Biking in Hanoi
In recent years cycling has really taken off in
Hanoi. For a city that is so obsessed with the motorbike this is perhaps a
little surprising. Hanoi’s motorbikes are notorious. For a first time visitor
to the city, simply crossing a road at any time of day can be a daunting
experience. Put the morning and afternoon rush into the equation and it can be
a nightmare. It is not actually as bad as it seems. The trick is to keep
looking and walk purposefully across. The motorbikes will go round you, but it
is not for the faint hearted.
However amid all this motorized traffic, pedal power
is now growing in popularity. People are realizing the great feeling of cycling
around, under your own steam. Healthy and cheap it is a great way to see Hanoi
and the outlying areas. Hanoi is well known for its lakes; in fact it is often
referred to as the city of lakes. The most well known ones are Hoan Kiem Lake, West
Lake and the Halais Lake. It is a delight to cycle round any of these early in
the morning. At Hoan Kiem, many locals come out to walk, jog, perform Tai Chi
or even dance in the path area that surrounds the water. Young lovers stroll
and business keep fit before a hard day in the office. Cycling here is a very
pleasant experience. The air is fresh and the temperatures cool in the early
mornings.
The Hanoi Bicycle Collective is a really great
organization that is dedicated to cycling and forming friendships. They can be
found on Ngo31, Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho. This cafe serves great chocolate drinks,
beers or coffee whilst your bike is being repaired. You can watch a movie and
get something to eat. It is a great community with cycling at the heart of
everything that it does
Organized cycling tours are springing up all the
time. Whether you prefer to cycle round the city or get off the beaten track to
outlying areas there are tours available. It is a good trip from Hanoi to get
to the Red River and see something of the surrounding areas. The advantage of
bicycles of course is that they can go where other vehicles cannot. Squeezing
through narrow alleyways and cutting through paths and parkways, provides a
completely different perspective of this great city.
