Biking in Vietnam with the family: your route tips

Hi there,

We’re a family of bike-travelers. Our long journey came to a halt in March 2020 in Ho Chi Minh City due to Covid. We’d been on the road for 8 months—2 in Thailand, 1 in Cambodia, and 1 in Vietnam (from the Mekong Delta up to Ho Chi Minh, where we got stopped). We’re heading back to Vietnam in July-August for 5 weeks to finish what we couldn’t in 2020 (introducing my kids to the country of my roots). We’d originally planned to backpack, figuring it’d be tough to cover the country by bike in such a short time... But the urge to pedal is strong for both parents and kids alike.

We’re thinking of keeping 10 days to explore the North by backpack (since the elevation changes are steep) and saving 3 solid weeks for biking—but we’re not sure where (ideally with minimal elevation gain). We’d love to return to Tam Coc (we visited in 2009 without the kids, thanks to Larsay’s great tips—still so grateful for all the valuable advice!). Logistically, we shipped our bikes 5 years ago, but that seems less doable now. We’re considering either renting (though 5 bikes for 3 weeks would get pricey fast) or buying locally to resell or donate afterward.

Is biking in August unrealistic? Thanks in advance for your insights! !

Hi there! For example, in Da Nang there are two Giant stores that offer several brands like Trinx, which is more affordable. In August, it’s really hot in the central region.

In big cities like Hà Nội or Saigon, just search for "Giant bicycles" on Google Maps to find the retailers.

Why not alternate backpacking days in the north and then take an Open-Bus trip to the south from Hanoi? There are tickets valid for 1 month, and you can stop wherever you choose—just book the next leg (up to the day before). The trip can be done during the day or at night in a sleeper berth. Kids love it. It’s super cheap.

At each stop, you can rent bikes for wonderful rides. Here are my recommendations:

- Ninh Binh - Hoa Lu - Tam Coc - or even further - Hue and surroundings, right bank and left bank - Da Nang - The Bridge - China Beach (watch out for traffic) - Hoi An along the paths through the rice fields - by the beach - the islands - Nha Trang - city and seaside - Buon Ma Thuot - Lak Lake (inland) - Mekong Delta - My Tho - Ben Tre - Vinh Long - Soc Trang

All this doesn’t stop you from other discoveries on foot.

Thanks for these feedbacks! Monday could be a good option logistically—you're right, it might be an "easy" solution. What we really loved during our bike trip was getting lost in small villages, far from tourism. That’s the feeling we’re after (more than hitting predefined must-see spots). I’m looking closely at your suggestion because it lets us skip domestic flights and stick to land travel while still having bike-friendly days. Thanks! !

In most highly touristy countries around the world, as soon as you stray a few hundred meters from the "must-see" spots—whether on foot or by bike—you find yourself in the real local life. This holds true for the countryside, forests, and even urban areas.

I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time in Vietnam.