Paris, July 9 -- After completing the first 1,000km of an ambitious 4,200km run from Vietnam's northernmost point to its southern tip, 20-year-old French student Joal Paillaud says the greatest reward is not the physical achievement, but the warmth, generosity and hospitality of the Vietnamese people he has met along the way. Paillaud spent more than a month running through forests, mountains and the rugged terrain of northwestern Vietnam as part of his cross-country journey. He set off in June from the Lung Cu Flag Tower in the northern province of Tuyen Quang carrying only a backpack. Having completed the first stage of the expedition, he said the journey has gone on schedule and that he has remained in good physical condition. Looking ...