Fall in love with Hanoi through the turns

Hanoi is often compared to a gentle girl that many people have fallen in love with while taking rides around the city.

The first bicycle, called a “velocipede”, was invented in 1817 by the German baron Karl von Drais. It was propelled by the rider, who glided along the ground with his feet, as there were no pedals. The first bicycle with pedals was invented in 1839 by Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan.

There are now an estimated one billion bicycles worldwide. This is also the most popular means of transport in the world . When mentioning “biking cities”, most communities will mention Copenhagen (Denmark) and Amsterdam (Netherlands). The capital Hanoi is also on the list of destinations for cycling enthusiasts and environmentally friendly by the travel website Booking.com.

The city offers a fascinating blend of history and contemporary life. Exploring the streets of ancient Hanoi is an experience like no other. Unlike many sports , cycling requires little skill and good physical fitness. As a gentle exercise, cycling uses all major muscle groups, causing less stress and injury than most other forms of exercise. And, by choosing a bicycle, you will certainly see more than in a car, and it is cooler and more relaxing than walking. Bicycles give you the freedom to go anywhere and park anywhere. On a bicycle, life slows down, you can notice everything going on around you, maybe even catch a glimpse of an old door or a mossy wall full of poetry. You feel the sun, smell the sun, experience lovely chaos, or surprisingly peaceful in secret places that are hard to find. When living in Hanoi or just having a walk in the capital of a thousand years of culture, people who love exercise and relaxation can take a walk around West Lake to have a valuable experience. On the challenging route of about 17 - 18km, there are many stops to watch the sunrise or sunset, enjoy famous specialties of Hanoi such as steamed snails with Chinese herbs, vermicelli with snails, West Lake shrimp cakes and have dessert with a cup of fragrant tea scented with lotus picked early in the morning in the last lotus ponds in West Lake...

International eateries with many dishes such as Italian pizza, Japanese matcha, Argentinian mate tea, French wine on Quang An street were also listed by Timeout magazine when voting for the most beautiful streets in the world in 2024.

In addition, Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of the capital is also an ideal place to cycle in the early morning or late afternoon. As you follow the path around the green lake, you will enjoy the view of The Huc Bridge and Turtle Tower reflected in the clear blue water.

The Thang Long - Hanoi night cycling tour offers an opportunity to explore the night scene and learn about the city's culture and history through famous tourist attractions such as museums, historical sites and night food streets. The cycling tour takes from 90 to 120 minutes, starting from the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, then to the Hanoi Flag Tower - Thang Long Imperial Citadel - Ba Dinh Square - Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - National Assembly Building - Presidential Palace - Quan Thanh Temple - Tran Quoc Pagoda - Ngoc Dao Ngu Xa Night Street (to enjoy some Hanoi delicacies) - North Gate - Quan Chuong Gate - Government Guest House - Vietnam National Museum of History - Hanoi Opera House.

Copenhagen has invested $150 million in infrastructure over the past decade to make cycling more accessible. Montreal, Canada, is one of the only North American cities to have built bike lanes. Hanoi is also working on a plan to reduce car and motorbike traffic in its downtown area to make it more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The city has introduced bike rentals, public transport links, and signs and traffic signals designed to make it easier to navigate.

Exploring Hanoi by bike is a convenient way not only to exercise but sometimes it is an adventure that brings the feeling of excitement as you get to know someone. Everything happens at a fast or leisurely pace with great flexibility. Sometimes the slower the pace, the more exciting and engaging!

Heritage Magazine