Starting from Dec. 12 in Quang Ninh northern province, as of Dec. 15, Australian ultra-marathon athlete Pat Farmer and his Vietnamese running partner Mai Nguyen Dinh Huy arrived in Thanh Hoa central city, completing one-sixth of their 3,000 km Vietnam journey.

Pat and Huy are the first two people in the world to run the length of Vietnam from the northernmost area of Mong Cai to the southernmost cape of Ca Mau.

Pat Farmer, 50, has so far suffered fever, sore throat and recurring knee injury during the on-going run due to sudden changes in the weather. Despite this, Pat runs not less than 60 kilometers a day, some days he ran 12 hours a day.

Pat Farmer and Mai Huy were not born to be marathon athletes. Their physical bodies are normal. However, they are strongly determined to overcome pain and difficulties on the running roads not to make a record but to raise funds to bring clean water for underprivileged people in the country.

During the Vietnam journey, they have received admiration from local people as well as other professional and amateur marathon runners.

Many people were touched upon seeing them running and eating at the same time. Some of them tried to run along side the duo for up to 10 kilometers.

Children in Hai Duong northern province run alongside the two to support them.

Every 5 kilometers, they are provided with banana or candy and every 10 kilometers they are offered rice or pho (Vietnam traditional noodle).

 The duo run through Ban Bridge in Phu Ly in Ha Nam northern province.

Pat suffered a recurring knee injury when he arrived in Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province and had to receive medical care.

 Pat signed books to fans while receiving medical care.

 In spite of a fever, Pat still maintains the running schedule.

 This is the second shoe among the 40 shoes that Pat expected to use for his Vietnam journey.

 Pat and Mai Huy arrived in Thanh Hoa at 8:35am on December 15.