Some tourist destinations in Hanoi by bicycle in 2025
Hanoi, with its thousand-year history, is beautiful from every angle. But it becomes even more fascinating when, one day, you choose to explore it on a bicycle.
Quoting Margo Pfeiff, a foreign tourist, on Vietnamese traffic:
“Being part of the traffic here feels like swimming in a sea of vehicles — from cars and trucks to electric bikes, fruit vendors’ carts, and two-wheeled trolleys flooding the boulevards, where traffic lights seem to serve more as decoration than function…”
In such a setting, riding a bicycle to explore the city or improve your health is gradually becoming a popular trend, drawing more and more people in. Hanoi offers many ideal places where cycling becomes not only refreshing but also full of joy.
Long Bien Bridge
Long Bien Bridge
This century-old iron bridge stands tall across the Red River. As you pedal slowly, you’ll find yourself immersed in a nostalgic, poetic atmosphere. Stretching out below are lush green islets with cornfields and vegetable patches under the bridge.
Watching the sunrise or sunset from Long Bien Bridge is a cherished experience for many young people. On summer evenings, you can cycle leisurely across the bridge, enjoy the cool breeze, and chat with friends over a glass of lemon tea. In the biting cold of winter, the same bridge offers a different charm, huddled over grilled corn or sweet potatoes, making for unforgettable memories.
West Lake
West Lake
West Lake is the largest lake in Hanoi, known for its peaceful and cool atmosphere. On summer afternoons, the lakeside becomes a favorite spot for people catching the breeze. Even if you don’t own a bike, renting one is easy and affordable — around 50,000 VND per day.
The roads around the lake, like Thanh Nien Street, the lakefront paths, the Korean Wharf, and the Japanese Wharf, are clean and spacious, perfect for a bike ride. Sunset over the lake or the blooming lotuses in summer are iconic seasonal highlights of Hanoi.
The fragrant scent of West Lake lotus flowers refreshes the muggy air. Cycling at sunset while breathing in the lotus aroma is a highly effective stress reliever.
Central Streets
Central Streets
Phan Dinh Phung, Tran Phu, and Hoang Dieu are among the most beautiful streets in the capital. What makes these streets special are their wide, clean sidewalks and tall, ancient trees that provide year-round shade.
In the leaf-changing season, these streets are carpeted with golden foliage, creating a poetic landscape. Along the way, you’ll spot many colonial-era villas and famous landmarks such as Cua Bac Church and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Cycling here allows you to enjoy the fresh air and subtle floral scents drifting in the wind.
Hanoi’s Old Quarter
Hanoi’s Old Quarter
If you’re familiar with the bustling, chaotic Old Quarter, packed with traffic and street vendors day and night, a bike ride through it might offer a refreshing change — a slower, more intimate look into local life.
Cycling in the Old Quarter is both convenient and safe. You can stop anytime to take photos, buy souvenirs, or simply admire the mossy, timeworn houses — the kinds of details you might miss if traveling by faster means. With some luck, you might stumble upon Dinh Tien Hoang Street cloaked in a dreamy haze.
Kim Ma Street
Kim Ma Street
Kim Ma is often called “Hanoi’s most romantic street” with its unique parallel roadways. No matter the season, whether the trees are bare or lush, there’s always a sense of charm and poetry here.
In spring, the road is lit up with fiery red buds of crape myrtle trees. In summer, the green lawns shine vividly under the sun. Autumn brings a blanket of fallen yellow leaves, while even in the cold of winter, the bare trees draw couples who come to cycle and enjoy the quiet romance of the season.
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