HANOI - On February 24th, Jake Norris from Australia and his Irish friend Sean Down achieved their ambitious goal of walking the entire length of Vietnam to help raise funds for underprivileged children in the country.

Over the past three months, the pair have walked over 2,000km from Vietnam's capital Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south, trekking along the famous Ho Chi Minh Trail. Their challenging journey dubbed "Walking for Change in Vietnam: Walking for a difference" aimed to both raise money for important causes as well as bring awareness to socio-economic issues facing many children. 

Jake Norris, who works as an English teacher in Vietnam and considers the country his home, came up with the idea after being moved by his encounters with disadvantaged children during his travels. "The challenges that these kids face are almost unimaginable and it's our mission to make a real difference," he said.

Despite rain, cold temperatures during winter months and grueling heat exceeding 40 degrees Celsius during the summer, the determined duo walked an average of 35km per day to complete the epic voyage within their target time of three months.

"It's been an incredible experience, but also one with many highs and lows. Some weeks we struggled to find food and shelter during heavy rainstorms, while the searing heat in March was relentless," said Norris.

"We had to wake up before 4am to avoid the hottest parts of the day. But the kindness of strangers who offered us rides, meals and places to stay more than made up for the difficulties," he added.

Along the scenic route spanning 17 provinces, the adventurers took in stunning landscapes from dense jungles and limestone mountains in central Vietnam to sandy beaches and offshore islands in the south.

They also connected with locals and heard moving stories about the challenges children in rural communities face in accessing education, healthcare and opportunities. "Many of the kids we met, despite their hard lives, were so happy and hopeful. That's really what inspires us to help make change," said Norris.

Fundraising success

Through their walking campaign, Jake and Sean have raised over US$35,000 so far for their chosen charity partners - the Thinking Hut Project and Blue Dragon Children's Foundation.

The Thinking Hut Project works to provide disadvantaged children in remote areas with long-term solutions for education, shelter, food, water and child protection. Blue Dragon meanwhile rescues child victims of trafficking and exploitation, and supports their care, rehabilitation and reintegration through education and job training.

The money raised will go directly towards the charities' ongoing efforts such as building and maintaining learning centres, providing scholarships and vocational training, as well as counseling and protective services for at-risk youth.

Jake said more donations are still coming in as their story gains traction. "We've had so much support on social media and from individuals and companies who want to help sustain positive change."

The walking campaign engaged followers through Facebook and Instagram, sharing regular updates on their journey, challenges and meaningful encounters with Vietnamese communities. It also allowed donors worldwide to virtually track their journey in real-time.

Fond farewell in Saigon

Reaching the southern tip of the country was an emotional moment of achievement for the travelers after months on the road. They arrived tired but fulfilled in Ho Chi Minh City on February 24th, holding a celebration event at the city-centre Jaspas restaurant to mark the successful conclusion of their walk.

“Finishing was extremely rewarding but also bittersweet. We’ve come to love Vietnam and its people so much during our time here,” said Sean Down. “We’re proud that through our walk, more disadvantaged children will receive support to improve their lives.”

Now back home in Australia and Ireland, both men say the experience of walking across Vietnam has forever changed their lives. They remain passionate advocates for the important work of their charitable partners and hope others will continue supporting the causes.

“Our simple act of putting one foot in front of the other each day over thousands of kilometers allowed us to shine a light on the challenges facing children here, as well as help fund real solutions. It was the journey of a lifetime and I’ll never forget the people and places of this amazing country,” Norris reflected.