Hanoi Bicycle Tour: Red River, Long Bien Bridge & Countryside
Pedal through farmland and history on the Red River's banks
A half-day bicycle tour of Hanoi's countryside that starts with hotel pickup and a ride across Long Bien Bridge, the oldest bridge in the city, then follows rural roads past rice paddies, bonsai gardens and a 200-year-old family home. The guide speaks English, lunch and drinks are included, and the pace is leisurely. You set how fast you go.
Step-by-step itinerary
Half-day bicycle tour in Hanoi countryside
- Pick up from hotel lobby
- Select suitable bicycle and safety briefing
- Cross Long Bien Bridge and enjoy Red River views
- Cycle along Red River banks and observe farmers
- Visit local bonsai family and learn craft
- Explore local wet market and taste tropical fruits
- Take break at lotus lake with sugarcane juice
- Cycle through rural villages to Co Loa Ancient Citadel
- Visit Hoi Phu village to see broomstick making
- Enjoy lunch at local restaurant
- Try traditional Egg Coffee beverage
What’s included
- Professional English-speaking guide.
- bicycle and helmet.
- bottled water.
- lunch at a local restaurant.
- egg coffee.
- sugarcane juice or fresh local drinks at lotus lake.
- entry to Co Loa Ancient Citadel.
- visit to the bonsai garden and Hoi Phu broomstick village.
- hotel pickup and return.
Times
- Every day 08:00 13:00
Before you book
Operated by BIKE TOURS HANOI
Prices and times updated 6 days ago
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The experience
Your guide picks you up from your hotel at either 8am or 1pm and takes you to the bike shop to find a suitable bicycle. After a safety briefing, you cross Long Bien Bridge, built over a century ago during French colonial times. From there you can see the Red River below, boats moving through the water, and green vegetable farms spread across the islands. The bridge itself is the oldest in Hanoi and carries the weight of Vietnam's modern history. It was a target during the war and has become a landmark that frames the boundary between the city and the countryside you're about to enter.
The ride follows dirt roads and the banks of the Red River, moving through rural villages where farmers work their fields. You stop at a local family's bonsai garden to learn about the craft and see their plants. The guide translates as you chat over tea. A wet market comes next (a working market where locals buy produce and fish), and then a break at lotus lake with sugarcane juice or fresh local drinks. The pace is yours. You're not racing. By the time you reach Co Loa Ancient Citadel, built in 200 BC as a fortress against invaders, you've cycled through the landscape that shaped the region's history and seen how people still live in it today.
Lunch is at a local restaurant where you eat Hanoi's food, and afterward you try egg coffee, a local specialty that mixes egg yolk and condensed milk into the coffee. The tour wraps with a visit to Hoi Phu village, known for making traditional broomsticks by hand. You watch the craft happen. The whole outing takes around four and a half hours from start to finish.
Is this one for you?A half-day tour leaves your afternoon or morning free. Book the 8am slot if you want the rest of the day to explore the city, or the 1pm departure if you prefer a slower start. The leisurely pace means you're not racing between stops, so you have time to talk with locals and absorb the countryside instead of just passing through it.
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Top questions
What is Long Bien Bridge and why does the tour cross it?
Long Bien Bridge is the oldest bridge in Hanoi, built over 100 years ago during French colonial times. The tour crosses it early on, and from the bridge you can see the Red River, boats moving underneath, and the green vegetable farms on the islands below. It marks the transition from the city into the countryside.
Do I need to be an experienced cyclist to join this tour?
No. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and moves at a leisurely pace you control yourself. The guide will help you find a bike that fits and give you a safety briefing before you start.
What happens at the local family's bonsai garden?
You stop at a privately owned bonsai garden run by a local family, where you can learn about the craft of growing and shaping miniature trees. The guide translates as you chat with the family over tea and hear about their daily life and traditions.
Is lunch included, and what will I eat?
Yes, lunch is included at a local Hanoi restaurant. After the meal you'll also try egg coffee, a local specialty made with egg yolk and condensed milk blended into the coffee.
What is Co Loa Ancient Citadel and when was it built?
Co Loa Ancient Citadel was built in 200 BC as a fortress to defend against foreign invaders. It played an important role in Vietnam's early history and stands in the countryside you cycle through on the tour.
How long is the tour and what time does it start?
The tour runs for around four and a half hours. Hotel pickup happens at either 8am or 1pm, depending on which departure you choose.
Hanoi Bicycle Tour: Red River, Long Bien Bridge & Countryside
4h 30m · EN
from US$ 59 per person
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