HANOI— After journeying through more than 30 countries alone, 28-year-old Yuki Nakatani from Nagasaki, Japan, arrived in Ho Chi Minh City in late July 2025 — marking the start of her solo 70-day adventure across Vietnam on a borrowed Vespa.
Describing the scooter affectionately as her “boyfriend,” Yuki rode from the country’s southern hub through Mũi Né, Đà Lạt, Nha Trang, Tuy Hòa, Măng Đen, Hội An, Đà Nẵng, Huế, Phong Nha, Vinh, Hà Nội, and on to Mai Châu, Mộc Châu, Tà Xùa, Mù Cang Chải, Yên Bái, and Hà Giang before returning to Ho Chi Minh City to fly home.
Each stop, she said, revealed a different facet of Vietnam’s natural beauty and culture. In Huế, she lingered longer than planned, drawn to its serene atmosphere. Mộc Châu captivated her with lush waterfalls and rolling green tea hills, while Đà Lạt’s cool, misty air left her refreshed and inspired.
“I fell off my bike several times, and every time, Vietnamese people helped me,” Yuki told Tuổi Trẻ Online. “Even when I looked like a local, they didn’t hesitate. It wasn’t because I was foreign — it’s just who they are.”
In one fishing village, locals helped fix her Vespa despite language barriers, relying on gestures and smiles rather than words. For Yuki, these moments defined the heart of her Vietnamese journey — genuine kindness and connection.
A Journey Powered by Love and Faith in Humanity
Yuki’s travels are more than sightseeing — they are a personal mission to spread compassion. She often quotes her belief: “The world runs on love.”
“Love is the key to everything,” she said. “No matter our nationality, gender, or religion, we are all human. I want to share the goodness I’ve seen in the world and become a source of that love myself.”
Her optimism has endured even after facing danger. On several occasions, she narrowly escaped abduction while hitchhiking, experiences that have since taught her to trust her instincts and the “energy” of people she meets.
“Most people see the world as dangerous — and that’s exactly what it becomes,” she said, quoting Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. “But what if more of us started seeing it as a loving, beautiful place? Maybe the world would truly change.”
From 35 Euros to Global Exploration
Yuki’s story began in March 2023, when she quit her job two years after university and boarded a one-way flight to Europe with only 35 euros in her account.
Armed with one skill — Japanese calligraphy, which she had practiced since age seven — she began writing and selling her artwork on the streets to fund her travels. The income was modest, but enough to keep her moving across borders and cultures for four months.
That experience became the foundation of her first essay collection, “LOVE,” published in December 2023 after returning to Japan.
In May 2024, she set out once again — this time on a global journey with just a small backpack, continuing her mission to “spread love.” She financed her travels through art sales, calligraphy workshops, book royalties, and online consultations.
Yuki Nakatani’s minimalist backpack
Next: Sharing the Spirit of Vietnam
Following her Vietnam trip, Yuki plans to host an art and calligraphy exhibition inspired by her journey — continuing the theme of “love and connection” that runs through her work.
She has previously exhibited in Japan, Mongolia, China, and Thailand, each time sharing her message that human kindness transcends borders.
“I don’t think I’m just traveling,” she said. “I’m living. What matters most is knowing what you truly want and need in life.”
Yuki laughs when asked about her future plans: she hopes to continue developing her intuition — and maybe even learn martial arts one day, “just in case.”
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Source: Vietnam Insider