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| Take a biking brake on Hoan Kiem Lake and admire the view or just people watch |
Riding a bicycle is a fine option to explore the vibrant city of Hanoi. Most tourists prefer to walk because of the close proximity of local attractions. But walking the whole day can get exhausting. Cycling allows you the leisure of slowly admiring the remnants of Hanoi's French colonial architecture without the sweat.
Bicycles also allow you more places to explore, which you can't do with other forms of transportation. A pathway circles Tay Ho Lake, making it perfect for biking. It is 15km in circumference and ringed by upmarket suburbs, seafood restaurants, boutiques, and luxury hotels. Beside it is the equally beautiful Truc Bach Lake, if you want to avoid the crowds.
You can also bike around Hoam Kiem Lake and drop by Ngoc Son Temple, located on an island in the northen part of the lake. If you visit Hoan Kiem around 6am in the morning, you can watch local residents practice t'ai chi on the shore.
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| Dusk at Truc Bach Lake |
Most small hotels and bike shops scattered around the Old Quarter offer bicycle rentals. Prices usually range from $2-3 or VND40,000-60,000.
Tourist attractions usually have parking for both motorbikes and bicycles. Your bicycle will be numbered and you will be given a ticket, which will be surrendered to claim your bike. Most parking places don't allow locking of bicycles, but don't worry it's still generally safe.
For places that don't offer parking, you can park at the side or on the pavement. Just chain it around a gate or pole and lock it. A chain and lock is usually included in bike rentals.
There's no need to worry about being overpowered by cars and buses. In Vietnam, motorbikes dominate the streets. Just go with the flow of the motorbikes and you'll be fine. Wearing protective helmet is not legally required, but you should still wear one for safety.
Biking may be less strenuous than walking, but it's still best to do some stretching exercises to warm up and cool down after biking.
