Hoi An Cycling is our complete travel guide about Hoian bicycle travel – Hoi An cycle tours, cycling in and around Hoi An, countryside, ride Hoian to Hue, My Son, An Bang beach, Hoi An Vietnam bike, bicycle rental, route map.
Hoi An is one of the best places for family bike tours in Vietnam. The place offers a wide selection of cycling tours including both day ride (in and around Hoian ancient town) and multi-day road cycling holidays (from Hoi An to Hue, Nha Trang).
Cycling in Hoi An Vietnam lets you experience the beautiful countryside of the Vietnam, as well as rural Hoi An village life from up close. Biking on the back roads of Hoian, through countryside lanes while greeting local farmers and school kids as you pass by, all add to an immersive experience!
About Hoi An Vietnam
Hoian is located in the central coast of Vietnam, about a half hour drive from Da Nang city, 3 hour drive from Hue city. It was an important port in 17th century and remained so for a long time. There used to be canals parallel to the streets, so merchandise could be loaded straight from the back of houses onto the boats. Hoi An’s continuance as a port lasted right up until the early years of the 20 century, when the river became silted up forcing the cargo ships to call at Da Nang instead.
In the past Hoi An town has been used by the Japanese, Portuguese, Dutch, French and the large remaining Chinese community where all sorts of products and wares were traded. Remnants of these past traders’ influences can still be seen lining the streets of Hoi An.
There are nine different types of historical sites in Hoi An Vietnam with an average age of 200 years. They include private houses, family chapels, community halls, communal houses, temples, pagodas, bridges, wells and tombs. Many of these buildings have been maintained close to their original form, allowing you imagination to recreate a prosperous trading town. The houses are small and colorful with wooden doors and two round “wooden house’s eyes” above, window shutters and ornamental furniture. A pleasant change from the iron bars and metal grates of other towns.
Hoi An old town is full of shops selling artwork, from lifelike memorial family portraits, to stylized images of Hoi An houses and streets. Next door to the art shops are places selling souvenir statues, ceramic plates, and ‘antique’ bowls. At the market place beside the Thu Bon river, you can pick up almost anything you want. Visitors are often being lured into the markets to buy silk and to have quality garments tailor made. You can have anything from dresses and trousers to shirts and hats made for a cheap price.
Another noticeable quality of Hoi An ancient quarter is its relative silence. There are few cars and people do not feel the urge to use their horns every two seconds. The streets of Hoian are filled with the hum of voices, motorbikes and the shuffling of thongs along the ground. Hoi An old town is small enough to get around on foot, and you will need a set of wheels if you are going to Cua Dai Beach, or on a day trip to the Marble Mountains or Da Nang.
A relaxing activity around sunset is to hire a boat from the waterside by the market place. For active travelers, we have some day eco tours, bike ride out of Hoian ancient town. Travel these bicycle tours you will discover the peaceful countryside villages of Hoi An.
Hoi An map
How to get to Hoi An?
By plane
The nearest airport is in Da Nang which has domestic connections from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue with Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air and some international flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Siem Reap, Hong Kong, Cambodia (for Angkor Wat) and charter flights from China.
By train
There is no railway station in Hoi An. The nearest is in Da Nang, which receives several trains a day from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Nha Trang etc. From Da Nang train station you can either book in advance a private transfer to Hoi An or book a shuttle bus ticket when you arrive there.
Getting to Hoi An from Da Nang airport
The best option to come from Da Nang airport is to book a private car with driver. The driver will wait for you at Da Nang airport hanging a welcome banner with your name on. He will take you to any hotel in Hoian.
Getting to Hoi An from Hue
Traveling from Hoi An to Hue? You can take either the train or the bus for 4 hours or you can ride a bike across the Hai Van Pass for an entire day. We at VietnamCycling.com offer a day bicycle tour from Hue to Hoi An with Trek bicycles, English-speaking guide and supported minivan. We recommend to book the tour in advance. This is the best way to explore the Hai Van Pass and is an unforgettable experience!
If you don’t want to ride a bike, we recommend taking the train. The train goes along the same coast and offers almost the same views.
Another option is to hire a private car or take a bus tickets. You can book a car with any hotel and travel agents in Hue. Bus tickets are also available at many travel agents in Hue.
When to go cycling in Hoi An?
Hoi An ancient city has two main seasons during the year: rainy and dry seasons, with a warm average temperature of 29°C during the year. The hottest period is from June to August when the highest temperature can reach 38°C during day time. November to January will be the coldest months with an average temperature of 20°C. The rainy season lasts from September to January with heavy rains which can cause floods and affect tourism. The city’s dry season is between February and May when the weather becomes very mild with moderate temperature and less humid.
Hoi An in March, April, and May
Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm in Hoian Vietnam. Highs range from 95.9°F (35.5°C) and 81.5°F (27.5°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with roughly 3 days of significant precipitation per month. March, April, and May are the best months for cycling in Hoi An. At VietnamCycling.com we recommend both Hoi An cycle day tour and multi-day road cycling from Hoi An to Nha Trang, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City.
Hoi An in June, July, and August
The middle-year months have hot weather in Hoi An old city with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see moderate precipitation with 3 to 7 days of precipitation per month. June, July, and August are in the slowest season for tourism in Hoi An, so biking in this area is limited with fewer options.
Hoi An in September, October, and November
Fall daily highs range from 91.2°F (32.9°C) and 80.9°F (27.2°C) in Hoi An ancient city, which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a great amount: 13 to 15 days per month. Tourism is the second busiest during these months due to the weather, so taking a bike ride is highly recommended. Keep reading for more information about cycling routes and bicycle tours in Hoi An.
Hoi An in December, January, and February
Weather is perfect this time of year in Hoi An to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 82.1°F (27.8°C) and 75.1°F (23.9°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 1 to 10 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists, offering good chance to explore Hoi An by bike. The town is busy and very excited just before the Lunar New Year.
What to explore on your Hoi An bicycle tour?
Trieu Chau Assembly Hall
Trieu Chau Assembly Hall was built by Chinese overseas coming from Trieu Chau (China) in 1845. It is dedicated to the God of Wind and Big Waves. The house’s owners hope this God will always bring luck to them and help them travel smoothly on the sea. Formerly, people often went to the house at night to pray because they thought that all their wishes would come true. The most outstanding features of the house are a sophisticatedly carved wooden frame, decorative designs, beautiful wooden patterns and embossed patterns made of porcelain pieces.
Diep Dong Nguyen Old House
Diep Dong Nguyen Old House was built in the late 19 century. The ancestors of the owner is a U.S. trader. In particular, the interior decoration were a combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese style.
According to the genealogy is stored in the Diep Dong Nguyen, Ngo Xuan Diep Diep first of them is from Gia Application-Guangdong (China) to Hoi An at Thanh Phong Ham (1856). With job hereditary medicine, he formed the first property for the family at Tran Phu (Quang Nam Hoi An) to store medicine called Dong Xuan Diep.
Duc An Old House
Duc An old house is situated at 129 Tran Phu Street. It’s the only old house in Hoi An that makes a genuine effort to present some real history. And if you’re fortunate enough to meet the eccentric Mr Tram, he’ll regale you with plenty of tales.
The property has been inhabited by the same family for over 400 years though the present house was built in 1850. It became the most successful bookshop in central Vietnam selling famous Vietnamese and Chinese texts as well as the works of foreign political thinkers like Rousseau and Voltaire. Early Vietnamese non-violent independence advocate Phan Chu Trinh was a regular at the house. A nearby major street is named after him as are streets throughout the country.
Cua Dai Beach
Cua Dai literally means the ‘big sea mouth’. Cua Dai beach is located in the area of Cam An Ward, about 4km to the north-east of Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province. Cua Dai Beach is over 3km in length and up to 300m in width. The beach boasts fine white sand, clear and blue water, moderate slopes and small waves, which make it ideal for recreational activities like swimming and other sea sports.
This beach is closest to Hoi An, is very beautiful and is well worth a visit to cool off when the heats starts to get to you.
Thuan Tinh Ecological Tourism Zone
Visitors will find it is very convenient to travel by bicycle or by boat from Hoi An ancient quarter to Thuan Tinh Ecological Tourism Zone since it’s only 3 km away from Hoi An ancient town. Located in a 50 hectares river islet, Thuan Tinh looks like a buoy floating in the lower section of Thu Bon river. This is a typical ecological tourism zone in Hoi An town, where you will enjoy the poetic natural landscapes.
Thu Bon River
Thu Bon River in Hoi An plays an important role in the geography, culture as well as the history of Hoi An. The town which was better known as Fai Fo in the days of antiquity, is situated on the banks of this river.
Thu Bon River in Hoi An is not just the main culminating point for most festivals and events that are held at Hoi An but also the chief source of livelihood for many residents of the town.
Kim Bong Carpentry Village
The carpentry village of Kim Bong is situated in Cam Kim commune, just on the other side of Hoi An river. Take a boat trip on Thu Bon River to visit Thanh Ha & Kim Bong handicraft Villages. It is very convenient for visitors to visit this village by boat and bicycle. There were many carpenters coming from this village contributed in the construction of Vietnam ancient capital in Hue.
Thanh Nam fishing village
The fishing Village Thanh Nam (also called Con Chai) is shaped by the beautiful Thu Bon River. Fishermen have come here for a long time to cast their nets and catch prawns, crabs and fish. The fishing village is still active nowadays, even with the appearance of modern fishing ships going to far fishing areas in the East Sea. The village is just 3 km away from Hoi An ancient town and it can be accessed by boat and bicycle.
Tra Que Vegetable Village
Just half a kilometer up the road from the Tomb of Tani Yajirobei is the Tra Que Vegetable Farm, a community of people who grow a wide variety of veggies and herbs in the rich soil at the top of the rice field. And rarely have any rural areas in Vietnam where livelihood is based solely on growing vegetables like this. Since the beginning of the XX century and previous, Tra Que is one of the important stop of many boats circulate along the De Vong river from Hoi An to Da Nang and vice versa.
Tra Que village is the most popular stop of many bicycle tours from Hoi An including both Hoian half day bike ride and Hoi An day ride with cooking class.
Thanh Ha Pottery Village
The Thanh Ha Pottery Village is located in Thanh Ha ward, Quang Nam province. The pottery village has a long historical legacy attached to this village. This well-known ceramic village of Hoi An can be both visited by boat and bike. We recommend to include the place on a Hoi An cycling tour.
Hoi An Museum of Folk Culture
The Hoi An Museum of Folk Culture is located at 33 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An ancient city. It is the largest wooden two-storey house in the ancient town with a length of 57 meters and a width of 9 meters. It fronts the two parallel streets of Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang.
Museum of Trade Ceramics
The Museum of Trade Ceramics in Hoi An is an establishment that houses the relics of a bygone civilization. It keeps the track record of the history and the origins of this port town. The building that serves as a museum itself is a very beautiful building constructed in traditional Vietnamese architectural style.
The Museum of Trade Ceramics in Hoi An is a two storey building with a courtyard and an anteroom – all of which are open to the public. The exhibits of the Museum of Trade Ceramics in Hoi An is made up of fragments of pottery.
Sa Huynh Culture Museum
The Sa Huynh Culture Museum is one of the most important museums in Hoi An. Located in the Tran Phu Street of the Hoi An heritage center, the museum house is a crucial relic of the Sa Huynh culture.
The Sa Huynh culture is a pre historic Bronze Age civilization that occurred in Vietnam, particularly in the central region of the country, near the coast.
Hoi An cycling routes
Hoi An is no doubt one of the best places for cycling in Vietnam. There are many different places to cycle in Hoi An, both in and out of town. If you want a relaxing morning or afternoon ride interspersed with great food and shopping, then look no further than Hoi An’s Old Town. Some of the best places to be explored by bicycle include Cam Kim Island, Tra Que Vegetable Village and the surrounding rice fields, and the beautiful beaches.
Here we’ve compiled all of the popular cycling routes in and around Hoi An, covered by our great selection of exciting Hoi An cycling tours. Terrain and highlights vary: from biking at a leisurely pace through countryside villages in Hoi An, to riding over undulating topography of hillside neighborhoods, all of which reward you with breathtaking vistas usually inaccessible by car.
Cycling in Hoi An
Cycling in Hoian is to discover Hoi An ancient town by bicycle. You will discover Hoi An old city with its major attractions by bike. You will need about 2-3 hours to discover the covered bridge, community hall, chapels, Hoi An local markets as well as many other old houses of Hoi An. Unless you are lodged outside the ancient city we recommend you to explore Hoian old quarter by foot.
Cycling around Hoi An
Rent a bicycle or join a Hoi An cycling tour to discover Hoian countryside. This is the best way to visit Hoi An Vietnam. You will enjoy a scenic ride in the countryside and get a taste of the real Vietnam on this full-day bike tour from Hoi An.
Cycle through the countryside of Hoi An on a half-day bike tour that showcases rural life in Vietnam. Wheel through hidden alleyways in the historic center of Hoi An to rural roads that pass through picturesque villages, farms and fisheries. Stop to visit local families and artisans, taste fresh fruits and regional foods, and meet local friendly farmers…
Venture off the tourist trail and pedal around the islands and villages of the Song Thu river delta, hopping on a boat or cycling across bamboo bridges to the reach the islands. Stop off along the way to peek into rural villages, experience traditional handicraft demonstrations and eat lunch with a local family at their home…
Cycling from Hoi An to An Bang beach
Cycling from Hoi An to An Bang Beach takes a few hours. The best time to take this biking tour is in the afternoon. Enjoy walking around the beach. The ride from Hoi An is fun – goes through rice paddies and although the roads. The beach is pretty quiet.
Cycling from Hoian to Da Nang
Although it’s possible to cycle from Hoi An to Da Nang, most of our guests take the car. Cycling along part of the Vietnam south central coast is fun. But the roads in Da Nang are quite busy.
Cycling from Hoi An to Hue
The most scenic part of cycling through Vietnam is between two heritage cities Hoi An and Hue. Cycling from Hoi An to Hue offers you the chance to discover the legendary Hai Van Pass, Tam Giang lagoon. The cycling route also offers stunning view of Vietnam countryside.
Cycle from Hoian to Nha Trang
Cycle from Hoi An to Nha Trang offers the opportunity to ride along the most beautiful coast of Vietnam. Riding on silk road with about 80km each day through Quang Ngai, Quy Nhon, to Nha Trang.
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Hoi An cycling tours
What are the best Hoi An Vietnam bike tours? Looking for inspiration to plan your perfect cycle tour Hoi An? Hoi An village cycle tour or Hoi An bike and boat tour? Hoi An cycling tour vs self guided bicycle tour Hoi An?
We at VietnamCycling.com offer a wide range of Hoi An bicycle tour including both easy bike ride around Hoi An and multi-day ride from Hoi An to Hue, Quy Nhon, Quang Ngai, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Hanoi. Options include: Hoi An countryside cycling tour, Hoi An bike and boat tour, Hoi An countryside bicycle tour, Hoi An bike and boat tour, Hoi An bike and cooking tour, Hoi An self guided bike tour, Hoi An to Hue bike tour, Hoi An My Son bike tour.
Read more: Hoi An tours
Hoi An bicycle rental
Looking for bike rental in Hoi An for your upcoming self-guided bicycle tour from Hoi An? Are there any bike shop in Hoi An where you can rent a good bike for a day ride? Keep reading to find the best bike shops Hoi An Vietnam.
There are several bike shops and garages in Hoi An ancient town where you can rent a bike with ease. Most of local bike shops have single speed bicycles to rent out at affordable rates (3-5 USD per day). You can also arrange the bicycle rental with local travel agencies and hotels. It is best to explore Hoi An countryside by bicycle. We recommend hybrid bicycles with 24 speed gear at the rental price of about 10-15 USD per day.
Additional questions about cycling in Hoi An?
Do you have any questions about bicycle touring in Hoi An that you want to ask us? Is there anything you think I should discuss about cycling around Hoi An that we left out… that we should include in future updates to this article?
Leave a comment with your questions and we’ll write you back with a response just as soon as we possibly can.