Hoi An Countryside Bike Tour

• Day tours by bike
• Vietnam
• Hoi An

Take a remarkable ride through rural Hoi An

Embark on a captivating bike tour through Hoi An's surrounding countryside, immersing yourself in the rural charm of family farms, fishing villages, artisans, and cottage industries. Begin your family-friendly bicycle tour with a stop at Hoi An's most famous site, the Japanese Bridge, before embarking into the countryside and stopping for a breakfast of Banh Dap, and at a family chapel, traditional boatyard, mat weaving workshop, and a rice wine distillery.

Begin your guided tour by crossing Hoi An's most famous landmark: the Japanese Bridge. Opened in 1593 to connect Japanese merchants with a Chinese enclave on the other side of the canal, a temple sits atop the bridge. Marvel at this unique temple filled with figurines and ornate decor as a way to placate the earthquake-inducing monster Namazu.

Continue riding over a dedicated bike bridge that connects Hoi An to its southern villages. After a short cycle you'll arrive at your first stop for breakfast. Here, you'll meet a local family engaged in the traditional method of crafting Banh Dap, a delectable breakfast dish made from savory rice flour.

Cycling on, you'll arrive at one of Hoi An's picturesque villages, where you'll stop at a family home to learn about the fascinating tradition of family chapels. Your host will share captivating stories about their life in Hoi An as well as the spiritual and cultural significance of this site for clan members to pay respects to their ancestors.

Onwards past lush rice fields and vegetable farms, following paths along small canals and waterways until you reach a traditional boatyard. Hoi An has always relied on its strategic position as a port city and fishing remains the region's most important trade today. Your time in the boatyard will allow you to witness this first hand, as you watch the traditional building techniques and the great care the people of Hoi An take after their boats, which are essential to their livelihoods.

Heading even further into the countryside, your day tour makes its way to a traditional mat weaving workshop. Watch the dextrous process required to weave reeds into a colorful mat, and perhaps even purchase a souvenir or two.

Your guide will then lead you onwards to the next stop on your bicycle tour. Meet a friendly local family who runs a distillery that has been producing rice wine for generations, preserving ancient techniques. Despite being Vietnam's most popular liquor, rice wine is rarely produced in bulk and is seldom available outside of the country. This makes this stop an invaluable opportunity to learn some history and test your taste buds on a spirit that is unheard of by many outside Vietnam.

Your route then meanders towards your ferry back to the city of Hoi An. You may witness families gathering to clean fishing nets between their sea voyages as you cycle towards the dock, another testament to the centrality of the Thu Bôn River in this region. Board the local ferry, offering picturesque views of the Hoi An waterfront to round off your delightful day tour into the heart of Hoi An's rural industries. Continue your cultural exploration on a city tour with a culinary edge by taking the Hoi An Culinary Tour with Food Tastings.

View more photos

Highlights

Hoi An Old Town, Banh Dap breakfast, Family chapel, Traditional boatyard, Mat weaving workshop, Rice wine distillery

What’s included

• Bike and helmet rental
• English-speaking guide
• Snacks
• Refreshments

Meeting place & directions

Discova Hoi An Bike Shop

25 Dinh Tien Hoang , Hoi An 51308, Vietnam (look for the white house at the intersection).