Hanoi: Bike tour Red River island, Train Street & Old Quarter

Summary

Pedal through Hanoi’s backroads, floating villages & train street

You’ll pedal from Hanoi’s buzzing Old Quarter over Long Bien Bridge to quiet river islands and banana farms, meet locals over tea, then finish with coffee on Train Street as the train rushes past — moments you’ll remember long after your ride ends.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the city to change so quickly. One minute we were weaving through the Old Quarter’s tight alleys — scooters everywhere, that faint smell of grilled pork in the air — and then suddenly it was just us, our guide Minh, and the hum of our bikes heading out toward Long Bien Bridge. Minh pointed out how old the bridge was (he said it survived wars and floods), and I remember stopping halfway across, looking down at the Red River. The wind up there felt different — cooler, with a hint of something earthy from below. I tried taking a photo but honestly, it didn’t do it justice.

After crossing, we rolled into this patchwork of banana farms and little vegetable plots on Red River island. There were chickens darting around and a guy fixing his net by a floating house — he waved when Minh called out to him. We stopped at a local family’s home for tea (I think it was green tea but maybe I’m wrong; tasted fresh though) and tried to chat about daily life here. My Vietnamese is hopeless but they laughed anyway. The whole place smelled like wet earth after rain, even though it hadn’t rained in days.

We kept cycling along these narrow backroads until suddenly there was West Lake on one side — huge, almost silver in the morning light — and then we passed through an old citadel gate that Minh said was over 1,000 years old. At some point I lost track of where we were exactly; Hanoi just kept shifting around us. The last stop was Train Street. We got there just before the train came through (the timing is kind of luck), grabbed egg coffees from a tiny café while everyone pressed close to watch the tracks clear. It was loud and weirdly thrilling — I still think about that rumble under my feet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hanoi Bike Tour and Sightseeing

• Pick up and bike fitting at Old Quarter
• Bike through alleys to Long Bien Bridge and Red River Island
• Cycle to West Lake and visit Thang Long Citadel gate
• Walk and coffee at Train Street, return to hotel

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Hanoi bike tour?

Yes, pickup from hotels in the Old Quarter or from 44 Hang Bong Street is included.

What attractions are visited during the day trip?

You’ll visit Long Bien Bridge, Red River island (with banana farms and floating village), West Lake area, Tran Quoc Pagoda area, Thang Long citadel gate, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (pass by), French quarter streets, and Train Street.

Is lunch provided on this tour?

No lunch is included but you will have tea with a local family and special egg coffee at Train Street.

Are bikes provided for all participants?

Yes, comfortable mountain bikes are provided for everyone joining the tour.

How long does this bike tour last?

The exact duration isn’t specified but expect several hours including stops at key sites along the route.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels except those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

Will I have an English-speaking guide?

Yes, a professional English-speaking guide leads the tour throughout.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup or meeting point transfer from Hanoi Old Quarter, use of a comfortable mountain bike with safety briefing by your local guide, all entrance fees for sites visited along the route, tea with a local family on Red River island, bottled water during your ride (plus rain poncho if needed), and special egg coffee at Train Street before returning to your hotel.