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After the journey, Ms. Binh returned to Paris while Alessio went back to Italy. However, they met again when he came to France for a short business trip. 'And finally, he decided to extend his business trip indefinitely, whether it's because of the allure of the City of Light or because there are still many travel plans he wants to share with me,' Ms. Binh chuckled.
The love story of this Vietnamese-Italian couple is always intertwined with adventurous journeys. They often set aside a sum of money for traveling to explore various European destinations like Alessio's homeland Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark...
When both of them considered returning to Vietnam to settle down, the idea of cycling across continents began to take shape, which they later dubbed the 'Rolling Potatoes' story. 'Initially, he was the one who came up with this somewhat crazy idea. Needless to say, I was reluctant because I thought I couldn't cycle that far. It took Alessio a long time to convince me, following a meticulously laid-out plan, especially since I used to abhor sports terribly,' reminisced Ms. Binh.
The Italian lad bought his girlfriend a bicycle and suggested using it to get to the train station for convenience, avoiding waiting for the bus. Then, gradually, he persuaded her to go a little further every day. Eventually, Ms. Binh cycled all the way to her workplace, which was 10 km away from home, and found it surprisingly easy.
Every day, Alessio would 'pour' into his girlfriend's ears stories of challenging journeys, cycling through multiple countries, passing through his homeland, and ending up in Vietnam. Little by little, their plans were taking shape and being perfected.
But perhaps it was only when Ms. Binh met firsthand witnesses who had personally undergone the grueling cycling journey that she truly agreed. Once, she met a friend who had cycled alone from Bangkok to Paris. After talking to him, she gradually felt that this challenge was truly feasible.
On another occasion, during a trip to Norway in August 2012, she encountered many cycling tourists. Norway, with its towering mountains and deep fjords, its hairpin bends sending shivers down one's spine, is a favored destination, a challenge for cyclists. She confided: 'Perhaps the admiration for the image of cyclists with muscular backs on their saddles, patiently conquering mountain passes while I leisurely sat in the car, contributed to the decision for my upcoming cycling trip.'
To prepare physically, nowadays, the couple cycles around Paris every day, whether for work, hanging out with friends, leisurely strolls, or sports. Thanks to this, they discover many new and interesting perspectives of Paris that Ms. Binh hadn't noticed in the past 14 years since she set foot in France. Moreover, a year ago, this couple 'carried' their bicycles to Sardinia (Southern Italy) for over a week, both for exploration and for health training for their upcoming memorable journey.
The issue of packing is also a headache for them as they try to figure out how to pack enough for the 18-month journey without being too heavy or cumbersome, deciding what to take and what to leave behind. Especially when it gets too cold, cycling through regions with harsh climates, not having enough clothes can easily lead to catching a cold.
Determining the route is also a challenge. Not following the suggestions of those who went before them, Thanh Binh and Alessio have charted out a special itinerary together, with the criterion of choosing places they like rather than opting for the shortest or easiest route. Most travelers from Europe to Asia pass through Northern Italy and then go through Eastern Europe rather than going down through Italy and then back up. 'But when traveling with an Italian man, going through this beautiful country is a given,' Ms. Binh chuckled in explanation.
Their journey will begin this September, marking 14 years since Thanh Binh set foot in France. She is always excited when talking about this special plan of hers. 'I love and look forward to every destination. Initially, according to the schedule, I was going to Syria and Jordan, to visit the Petra temple, a place we've been dreaming of since watching Indiana Jones. But now, we have to give up on that plan, instead, we will visit Georgia, the land of the legend of the 'Golden Fleece.' However, the region that requires the most preparation for us is Central Asia, because the roads here are underdeveloped, with extremely tough sections like Pamir, administrative procedures are also complex but at the same time, it's a place where people are famously hospitable and friendly.
Anticipating the challenges ahead, Alessio 'forces' his girlfriend to practice pitching tents, disassembling and assembling bikes, and repairing bikes before feeling assured to hit the road with him. The bicycle, given a special responsibility, is also custom-made by the two, a type of bike designed for long and adventurous journeys. Along the way, they plan to stay overnight with locals or pitch tents for camping.
When leaving behind stable jobs in France, both Ms. Binh and Mr. Alessio had to accept losing many things, but the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming journey made them forget all about that. From the first time they met, the idea of exploring various roads together became the bond that connected their wandering souls. But the decision for a European man to move to Vietnam for living truly surprised many. Perhaps it wasn't just love for the Vietnamese girl but also for Vietnamese culture that led to this decision.
Ms. Binh shared that her boyfriend has a great fondness for Vietnamese cuisine, especially sticky rice dishes like banh chung, xoi... Dishes like banh cuon, banh xeo, banh lot, even bamboo shoot soup, dishes not favored by many Europeans, are eagerly devoured by the Italian lad. Originally a chef, in their small garden, he even grows some Vietnamese herbs like coriander, basil to prepare Vietnamese dishes. 'Once when teaching cooking in an Italian school, he introduced Vietnamese cuisine to his students. He even made better nem than me,' she laughed as she shared.
During a visit to see her daughter, Ms. Binh's parents met their Western 'son-in-law' and immediately approved upon witnessing Alessio's caring, attentive, and sincere demeanor, especially towards Ms. Binh's mother. In fact, her mother even thanked him for always being there to take care of her daughter when she's away.
'I always remember my father's advice: 'To judge a person, don't pay attention to how they treat you, because if they care, want to win you over, they will surely show kindness, kindness. Look at how they treat those around them, their family, friends, and even strangers, that's what helps you understand them better.' Throughout our tour in Peru, what impressed me most about Alessio was his kindness, openness, and sincerity. And up to now, it's still the same, he's always cheerful, heroic, straightforward, and reliable for me to accompany me on life's journey,' the Vietnamese girl poured her heart out about her love.
As the departure date approaches, alongside the worries and hurried preparations, both Thanh Binh and Alessio are filled with confidence. According to her, the most important thing is to always remain calm and communicate to solve problems.
'Traveling has made us get to know each other, love each other, and bond with each other. Difficulties and challenges are endless but surely the joy will be abundant. The journey promises many wonderful things and hopefully will make us even closer,' Thanh Binh said.
The couple's journey is scheduled to begin on September 12th. They will pass through 17 countries, including France and countries in Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, then attempt a trans-Siberian journey in Russia before reaching Mongolia, China, and finally Vietnam.
According to Ngôi Sao
