So you’ve decided for a trip to Vietnam and you know what, Hoi An is probably already included as a must visit, of-course we all want a unique destination wherever we travel and with no question, Hoi An is one of the places you’ll admire it for so many reasons.
The classic sightseeing takes you to the historic side of this beautiful town, the foodie tour, the boat ride along the river and the infamous coconut basket boat tour will reveal all its charm.
However, since the vehicles are forbidden from entering the old town of Hoi An, then about almost any guest house, hotel and resort, offer a free bicycle for guests to cycle around, probably for a more sightseeing and things to do and get an unclose look into local life and anything a tourist wold want to do.
The cycling trails around the old town are not of something special (just cycle in the streets), but we suggest to take a deeper ride and check out those of Thanh Ha rising village, Kim Bong, and beaches like An Bang and the rice terraces around the river.
Let’s now dive into some of the best trails you can spot on your google map and enjoy your stay in Hoi An, cycling in Hoi An is all up to your preference, but brings you an extra local touch.
This is convinced: Cycling through Hoi An
Tell you one thing, bicycle has been a part of Vietnamese society since we remember (before these scooters invade the streets of Vietnam). Still in countrysides, you’ll see people cycling on everyday basis. Anyway, dong this in Hoi An allowing you to be active on your holiday, roam around the landscape to quiet countrysides. Visitors enjoy scenic detours through rice paddies and nipa palm groves, while exploring traditional craft centers like Tra Que veggie village, Thanh Ha Pottery center, and Cam Kim Island in an eco-friendly way.
You won’t be able to take a taxi and get there (since motorized vehicles are banned in old town), either walk and or jump on your bicycle, choose one.
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Paved roads for easy cycling
Both Hoi An and its countryside are easily accessible for 10-20 minutes of cycling (depending on where you heading to). The streets of old town are well-paved, regularly swept and clean and easy to cycle and while you slowly heading toward the rice fields, An Bang and or coco village, the roads are all in good conditions. just take a Pancho with you in case of any sudden rain (you can pick one fro any super market with 20k VND, less than a USD). So read this in case you’re lazy and making an excuse to not to cycle.
Try early morning and or afternoon for cycling
The old town of Hoi An is not a quiet place for cycling. Ignore the blogs or photos you see about a peaceful, quiet, or he town is yours and so on… yea, but this town is a very touristy one, you’ll see group tours, in one side, travelers in the other side, local vendors cafes, souvenir shops, and altogether making cycling across the streets of old town not really suitable and peaceful per say. So, I suggest you to cycle around the early morning or in the afternoon.
Most of the time I walked from my resort to the old town, even though it took me 15 min to walk.
An easy access to the fishing villages
The local way of life is the secret to the country’s value and culture and im sure you want to see it upclose, and, what better way to experience it that cycling through the local hamlets, including pottery villages, fishing centers and farmlands. You’ll see a fisherman setting up a tent, a water buffalo in the field and local artisan making jewelry, pottery and lanterns. I suggest following places to be checked in:
- Van Lang Fishing Village
- Duy Hai Fishing Village
- Tra Nhieu Fishing Village
- Thanh Ha Pottery Village
- Kim Bong Carpentry center
- Tra Que Vegetable Village
Free bicycle provided by your hotel
As I hav mentioned above, at almost any places you stay, hotels, guest houses, resort and tourism centers, they provide with free bicycle to the town. You can take one and enjoy the cycling to anywhere you want. Each bicycle has a separate sign showing to which hotel is belonged to. It also has a lock so you can secure it in case you park it at a cafe and or if you need to leave it outside.
In case you forgot to take one from your hotel, there are also a number of places in old town to which you can rent one, the typical renting price is around 40k to 50k per day.
Here are the recommended cycling routes in Hoi An
There are two conditions while you’re in Hoi An, whether on a tour and or visiting solo. If you’re on a tour, usually your guide taking you to a few places where you can cycle, these are often the best routes with a planned itinerary.
Cycling along the Thu Bon River is a must do. The riverside forests connect villages, fishing docks, and local temples through the rice fields.
Anyway, if you are visiting solo, then this is what you need to pay attention to, here I share a couple of routes for you for a self-guided cycling in and around Hoi An. let’s keep reading:
Cycling through the historic town
Sorry, I do not like to call it ancient, I see way everyone call it ancient town, Hoi An has been around since 16th centuries where sailor dock to merchendazie and since then it become a favourite hub. So, I call it historic rather than an ancient, I think you’re all agree with me.
Hoi An old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is best explored slowly on a bicycle. Riding through the narrow, lantern-lined alleyways during the early morning or late afternoon brings you a nice feeling. The warm sunlight glistening on the Thu Bon River creates a beautiful atmosphere. Don’t miss the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, a 17th-century architectural gem built by Japanese merchants.
The rice fields around Cam Thanh and Tra Que veggie village
Just a short 5-kilometer cycling from the old town (let’s reference the Japanese covered bridge: this is the cordite for google map: 15.877262702008224, 108.3260704020125). The Tra Que Vegetable Village is where you see a peaceful countryside scene. Cycling along narrow paths through rice paddies, herb gardens, and lush fields, you’ll see local farmers cultivating herbs and vegetables. You can stop, take a few pic and there’re a few local foodies so you can eat there as well.
The Cam Thanh is just located about 7 kilometers southeast of Town, it offers a tranquil and scenic cycling route through quiet village roads, lush rice fields, and serene waterways. The village is famous for its nipa palm forests and traditional basket boats. Along the way, you can spot water buffalo grazing, farmers working their land, and traditional houses built using age-old construction methods.
Remember to take a bug / mosquito repellent so you’re safe for bites.
Thanh Ha art village
Another bicycle friendly route you can plan to cycle easily from your hotel. This one is located just 3 kilometers from the town, Thanh Ha Pottery Village is known for its centuries-old tradition of ceramic craftsmanship. Cycling to Thanh Ha takes you along rural roads, across the Thu Bon River via the Cam Nam Bridge, and past green rice fields. One in the village, make sure to check pottery workshops where artisans shape clay using traditional tools and techniques.
If you buy big items, they are able to ship it to your destination using the local post carrier, like Vietnam post.
Thu Bon Riverside
Cycling along the Thu Bon River enables you to see old town while enjoying the quiet riverside and the boats anchored. The riverside paths connect small villages, fishing docks, and local temples in smaller backroads, giving you a head up into everyday rural life. Early morning or late afternoon rides are especially beautiful, with golden light reflecting on the water and views of traditional wooden boats and farmers at work in the fields.
Kim Bong carpentry center
Kim Bong Carpentry Village, located on Cam Kim Island across the Thu Bon River, is known for its skilled woodworkers and traditional craftsmanship on display, a great way to see local artisan and the pieces of art works craved from the wood. To cycle the village, take a short pass from Hoi An’s riverfront and continue through quiet country roads, lush rice fields, and wooden houses.
Cam Kim Oasis
The second oasis on the Thu bon River. Cam Kim Island is just about 15 minutes cycling from Hoi An town, it takes you where the tranquil villages, rice fields, lotus ponds, shaded trees are. The island is renowned for traditional crafts, including carpentry, boat building, rice paper making, noodle making, and lantern crafting. Along the way, visitors can witness skilled artisans at work and enjoy views of the Thu Bon River.
Duy Vinh village
This village is about 30 min cycling from the center of Hoi An. Duy Vinh Commune is another local place where you’ll see different methods of fishing, the village is mainly known for bamboo mat-weaving, carpentry, and wooden craft work, where visitors can watch local artisans at work and experience authentic rural life beyond tourism.
An Bang beach
There are dozens beached close to Hoi An, bit my favorite, which I want to share it with you guys, is the An Bang Beach, a 10 min cycling will take you to a beach where you’ll see a wide ranges of cafes, seafood restaurants and beachside villas and sun lounges, where you can freely get sun drenched and swim. The water is usually calm during the dry season. Most people ask stay in this area if they do not want to lodge around the old town where it’s usually more crowded.
Let’s plan an itinerary for cycling in & around Hoi An
There’s nothing quite complicated and or adventurous for a cycling around Hoi An, however, with all the places I’ve mentioned above, getting them together might be overwhelming, and you may miss one and or a few sights. Here is an easy plan for not only cycling, but to combine it. few things to do and activity.
I try to make it short and give you a few options, whether a few hours and or a full day, let go:
~ 3 hours: Old town with Tra Que farm village
I say 3 hours, but it might be a bit longer and or even faster, depending on how to stop for each visit. This options is best if you only want to check the highlights including the old tow itself.
I suggest to leave a bit early (I know you’re in holiday, but old town can be packed by 9am), head to old town and start from the Japanese old bridge, park your bicycle and check the bridge and an adjoining pagoda, then cycle along the Hoai River.
Next, pass through the rice fields to reach the Tra Que, known as vegetable village, since it is sourcing the vegetable for most of the cafes and restaurants in Hoi An. Once here, you can ask a farmer and probably join them to get your hands on farming.
~ 5 hours: Visit craft villages & or swim at An Bang Beach
Once in Hoi An, you definitely want a beach for surfing and, here is the route combines crafts village with a relaxing at An Bang beach.
Start with cycling toward Thanh Ha Pottery Village, where you can watch artisans working on clay and visit a few workshops. Continue to Kim Bong Carpentry center, to see woodworks. Then cycle toward the beach, leave your bicycle at one of the seaside cafes, get a drink from them and or a coconut, rent an umbrella and chair and enjoy your relaxing time.
Full-day cycling: Fishing Village & rice fields
Some tour companies offer a full day cycling around Hoi An, even go further to Danang and or Hai Van pass toward Hue with a visit to the famous lagoon. You may want to do the same if you’re feeling to cycle for an adventure. This route takes you through rice paddies, peaceful countryside roads, fishing villages, and one of the most unspoiled beaches in the region. This itinerary covers around 40-45 km and it might be more depending on the number of destination an things to do.
If you follow this route, I suggest you to have a lunch in Danang. And, if you decide to cycle upward through the Hai Van, you should stop to check the war-era bunkers with an overview around the ocean.
Best time of the day for cycling around Hoi An
The best time to visit Hoi An (in general) would be during the cool months of January though March, when the sky is clear and temperature is ideal. The rainy season, May through September could be ideal for some, but it might not be suitable for cycling.
Anyway, to cycle around, the best time of the day would be early. morning and or in the afternoon when the crows are a way
The bottom line
Cycling might not be the one activity you plan for it before flying into Vietnam, but once in Hoi An, you see pretty much anyone is cycling around, so you will be soon seeing yourself taking a bicycle from your hotel and cycling around. Its the only good way to roam around the historic town and see a couple of places and check out the things to do.
If you feel a need to help for planning your holiday, contact one of our local trip advisors and we will provide with advices, and step by step guidance for a custom travel in Vietnam.
