A 59-year-old South Korean man and his son, 14, have been running across Vietnam for over 20 days in the hope that his Vietnamese friend will recover well after surgery.

Kim Byeong Sam confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that he and his son, Kim Taewoo, started in Hanoi on June 8 and expected to complete their run on August 30.

“At first, I intended to travel through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos with my son and Vietnamese friends," Kim added.

“However, one of my Vietnamese friends underwent a surgery in Ho Chi Minh City in late May.

"My son and I decided to come to Vietnam for a run to wish my friend a speedy recovery.”

Kim Byeong Sam completed running from Ca Mau, the southernmost province of Vietnam, to Hanoi and vice versa from January 1 to May 29 last year.

Kim Taewoo was excited and wanted to run in Vietnam after his father told him about his interesting journey in Vietnam last year.

Having previously journeyed across Vietnam, the father found this year's run during his return to the Southeast Asian country relatively easy.

He said Vietnam is developing fast with well-developed infrastructure and friendly people. This is a good opportunity for his son to explore the country.

“I want to run with my son and consider it a tour, so I made no preparations and underwent no special training," Kim said.

“We simply pray for my Vietnamese friend’s recovery and will meet my friend [after the run].”

Their slogan is 'Together’s strong.'

Kim Byeong Sam hoped he and his son would jointly overcome challenges, his son would be physically and mentally stronger, and they would be a more loving family.

While passing through Thanh Hoa Province in north-central Vietnam, the two walked for eight kilometers to look for a hotel.

It was scorching at the time but they had no water.

A Vietnamese man suddenly rode a motorbike close to them and gave them two bottles of cold water for free.

“His warm act touched us. I think that is Vietnamese people’s spirit,” the South Korean man recalled.

In nearby Nghe An Province, an old woman invited them to drink coconut water and charge only VND10,000 (US$0.4) for two glasses of the beverage.

Kim Taewoo had many happy memories in Vietnam. He seems to like a girl whom he met at an ice cream shop in Ha Tinh Province, a neighbor of Nghe An.

“Vietnamese girls are friendly and hospitable,” Kim Byeong Sam remarked.

They added that Quy Nhon City, the capital of Binh Dinh Province in south-central, Vietnam shares many similarities with Busan, where they live in South Korea.

During his trip to Vietnam last year, he encountered multiple difficulties.

This year, he has found it easier to seek restaurants and hotels.

However, they still faced hindrances in communication.

The father’s legs hurt and swell as he has to carry a 15-kilogram backpack.

However, Kim said he would not give up as he did not want his son to drop out. 

He also wants to inspire those who are going through difficult times.

“I will complete the run with my son to respond to everyone’s support and warm affection,” the father said.

With a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius, they sometimes felt exhausted. However, they did not falter.

They used ice packs to cool their bodies. Kim Byeong Sam also asked his son to eat three meals a day and drink a lot of water to confront the heat.

He is learning the Vietnamese history and language to communicate better with locals.

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