Complete Guide for Cycling in Hue 2024

Hue is considered the greatest city for cycling in Vietnam, with its less traffic than large cities, making cycling around the city much safer and more enjoyable.  Many visitors prefer to ride their bicycles to the Citadel along the Huong River's banks or to a variety of temples that may be found a short distance from the city center.

Cycling along the Hue's Citadel

If you are an enthusiast cyclist, you can venture out of the city into the tranquil countryside. As you drive through locations where few other visitors go, it’s an incredibly relaxing and real-life experience. Just right outside the city center, you can easily and quickly get to the countryside, especially on a bike.

Here are a few of the most recommended Hue cycling itineraries, from short rides to more intensive expeditions.

Trail 1:  The main sights – Citadel – Garden Houses  - Thien Mu Pagoda - including longer extension (Level: Easy to Moderate)

On this itinerary, we start at your hotel in Hue. In particular, your accommodation is in Hue’s center, crossing the Trang Tien Bridge to the Hue Citadel, the city's most important historical site. Take a ride around the outside of the citadel to get a feeling of its size. Besides, the lanes and surrounding streets are quite delightful for wandering around. 

After touring the citadel, make your way to An Hien Garden House along the Perfume River. Come see an 1895 traditional home and temple situated on beautiful grounds. Continue to the Thien Mu Pagoda, which was built in the 17th century and is arguably Vietnam's most magnificent spiritual edifice. Try to come early so you can avoid the heat and the tourists crowds. 

Cycling to Thien Mu Pagoda

Return from here, crossing the Da Vien Bridge, if you're having a short journey. On Le Loi St., you can see Hue's cool colonial-era train station and the Quoc Hoc National School. Allowing for detours, this journey will be roughly 15 to 20 kilometers long. Continue to Minh Mang Tomb and then return through Khai Dinh's tomb if you want to undertake some more intense cycling. You may also see Nam Giao's ruins, which served as the Nguyen Dynasty's spiritual center. If you take this extension, the journey duration will be roughly 40-50 kilometers long.

Trail 2: The main sights above and Gia Long’s Tomb (Longer Ride - Level: Moderate)

Set off on itinerary 1 and then make your way to Gia Long's Tomb from Minh Mang's Tomb. Gia Long was the first monarch of the Nguyen Dynasty. His mausoleum is in a picturesque location and receives few visits. Minh Mang's tomb is around 8 kilometers away from Gia Long's mausoleum (18kms from Hue). This route will be between 50 and 60 kilometers long, depending on the Hue cycling diversions.

Trail 3: Churches, Pagodas, Schools, markets, and cool streets (Alternative Hue - Level: Easy to Moderate)

Quoc Hoc School - Hue's National School is located beside the Perfume River. Many of Vietnam's most prominent historical leaders attended school here, including Ho Chi Minh. You might not be able to go in, but it's a colonial complex with tremendous history that's well worth a look. The memorial to Vietnamese lives lost in WWI, which stands just across the street, serves as a reminder of the cost of French colonial control in Vietnam.

Cycling through schools and streets

From here, make your way to the main Hue Catholic Cathedral, which is located distant from the river. From the Cathedral, go along Phan Dinh Phung Street to the former royal home Cung An Dinh. Return to Hue's center through Phan Dinh Phung St, crossing the Trang Tien Bridge (also known as the Truong Tien Bridge) and turning right.

Before going on a random exploring of the Chi Lang region and Bach Dang St., stop at Dong Ba Market for a glance. In all of these locations, there is a wealth of architecture, temples, and street cuisine to be discovered. In old Hue, the Chi Lang neighborhood was known as Chinatown.

Trail 4: Thanh Toan Village and Tam Giang Lagoon 

Thanh Toan village, located 8 kilometers east of Hue, is known for its beautiful roads, quiet rural environment, and, in particular, the tile-roofed bridge. If you want to see the tranquil beauty of a Vietnamese hamlet and learn about the lives of the locals, the bike trip to Thanh Toan village is the ideal option.

Cycling to Thanh Toan Village

Riding around the town and taking in the serenity will provide you with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After visiting Thanh Toan Village, you then cycle to Tam Giang Lagoon to mingle with local people and learn about Vietnamese fishing methods. Cycling around My Thanh, Bao La, and Tan My Village and visit local artisans. 

Tam Giang Lagoon

• Renting: Hue is the only town in Vietnam where you can rent a good bike for a fair price. Many hotels and accommodations provide modest bicycles that are adequate for short trips. For some of the longer rides, you'll be better suited to riding a bike with gears. Most of them will let you rent a bike without any fee as this is included in the room price. You can also rent a bicycle cheaply in the center of the city. There are some suggested bicycle rental places in Hue that provide high-quality bikes and good services such as Grasshoppers, Hue Smile, or Motorbike Nguyen Tu.
• The best time to go cycling in Hue is from March to May as there is less rain and the weather, as well as the temperature, is quite pleasant. During the summer months from June to August, it is very hot and sunny to ride the bicycle yet these months see moderate precipitation than usual. From October to January, Hue sees a lot of rain, which is drizzling mostly, yet the light rain can become a flood in some particular area. Even though the heat is lower which is much more comfortable for cycling, cyclists still need to be aware of the rain.
• If you travel to Hue during wintertime ( From November to January) then it is essential to bring a waterproof jacket, rain clothes, and long-sleeved shirt. Check the Hue weather information before you take off to have the best experiences during your trip.

Enjoy the best that Hue can offer on a bicycle

• Just like any outdoor activity, protecting yourself from the sun with sun cream and a lot of sun cream. As Hue is located in the center of Vietnam, you will be exposed to the sun more than any Northern destinations of the country so remember to bring a hat, UV protection gloves, sunglasses.
• Do not forget to bring a bottle of water with you on a Hue cycling trip. If you are planning to join a bicycle tour, the operator will give each traveler a bottle of water, yet it is ideal to bring one more.
• There are many parking lots near the sights and tombs, however, you should bring a lock with you when cycling, just to be more secure. 

Hue is a beautiful city to immerse in the history and culture along with the serenity of the surrounding countryside. Cycling in Hue is a pretty pleasant activity and highly recommended to do while you staying in the city. Visit BestPrice and join our Hue cycling tours to enjoy the best that Vietnam's former capital can offer. 

Minah Trịnh 

Image Source: Internet