Extreme Conditions: 33,000 Kilometres in 75 Days Across Asia with the Porsche 911 Dakar

Dealing with temperatures ranging from minus 20 to 38 degrees Celsius, from coastal roads to nearly 4,700 meters above sea level, Nguyen Hoang Anh, a logistics company owner, drove his 911 Dakar from Vietnam, through China, to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, and back. It was a journey of 33,000 kilometres over 75 days.

The journey began in September 2023 with the aim of testing the limits of the Porsche 911 Dakar in a challenging environment like the Gobi Desert. Anh and his team traversed Vietnam, Laos, China, and Mongolia, facing extreme temperatures, difficult terrains, and logistical challenges.

The adventures of Anh and his Porsche 911 Dakar went viral on social media, turning them into a sensation in Vietnam and China. Thousands followed their journey on social platforms, inspiring others to pursue their own adventures.

In his travel log, the adventurer narrates during the first stage at the border crossing between Laos and China how "sometimes there will be no road and the straight line is not always the fastest. We don't have a detailed route in mind. Just the stops for the night, places I definitely want to see, and the border crossings that require permission. Like now between Laos and China."

The second stage of the journey, from September 24 to October 3, was destined for the Chaka Salt Lake, Qinghai, China. "For the first time, I can truly test the potential of the 911 Dakar. What power my new 911 has! Kilometre after kilometre we fly north. One of the highlights is the Chaka Salt Lake in Qinghai, on the Tibetan Plateau. The crystalline surface of the water reflects the blue sky which here, at about 3,100 meters altitude, seems very close," narrates Nguyen Hoang Anh.

In the third leg, in Xinjiang, northwest China, the Gobi Desert reveals its first sandy areas and rugged terrains. It's time to leave the road with the 911 Dakar. For the driver, it's a true marvel to drive this sports car on difficult terrains as it "climbs as well as it accelerates." The Chinese section of the famous Karakoram Highway between Pakistan and China runs from the Khunjerab Pass to Kashgar, a city once significant on the Silk Road at the border with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Between October 14 and 20, the stage's destination was the border crossing between China and Mongolia. The beautiful autumn landscapes presented an impressive natural spectacle. Upon arrival, the high season had ended "so we can take an attractive and less crowded route through the forests to the village."

The route continued in October with a new destination: the Arkhangai Province, Mongolia. "We got lost on the way to the Tsenkher hot springs in Arkhangai Province, and the 911 Dakar saved us again. We have to travel the last 20 kilometres on mountain tracks. There is no road, in some places only a nomadic trail shows us the direction. We cross rivers and wind through the forests. At some point, we reach the healing waters of the springs and marvel at the natural spectacle. Now I know: the Dakar will conquer any terrain on this journey," he describes.

Moving forward to November 5, the stage's destination was Mongolia - Border crossing with China. "The mechanic is Vietnamese, like apparently many people here. It's a pleasant feeling to be able to chat with people from my country who are not part of our group," writes the adventurer, who will soon encounter a new problem, the cold and snow of the next leg, which runs to Ice City, Harbin, in China. In the city of Mohe, the northernmost and coldest town in China during winter, with more than 30 degrees below zero "only a frozen river separates us from Russia," he explains.

The next leg is not as overwhelming as the first part through western China, nor as spectacular in terms of driving as Mongolia. It is about reaching Saigon (Vietnam) and realising the magnitude of this adventure: 33,000 kilometres in the 911 Dakar.

The car proved to be the perfect travel companion, successfully overcoming the most adverse conditions. Its powerful engine, all-wheel drive system, and high ground clearance allowed the Vietnamese driver to explore remote places and enjoy off-road driving.

At the end of his journey, Anh was invited to visit the Porsche facilities in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, where he met with the development team of the 911 Dakar. This experience was the crowning moment of an unforgettable adventure.