Tran Dang Dang Khoa, a native of Tien Giang in southern Vietnam, started his journey to travel around the world on his motorbike in June 2017, beginning in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon.
Since then, he has travelled across many continents including Asia, Europe, South America, North America, and most recently Australia.
His yearning to travel began when he was a child.
"My trips within Vietnam did not satisfy me, because I felt the world was so big, yet life was short, so I planned to make the biggest trip of my life, trying to travel as far as I could,” he told SBS Vietnamese.
“Finally, after overcoming many challenges to prepare for my trip, the moment came and now I am in Australia, after more than two years travelling around the world, doing freelance jobs to earn money to fund the rest of my trip – one more year to set foot on all the continents of the world.”
Australia is the 49th country he's visited along his journey. His impressions of Australia is that it's a "gentle country, not strenuous", and much more relaxing than other developed countries like the United States.
“The empty roads winding between large meadows, the rivers, the beautiful little streams, the leafless trees in the middle of July - the coldest month of the year. The elderly people enjoying their old age in the oldest continent on this earth.”
Along his journey, he has made many unforgettable memories with the local inhabitants of each small town.
Source: Supplied
"I enjoy nature and the countryside, so I often go to the outback with fewer vehicles, through towns where there are a lot of elderly and retirees," he said.
“Many times, I just stopped on the roadside to take photos but forgot to turn off the taillights of my bike, which was used to warn other larger vehicles of my motorbike on the road. Sometimes the older people stopped by and asked if there was anything wrong. [They asked] 'Did you need any help?' and even an ambulance stopped to ask - [they are] so lovely and absolutely hospitable.”
He even took the opportunity to conquer Australia's highest peak, the 2,228m Mt Kosciuszko, on July 24.
"I [decided to climb Mt Kosciuszko] on a windy day in the coldest month of the year, the snow covered all the road, all the other people went skiing – I was the only one who went climbing."
Tran Dang Dang Khoa on his way to conquer Mount Kosciuszko (supplied) Source: Supplied
Driving a motorbike when travelling
Mr Khoa he obtained a Carnet de Passage en Douane document, which is part of an international agreement which allows the temporary importation of a vehicle for up to 12 months.
"Thanks to this document, I was able to bring my bike to Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, etc. ... and soon to New Zealand," he said.
"This document was not issued by Vietnam, so it took me a lot of time to apply for it in Malaysia, then I had to renew it twice while on the road."
He emphasises the importance of good health and mental clarity when travelling, especially on long trips.
The motorcycle of Tran Dang Dang Khoa in Melbourne, Australia. Source: Supplied
"Everything must be balanced, you have to eat and sleep well. If you feel sick, you must stop and rest immediately, when you fully recover, go ahead."
In particular, when travelling, he said you always should have a backup plan for every case, such as:
- Always have some money in case of an emergency
- Buy travel insurance
- Keep some cash hidden in case you need it or if you need to go home
- Always back up documents and make several copies in case they are lost
- Bring replacement bike parts in case you need them
- Always have a Plan B in case you are refused a visa to enter a country
- Bring some food and water
- Bring tents and sleeping bags, dry clothes, etc. in case you get lost or your bike is damaged on the road
At the border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti (Supplied) Source: Supplied
Lessons learned from travelling
Although he loves travelling, he said that some of his experiences have not been pleasant.
“On my trip, I saw many beautiful scenes, but also witnessed many miserable events, people suffering from illness, struggling to make ends meet. Everyone has their own suffering and has to fight their own fight,” he says.
“Then I realised how lucky I was. I’m grateful that I can wake up every day, eat well, wear clean clothes, live my dream. I appreciate every day of my life. I find beauty in the smallest things because life is impermanent.”
In particular, when deciding to embark on this long-term trip, Mr Khoa had to sacrifice some things, such as missing many family and friend gatherings, including weddings engagement parties, music and sports events at home.
He says being away for so long meant that relationships with friends and family members change or fade away.
"I hope to see those familiar faces soon after the trip ends," he says.
“However, everything in the world has its price. I only hope that I can find a way to make up for what was lost. This is also a life lesson, that nothing is perfect in this world. To get something, you must give something away."
On Saturday, August 10, on the 800th day of his trip, Mr Khoa will take part in a talking seminar sponsored by Expert Education & Visa Services, called 'Dare to Live Your Life' in Sydney.
Source: Supplied
Money raised during the talk will be donated to Operation Smile Vietnam to support cleft palate and lip defect surgery for children in Vietnam.
