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HANOI BY BIKE

Hanoi is a bustling, hectic city, but green and relaxing at the same time. Beautiful avenues with stylish villas contrast with seemingly chaotic streets. And although traffic and its Vietnamese participants interpret the rules in their own way, a day of cycling through the capital is an unforgettable experience. Accompanied by a local guide, you will explore Hanoi and visit places such as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature and 'Hanoi Hilton'.

 
 


VIETNAM A LA CARTE - HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM
You will depart at 8 am from Vietnam à la carte on Nghi Tam Street to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. With the exception of Mondays and Fridays, the mausoleum is open in the morning. Behind the mausoleum is a park where the study of 'Uncle Ho' has been restored to its former glory. The complex surrounding the area was originally built by the French colonialists and is now used as government guesthouses.




HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM - HUU TIEP LAKE
Not too far from Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, we will ride along the West Lake's embankment to reach the next destination, Huu Tiep lake, as known as the B52 lake. This is time for you to slow down your cycling, enjoy the breeze on your faces, and observe the local guys who 'addicted' to illegal fishing. If this isn’t intriguing enough for you, how about a US B52 bomber shot down lying in the middle of a pond?





HUU TIEP LAKE - TEMPLE OF LITERATURE
We ride on to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam - the students who come there now do not do so to study but to ask the gods for luck in the exams. You can see whore graduates taking class photos there. The lunch that follows consists of your choice of bun cha (roasted meat with noodles), banh mi (Vietnamese baguette) or banh cuon (steamed rice pancake).

MEALS: L




TEMPLE OF LITERATURE - HOA LO
After lunch we cycle to Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton. The French rulers initially built this prison for Vietnamese political prisoners and later Vietnam used it for captured American pilots. Among them was John McCain, former US presidential candidate.




HOA LO - HOAN KIEM
Through a maze of streets and alleys we continue our way to Hoan Kiem Lake, which forms the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter. You may notice that most street names start with the word 'Hang': this refers to the craft that was traditionally established here and sometimes still is. There are still many jewelers on Hang Bac (silver street) and buckets and garden watering cans are still manufactured in Hang Thiec (tin street).




HOAN KIEM - LONG BIEN
From the Long Bien Bridge, the next destination on our route, you have beautiful views over the Red River. The bridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel and was severely damaged during the Vietnam War. The bridge is now an old rust bucket - and that certainly has its charm - which is still used by two-wheelers and for train traffic.




LONG BIEN - CA PHE AHA
If time permits, we cycle to a Cà Phê Aha where only 'locals' come to enjoy the view over the Red River while enjoying a cup of coffee.




CA PHE AHA - LONG BIEN - VIETNAM A LA CARTE
We return to the starting point of our tour. The last part of the trip is certainly not the least interesting: we cycle over what is popularly called 'Banana Island' back to Vietnam à la carte. It is an oasis of peace and in fact a piece of countryside with not only bananas but also tomatoes, corn and morning glory in the middle of a hectic city of millions.



Included:
- An English-speaking tour guide ()
- Transport and transfers as stated
- Meals as stated (B, L, D)


Not included:
- Flights to and from Vietnam
- Visa
- Insurance
- On-site expenses for meals and sightseeing, and personal expenses


Price per person (group of 2 people): USD 75,00
Price per person (group of 4 people): USD 60,00