Expat Spotlight: Jake Norris & Sean Down - Walking Across Vietnam to Help Children in Need

As Jake and Sean rode a taxi to the Hanoi Opera House, the starting point of their journey, Jake turned to his friend and said, "If we don't complete this, we might have to leave Vietnam." Sheepishly, they stepped out of the taxi to a crowd of supporters, cheering them on for the most challenging journey of their lives - traveling from Hanoi to Saigon on foot.

“We were stepping into the unknown with a bit of fear, a bit of trepidation, but we were also bloody excited," recalls Jake in an interview with the Vietnam Times.

Gaining momentum with every step, the two friends left Hanoi with some newfound confidence, determined to complete their mission for Vietnam's most vulnerable communities.

As longtime expats in Hanoi, both Jake and Sean have a deep love for Vietnam.

“When I first stepped foot on Vietnamese soil, I was welcomed with open arms," says Jake Norris, an Australian expat. "Everyone has been brilliant. The people go out of their way to help you. When you go out into the rural communities, you see firsthand how little they have but how happy they are.”

“Vietnam has provided me with a wonderful life," says Sean Down. "Coming from Ireland, its very difficult to have the quality of life that I have here. I’ve made lots of friends here, both foreigners and Vietnamese. It has given me a life that I didn’t think I was able to have. This country has been extraordinarily kind to me.”

The idea to walk across Vietnam came to Jake when he was stuck in Australia due to Covid. Missing the freedom to travel and explore, Jake made plans to return to Vietnam and see as much as he possibly could while also giving back to his second homeland.

Once back in Vietnam, Jakes began asking his friends if they wanted to join him as he would need some company for the long journey. Fortunately, Sean, his friend of five years, agreed to the walk despite having no experience long with distance travel on foot.

"It was the hardest thing I have ever done," says Sean. "I’m still in pain every day but it was really worth it.”

Sean Down taking a well-deserved rest at a small cafe. Photo by Jake Norris.

When asked why they wanted to walk across Vietnam instead of completing in on a motorbike or bicycle, the two men share a laugh. "It's supposed to be hard," says Jake.

With daily social media uploads, the pair would consistently remind their followers about the great work done by the Blue Dragon Childrens Foundation and the Thanh Loc Project - the beneficiaries of the money raised by Jake and Sean.

Blue Dragon Children's Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Founded by Michael Brosowski, an Australian teacher and human rights activist, the organization aims to rescue individuals from human trafficking rings. Additionally, the organization offers shelter, education, and employment opportunities for rescued victims, giving them a second chance at life.

Meanwhile, the Thanh Loc Project is based in Rach Gia, helping provide resources and education to poor children living in disadvantaged communes in Vietnam's southern region. The organization is responsible for building houses, schools, bridges, water pumps, toilets, and other crucial infrastructure projects. Additionally, the Thanh Loc Project provides scholarships for school children, encouraging the local youth to stay in school and create better opportunities for themselves and their community.

With Blue Dragon operating in Vietnam's far north and Thanh Loc Project helping Vietnam's deep south, it makes perfect sense for Jake and Sean to connect these two amazing charities with an epic trek across the nation.

"As hard as it was, we knew the walk would end but for many poor children in Vietnam, their difficulties have no end in sight," says Jake. This thinking was enough to motivate the two men to complete their mission.

Jake, Sean, and several supporters walking on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Charity Walk.

A typical day during the trek would begin with waking up at 5:30 AM and out the door at 6:00 AM, before Vietnam's notorious heat would set in. Around mid-morning, they would stop for a coffee and a light breakfast and then continue walking unitl 4:00 PM. In the evenings, Jake and Sean would chill out and sleep at local nhà nghỉ- simple rest homes found across Vietnam.

The two trekkers did not follow the usual tourism circuit. Rather, they followed a more direct path towards the south, cutting through small villages and vast rice paddies unseen by most foreigners. On average, the two men completed around 32-kilometers a day. Just to add to the challenge, Jake did not wear standard hiking boots, opting for flip-flops instead. Unfortunately, Jake only messaged the Guinness Book of World Records after completing the walk and they were unable to verify it. So, Jake unofficially holds the record for the world record for the longest walk ever completed in flip-flops.

Jake Norris proudly displaying his trusty flip-flops. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Charity Walk.

They dubbed the Hai Van Pass as their psychological "halfway" point. Despite its steep incline, Jake and Sean got a second wind upon reaching the summit. Sean reports that it was an "absolute joy" coming down the Hai Van Pass towards Da Nang.

Their biggest obstacle was arriving in Da Lat. After a successful visit in Nha Trang, the two men had to enter a more mountainous terrain. On a steep incline, they completed 37 kilometers in a single day.

"That hill is the biggest load of bollocks in the whole country," says Jake. "It just keeps going up and up and up."

Sean on the road to Dalat. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Charity Walk.

Along the way, Jake and Sean gained a new respect for long-distance walking.

“I love being out there, just walking," explains Jake. "You got all this time to think and process different things. When you are walking a long time you can find the right sweet spot where you’re just able to mellow out. It’s a real ethereal state."

Jake posing in the middle of Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Charity Walk.

By the end of their journey, the two men raised over US$40,000. This immense sum will help plenty of struggling families across Vietnam and ensure that the next generation has the opportunity to grow up safe and happy.

Nostalgic for their time on the road, Jake and Sean are not ready to hang out their hiking boots (or flip-flops) just yet. The two friends are planning a similar journey through Europe with an aim to work with larger charities that help different communities across the world.

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