Nguyen Thi Tuyet Minh, a 31-year-old from Ho Chi Minh City, is thought to be the first Vietnamese woman to have independently conquered Umling La in Ladakh, India.

At 5,883 meters above sea level, this pass is recognized as the highest motorable road in the world.

Minh’s love for motorcycling has taken her on some incredible adventures.

In just six years, she has achieved some impressive milestones, including a 65-day motorbike journey across four countries on a tight budget of VND35 million (US$1,396) and a tour covering all 63 provinces in Vietnam.

Despite her remarkable accomplishments, Minh remains humble, attributing her successes to luck.

She shared that her journey to Umling La lasted about 10 days, with seven of the days dedicated to riding. 

She joined a group to Leh Ladakh and spent a day acclimatizing to the altitude of 3,500 meters.

This acclimatization period was essential for undertaking longer journeys and conquering higher altitudes.

During her acclimatization, Minh experienced doubts and hesitation.

A tour guide suggested taking altitude sickness medications two to three days in advance, but she declined, preferring to let her body adjust naturally.

She experienced extreme thirst but maintained a steady breathing rate. She was also forced to lie at a 45-degree angle. 

After consulting with others, she decided to take the medication, but within 15 minutes, she began vomiting, sweating profusely, experiencing numbness in her limbs, and diarrhea, feeling as if she were dying and coming back to life. She realized the medication had no effect.

Determined to let her body adjust naturally, Minh decided to stop taking the medication. 

Feeling on the verge of hospitalization, she calmed herself down by regulating her breathing, opening a window, and sleeping at a 45-degree angle.

Fortunately, she recovered the next morning and replenished her body with vitamins and water to boost her immune system and continue her journey.

The seven-day journey was challenging, with poor road conditions, including hills, mountains, deserts, and rocky terrain.

The group also faced water and electricity shortages, having to wait for the sun to warm up the water for bathing.

Some sections of the road were covered in ice, making them impassable by motorcycle. Night-time temperatures dropped to minus 8-13 degrees Celsius, and morning temperatures were only around 3-5 degrees Celsius.

The group had to wait until 9:00 am when the temperature reached 10-12 degrees Celsius before starting their journey to avoid health risks and ensure safe driving.

For certain sections, the group had to switch to pickup trucks. The prolonged exposure to cold weather weakened their health.

Regarding conquering Umling La, Minh was told that she was the first Vietnamese female biker to ride a motorcycle for 1,000 kilometers without professional support. 

However, she simply felt fortunate to have reached Umling La and did not consider herself extraordinary. She was merely happy to have achieved this milestone before others.

Minh has had a long-standing passion for large-displacement motorcycles and has participated in various motorcycle clubs and training sessions. This has equipped her with the necessary skills to navigate challenging and winding roads.

Being short in stature while riding a large-displacement motorcycle, she encountered some challenges, such as experiencing motion sickness on sharp turns.

Riding in temperatures ranging from minus five to 10 degrees Celsius, Minh not only felt cold but also experienced frostbite on her hands, feet, and nose. Despite these challenges, she kept motivating herself to persevere.

There were times when she wanted to give up, but the encouragement from her group members helped her push through and successfully conquer Umling La.

During the journey, she had a minor accident when she rode onto a sandy off-road track, losing visibility and control of her bike. The bike would not run, and her group had to help push it while she tried to start the engine. Once the bike started, she continued her journey.

Throughout the journey, Minh focused on keeping her bike running to avoid inconveniencing others. She skillfully navigated the challenging terrain and was eventually successful.

Minh prefers large-displacement and manual motorcycles for their safety, acceleration, and ability to overcome obstacles and tackle winding roads.

In case of brake failures while going downhill, riders will have time to figure out what to do next. Meanwhile, with a similar situation, a scooter could easily slide out of control, making riders hard to stay calm and react quickly.

It is also impressive when a woman can ride a manual motorcycle and handle all the challenges that come with it. Minh had to practice a lot and even fell off many times before she got good at it.

For long-distance rides, she uses a Honda CB500X. For city rides and casual outings, she opts for a naked bike. And for off-road adventures, she chooses a dual-sport bike.

The Honda CB500X is a popular choice among motorcycle enthusiasts due to its affordable price and safety features.

Minh also owns a Yamaha WR155R for practicing balance, overcoming obstacles, and practicing slow-speed maneuvers.

She previously used a CB300R for long-distance rides and commuting but eventually upgraded to larger bikes to experience a wider range of motorcycles.

Each of her motorcycles holds special memories, and she is reluctant to sell any of them.

While she has a scooter for city commuting, Minh prefers large-displacement motorcycles for longer rides and adventures as they offer a more powerful and enjoyable riding experience.

Riding a large-displacement motorcycle is not as difficult as it may seem, and it simply requires practice, according to Minh. 

However, it is advisable to stick to highways and avoid smaller roads or provincial roads. In case of a breakdown, it can be difficult to get help in remote areas.

Additionally, it is essential to have a good understanding of motorcycles and know how to handle common issues like flat tires and basic maintenance.

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