When cycling trips led to romance, marriage

"Not many young women commit to long-distance cycling like that," the musician said. "To me, Hanh was a rare gem in the cycling community."

He added that he had never cycled abroad when he first got to know Hanh in April 2023.

Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh (L) and Yan Nguyen during their May 2024 cycling trip from Dak Nong to Dak Lak, mountainous provinces in the Central Highlands. Photo courtesy of Hanh and Yan

When Yan got in touch with her, she had just completed a two-day trip to the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. Her social media posts about the trip garnered significant attention among cycling enthusiasts, causing Yan’s message to initially get lost in the influx of messages she received

However, he persisted, consistently being the first to like and comment on her posts.

Hanh accepted his friend request after over a month as she saw in him a shared passion for cycling. As they became friends, Yan won Hanh over with his cycling knowledge accumulated over many years.

He taught her how to prepare for long trips, handle steep hills and decide whether to continue or stop in adverse weather.

A month after they started their online conversation, Hanh wanted to thank Yan for his guidance with a gift. Yan arrived for their first meeting with his racing bike. Their meeting, under a mild sky, was filled with Hanh’s lively stories and Yan’s laughter.

Yan then invited her to join a cycling race from Buon Ma Thuot in the Central Highlands to Quy Nhon in central Vietnam, a 300-kilometer trip that would last two months. They agreed to meet at the finish line as they were in separate teams with different start times.

The night before the race Hanh was so nervous that she could not sleep, leaving her in less than ideal physical condition for the race. The challenging mountain terrain she encountered on the way then quickly exhausted her and gave her muscle cramps.

Falling behind her teammates after just 50 kilometers, she decided to ride alone but never considered quitting.

Yan, starting later, spotted Hanh struggling, and asked to leave his group to support her.

For the remaining 250 kilometers, he stayed behind her, encouraged her, and only stopped when she had to treat her cramps. He managed their hydration and electrolyte intake, advised her on posture, and helped her control her breathing while riding uphill.

He encouraged her throughout the trip: "Just keep pedaling, I will be right behind you."

Because they stopped frequently, it was already dark when they were still more than 20 kilometers away from the finish line. Both their headlights died, forcing them to navigate a stretch of darkness until they bought a lamp.

Facing strong coastal winds near Quy Nhon, Hanh was nearly spent. Yan took the lead again to shelter Hanh from the wind, thus reducing her effort. They finished five hours behind the first group, but for Hanh, it was a tremendous personal achievement.

"This was the first time I conquered so many steep hills," she says. "All the challenges melted away, replaced by the joy of reaching the race finish line."

Yan Nguyen’s proposal at 3:30 a.m. one day in October 2023 before the pair embarked on a cycling race from HCMC to Da Nang. Photo courtesy of Hanh and Yan

Yan admired Hanh’s determination. Despite her exhaustion, she never complained or thought of quitting, and immediately got on her bike again after resting briefly.

After learning that Hanh planned to stay in Quy Nhon for a few days to explore the place, he decided to cycle around with her, abandoning his initial plan to return to HCMC. They cycled to Ky Co and Eo Gio beaches in Quy Nhon.

Mistaking them for a couple, a bystander they came across admired their shared passion.

"Finding a partner who shares your hobby must be rare, isn’t it?" the person commented, which somewhat embarrassed the pair but nevertheless sparked feelings in them.

After spending a day together in Quy Nhon, Yan boarded a bus back to HCMC.

"I miss you already," he messaged her.

Though it was not a confession of love, the text marked the beginning of their romance.

Living in two different cities, they communicated by phone.

A month later Hanh decided to move to HCMC. To surprise Yan, she said she had someone bringing a gift to him.

When he spotted her waiting near his home, he picked a roadside flower and gave it to her as a way to convey his feelings.

In Oct. 2023, to test their limits, the couple embarked on a 1,000-kilometer cycling challenge from HCMC to Da Nang in central Vietnam. But Yan had another plan to complete before the race started.

With friends’ help, he set up candles and flowers in the shape of a heart. At 3:30 a.m., 30 minutes before their departure, Yan stood in the center of it and surprised Hanh by proposing to her while performing a self-composed song.

She accepted, and at 4 a.m. they began their trip as planned.

When they reached Ninh Thuan in central Vietnam, halfway to their destination, Hanh was fatigued and the two separated from their group. They still aimed to reach Da Nang, but without time constraints, and would rest whenever needed.

The two-week journey then took them through various cities like Phan Rang-Thap Cham, Da Nang and Hue and Quang Binh Province. They treated the trip as a honeymoon, marking the start of their official relationship.

Yan Nguyen escorts his bride on a bicycle, passing through various streets in HCMC on their wedding day in April 2024. Photo courtesy of Hanh and Yan

They tied the knot in April 2024, and their wedding featured a cycling "parade" in HCMC: The groom led on a bike the bridal procession consisting of 22 members from the cycling community. The group cycling along the streets with helmets and decorated bikes drew passers-by’s attention and their good wishes.

At the wedding the couple, instead of the traditional wine pouring and cake cutting, watered trees and poured sand as a commitment "to cultivating a lasting married life."

Now living together, Hanh and Yan maintain their routine of cycling 50 kilometers daily and longer on weekends. They are planning to participate in major cycling events in 2024, continuing to explore new routes.

With his wife by his side, Yan now finds these journeys more significant.

And for Hanh, the challenges posed by long-distance cycling have dissipated with her husband’s promise of "No matter how far you go, I’ll always be right behind you."