Want to cycle in Vietnam? 6 most beautiful places you must see

With family, couple, or friends, for a few hours or for the day, let’s discover some of the most beautiful destinations in Vietnam to explore by bike. Eco-friendly, easy and friendly, cycling is one of the best means of transport to blend into the local culture, which still uses it a lot, and to discover the natural and cultural wonders that the country has to offer.

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Mai Chau rice valley

The Mai Chau rice valley, located 3 hours by a beautiful road from Hanoi, is one of the most popular destinations in the North for cycling tours. Imagine the pleasure it is to pedal through the maze of a vast patchwork of rice fields where people wearing their traditional conical hats watch over the rice. From village to hamlet, through a multitude of small paths, you will discover the unchanging farmer life punctuated by the seasons. It will also be an opportunity to meet the White Thai ethnic group who live in this valley in very charming wooden houses on stilts. In the evening, you can attend their music, dances and traditional songs.

The lovely Halong Bay on land

Ah! The beauty of Halong on land, here is a lovely destination for cycling. It is one of the most breathtaking scenery of Tonkin, registered with Unesco, which we invite you to discover by bike. Halong Bay on land offers a dazzling landscape made up of vast karstic shambles at the foot of which rivers flow and rice fields spread out. It is in this beautiful setting that you will cycle to visit the temples and pagodas, discover an ornithological reserve, or discover the historical remains of the former royal capital Hoa Lu.

Around Hue, the former royal capital

At the slow pace of cycling, discover the many cultural gems of the former royal capital listed on the Unesco heritage list. You can discover the large and vibrant Dong Ba market then in a few pedal strokes, go to the old imperial citadel to discover the remains of the royal Nguyen dynasty which reigned from 1802 to 1945. Along the romantic Perfume River, you arrive at the Heaven Fairy Lady Pagoda recognizable from afar by its high octagonal brick tower of 7 floors, called Phuoc Duyen Tower.

By small roads, you then go to the charming tombs of the emperors. That of Tu Duc and Minh Mang have infinite grace, drowned in beautifully manicured fragrant gardens while that of Khai Dinh astonishes with its daring blend of ancient and contemporary fine art, Eastern and Western architectural styles. Always by bicycle, you can discover the local craftsmen including those specialized in the manufacture of conical hats and incense sticks, and the typical house gardens of Hue which are a real oasis of serenity.

Zig-zag in the countryside of Hoi An

This delightful city, listed by Unesco as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a city that was a trading port in Southeast Asia from the 15th to the 19th century, is a real one for lovers of cycling. What a treat to stroll through its streets and alleys dotted with century-old houses, along the Thu Bon River and then to explore the pleasant countryside by bike. With your bicycle, take the local ferry to the islands of Cam Kim and Cam Nam, just opposite the port of Hoi An, where centuries-old craft traditions continue.

From the historic centre of Hoi An, let’s cycle towards the magnificent beaches of Hoi An, An Bang, and Cua Dai while taking a few rural detours to discover fishing villages and the market gardening areas of Tra Que.

Exploring the mountains of Dalat

The more athletic will be tempted to take on Dalat, the former health resort from the colonial era perched at an altitude of 1,500 metres in the Central Highlands. Dalat and its surroundings offer beautiful bike rides through the pine forests where old colonial houses are hidden to reach the many lakes, majestic waterfalls, and villages of ethnic minorities. Two very beautiful routes allow you to reach the seaside resorts of Nha Trang on one side and that of Mui Ne on the other. We have a preference for the road that leads to Nha Trang, it offers much more beautiful panoramas and it is possible to stop at Hon Ba Mountain where the former house of the famous doctor Yersin is established.

In the plant maze of the Mekong Delta

We promise you that you will enjoy cycling through the plant labyrinth of the Mekong Delta. It’s a flat region, traversed by a multitude of small paths in the shade of coconut trees that lead you to artisanal villages, generous orchards of tropical fruits, vibrant rice fields, old colonial residences, and amazing floating markets.

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