Three young Belgian engineers came to Vietnam

Crossing over 11.130km in 7 months, through 12 countries, from Europe, South America, Oceania,etc. Three young Belgian engineers ame to Vietnam in the around the world trip by bike to study sustainable architecture and support non-governmental organization - Mekong Plus.


They are: Loec Nys, Julien Bertrand and Frédéric Timmermans. As people with a passion for bike and cycling experience across urope several times, Loec Nys said "the idea of cycling around the world was appeared over two years ago. However, at that time, members have not ended the semester so they could not carried out the adventure".
On 9/30/2012, when just graduated from university in architecture, the young men left Brussels to start the around the world trip by bike.

According to Loec Nys, 24, the oldest in the group, the purpose of the trip is to get more knowledge about sustainable rchitecture in the countries in which they go through in order to complement the knowledge learned in school. So, come to any country, they interview of specialized sustainable architecture and visit the typical architecture,etc.

Besides, this trip is also to raise funds to help Mekong Plus, a non-governmental organization devoted to helping the poor in ietnam and Cambodia. This organization which has effective ways to help the poor out of poverty. So, the group will spend half the amount which units gave for the journey to Mekong Plus.

With the help of sponsors such as: Decathlon Anderlecht, Art&Build, Europa Counselling Services, La Libre, Radio Twizz, etc. In each country, the young men discovered many unique and interesting cultures. For example, if people live in a small family (only including parent and children in Europe), each family usually has three generations in South America and Asia.


“In South America, we were surprised because we saw concrete and brick are commonly used while those are quite expensive. In Vietnam, we were impressed with a new sustainable architecture. It is the houses made of wood, bamboo and tile roofing. This is the architecture that we have not seen in Belgium and other European countries ", Frédéric Timmermans said.

The exciting experiences is increasing every single day after each rotation of the bicycle and shared on the website: http://www.onwheelsproject.be. In the new story, three guys told about their feeling when visiting projects of Mekong Plus in Long My (Hau Giang).


“The second day in Long My, we went to Chung's house, a mental retardation boy. The family could not take him to school because the school is very far. Mekong Plus decided to help his parent can teach him at home. This assistance is threefold: Appoint an education consultant to guide how to teach and learn, provide learning materials (alphabet, game cube and color) and support finance to offset the loss of work time for parents. So, after only 5 months of study at "house-school", Chung was able to istinguish shapes and colors, read the alphabet and normally behave with strangers. After sharing potato chips with us, Chung lets us see exercise book and a picture with pride. The happiness steeped in a small house of Chung."


Both cycle and write, take pictures, film, meet architects, visit innovative buildings,etc. That are the daily works that the young Belgian engineers have done for 7 months. In that long journey, they encounter a lot of difficulties.

“We carry baggage weighing about 25kg including all necessary utensils such as : cooking stove, sleeping bags, clothes, edicines, water bottles and accessories bicycle repair. Despite of preparing carefully, we still have some unwanted trouble such as: broken bike in wilderness, hot weather. My self also has small accident. However, that things don't affect to our trip" Frédéric immermans told.

Go whereever, they are got help from people. " Go wherever, we are also got the enthusiastic help. Some one invited to eat, other repaired the bike, even some one gave a lift,etc", Julien Bertrand said.

Quite impressed with Hanoi where has the ancient streets, green trees by Hoan Kiem lake. However, in three young Belgian opinion, Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi should find measures to reduce personal transport by the intelligent urban planning, it means the gradual expansion of the population density in the central area in order to reduce traffic congestion.

Leave Vietnam on 5/4, Loec Nys, Julien Bertrand and Frédéric Timmermans continue with the new destinations that are: China, Pakistan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia,etc. Vietnam has left many good impression in each young Belgian.