Vietnam, March 2008 — When Journeys Crossed Paths
Between March 3 and March 13, 2008, Francis Chu, the Singapore-based inventor of the Totobobo Mask, joined Goska Romanowicz and Hervé Bonnaveira of Dévélotour Asia for an unforgettable nine-day cycling adventure through northern Vietnam.
Their route took them from the bustling streets of Hanoi to the stunning coastline, where they boarded a boat bound for the legendary Ha Long Bay. This meeting marked a significant point in Dévélotour’s expedition — the 7,000 km milestone of their 16,000 km, year-long journey across Asia.
For Francis, it was more than just a ride; it was an immersive experience into the heart of Dévélotour’s mission — exploring sustainability, documenting environmental challenges, and living the reality of air pollution that millions face daily in Asia.
A Journey of Discovery — and Data
Throughout the trip, Hervé and Goska continued their pioneering environmental work. As part of Dévélotour’s mission to observe and visualize air pollution, they had developed a simple yet powerful method using Totobobo filtration masks.
In every country they visited — from India to Thailand, Vietnam, and China — they wore the masks to protect their lungs while cycling through major cities and rural roads. Every six hours, they replaced the mask filters, collecting visible evidence of the pollution levels they encountered.
By the end of the journey, the couple had accumulated a stunning — and sobering — record: a set of filters showing a gradation of grime, each one a snapshot of the air quality in a different Asian city.
Those blackened filters told a powerful story — the particles trapped in them were the ones that would have entered their lungs without protection.
Totobobo Mask: Tested on the Road
During their days together in Vietnam, Francis and the Dévélotour team tested the Totobobo mask in real-world conditions — long rides, high humidity, and constant exposure to motorbike traffic.
The mask proved to be lightweight, effective, and surprisingly comfortable, even during hours of intense cycling. The cyclists found that breathing through the mask was far easier than inhaling the thick, exhaust-laden air that hung over many urban areas.
However, the humid tropical climate posed a unique challenge: moisture accumulation inside the mask during prolonged use. For Francis, this firsthand experience provided invaluable insight for refining the mask’s design for future users.
“It was the first time Totobobo was tested over long distances in such demanding conditions,” Francis noted. “The feedback from Goska and Hervé was essential — it helped shape improvements that made the mask even more practical for cyclists.”
Capturing the Journey
Throughout the nine days, Hervé kept a video diary of their shared journey — later compiled into the Dévélotour documentary DVD — while Francis captured stunning photographs of the landscape, the people, and the powerful contrast between natural beauty and human pollution.
Together, their records form a vivid picture of what cycling across Asia’s rapidly changing environments really feels like — the rhythm of the road, the warmth of local encounters, and the invisible threat that hangs in the air.
Air Pollution: A Visible Problem Made Clear
The filters from different cities revealed a stark truth: across much of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, air quality was alarmingly poor — not just in industrial cities but even in rural areas.
Airborne particulates, often invisible to the naked eye, filled the air everywhere they rode. Without masks, breathing was difficult and sometimes painful. With Totobobo, the difference was immediate — clearer breathing, less irritation, and a tangible sense of protection.
Displayed below (or in their film) are the Totobobo filters from their journey — each one darkened by the air it purified. They stand as a visual testament to the reality of pollution across Asia and a reminder of how vital clean air is to human health.
Continuous exposure to such poor air quality, without protection, can lead to serious respiratory diseases and long-term lung damage — something Dévélotour and Totobobo hope to raise awareness about.
Reflections from the Road
For both Dévélotour and Totobobo, this collaboration in Vietnam was more than a meeting of minds — it was a meeting of values 🌱 . Each shared the belief that innovation, education, and exploration can drive meaningful environmental change.
The nine days on Vietnam’s roads became a living laboratory — where ideas about sustainability and design were tested under the open sky, one pedal stroke at a time.
About the Project
About Dévélotour Asia
Founded by Goska Romanowicz and Dr. Hervé Bonnaveira, Dévélotour Asia is a year-long cycling expedition covering 16,000 kilometers across Asia to raise awareness about sustainable development, pollution, and climate issues. Their journey documented both the environmental challenges and the inspiring solutions found in local communities.
👉 Learn more: [Dévélotour documentary page]
About Totobobo
Invented by Francis Chu in Singapore, the Totobobo Mask is a reusable, lightweight air respirator designed for cyclists, commuters, and anyone living in polluted environments. Its unique transparent design and replaceable filters allow users to see — and measure — the air they breathe.
👉 Discover Totobobo: [Totobobo official]
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Nice information about having mask whenever u drive the cycle
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