Bridging Two Worlds on Two Wheels

For Johnny Phan, a bicycle wasn't just transportation—it became the vehicle for a profound journey of self-discovery and cultural reconnection. The new VPM documentary "Chasing Cambodia" follows this first-generation Cambodian-American as he navigates the complex terrain of dual identity while pursuing his passion for competitive cycling.

As the son of Cambodian refugees who fled the Khmer Rouge genocide in the 1970s, Phan grew up in Richmond, Virginia, deliberately distancing himself from his heritage. Like many children of immigrants, he suppressed his cultural background in an effort to assimilate into American suburban life

"I got to this 'Oh crap' moment," Phan reflects in the documentary. "I've pushed this away for so long, how do I share this? How do I pass these really cool cultural aspects of who I am onto my kids when I've spent so much of my life pushing it away?"

From Local Racing to International Competition

What began as a practical solution to avoid campus parking problems at Virginia Commonwealth University evolved into a serious athletic pursuit. After years of local amateur racing as part of Richmond's thriving cycling community, Phan received an unexpected opportunity at age 36—twice the age of most competitive cyclists—to join the Cambodian National Cycling Team and represent his ancestral homeland in the Southeast Asian Games.

The documentary captures his remarkable journey from the weekly races at Richmond's Bryan Park to international competition in Vietnam and Cambodia. Throughout this athletic quest, viewers witness Phan's parallel journey inward, as he reconnects with his cultural roots and family history