieve more than a man with wealthy backers and a slick team of professionals behind him. It just depends how determined he is to achieve his goal - and how many good people support him.