From Vietnam to Brescia: A 20,000 km Cycling Odyssey
By Matteo Danesi
Embarking on a 20,000 km cycling journey from Vietnam to Brescia was a monumental challenge, especially considering it was my first significant bike trip. The initial plan was straightforward: traverse Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, aiming to reach China. However, upon reaching Hanoi, the journey took an unexpected turn.
The Decision to Return
In Hanoi, a question kept resurfacing: “What if I returned home now?” This thought led me to change my course, not as an explorer but as someone heading home—to Brescia. The journey transformed from exploration to a return, covering nearly 20,000 kilometers.
Support Along the Way
I wasn’t truly alone. Along the route, I met numerous people, and many followed my journey from afar, sending messages and encouragements that made a significant difference during tough times. One father shared that his son, battling leukemia, eagerly awaited my updates daily, considering me his hero.
A Tribute to My Father
I had set off on my father’s birthday, intending to return on the anniversary of his passing. This journey became a way to honor him, to close a circle through pedaling.
Overcoming Challenges
There were moments when everything seemed overwhelming. In Vietnam, I cycled uphill for three consecutive days without respite, questioning my decision. Yet, there were unforgettable moments too. In Cambodia, exhausted and without water, I knocked on a villager’s door. Despite the language barrier, she welcomed me. Later, I learned her husband had passed away just hours before.
Another time, in Laos, I collapsed on the roadside. A young man found me, took me to his home, offered me water, and let me rest without asking for anything in return.
Belief in Myself
These experiences propelled me forward. Gradually, I began to believe not in the distance but in myself. Day by day, pedal stroke by pedal stroke, I realized I could go much further than I had imagined.
Arrival in Brescia
Reaching Brescia was initially pure adrenaline—the arrival, the people, the sense of accomplishment. But it was short-lived. When you stop, everything you had during the journey slowly fades. Days become the same, the rhythm changes, and that continuous energy starts to wane.
Lessons Learned
The journey taught me a simple lesson: it’s not the distance that changes you; it’s the trust you learn to have in yourself along the way. And that, once back, is the hardest thing to find again.
Matteo Danesi