Half-day cycling tour on the outskirts of Hoi An

Swap the colourful lanterns and cosy cafés of Hoi An’s ancient town for the peaceful rhythm of the countryside on this cycling tour.

This relaxed half-day excursion takes place in the company of an experienced cycling guide who leads you along quiet backroads through rice fields and villages in the area surrounding Hoi An. The tour is designed to give you an authentic glimpse of rural life beyond the city at an easy-going pace. The group is limited to a maximum of eight participants, ensuring plenty of time for photo stops, local tastings, and encounters with the villagers.

You’ll make your own way to the starting point of the tour, located at our partner’s bicycle shop in Hoi An. You’ll receive full details on this at your destination. Here, your mountain bike will be adjusted to fit you, and you’ll be given a helmet and a short introduction to the route and safety instructions before pedalling through the town’s narrow streets and across the bridge linking Hoi An with the villages south of the city in the Quang Nam province.

The landscape changes quickly, and you’ll soon find yourself cycling along peaceful country roads lined with coconut palms, vegetable gardens, and small fields where local farmers head out to their day’s work on bicycles. Along the way, your guide will share stories about daily life in the villages and how the residents strive to preserve their traditions as tourism continues to grow in the area.

The first stop is at a local family’s home, where banh beo (small steamed rice cakes) are being prepared using traditional methods. You’ll have the chance to taste this local speciality while getting a glimpse of everyday life in the countryside.

The next stop will take you to one of the area’s most picturesque villages, where you’ll visit a local home and learn about the tradition of family temples, which still play an important role in Vietnamese family life.

From here, the cycling route follows small canals and waterways to a shipyard where local craftsmen build wooden boats. Fishing remains an important part of life in Quang Nam province, and it’s fascinating to see how the boats are still shaped by hand using age-old techniques. If your timing is right, you may also see families sitting along the riverbank, repairing or cleaning their fishing nets between trips out to sea.

Before heading back to Hoi An, you’ll visit a small family-run distillery where rice wine is still made in the same way it has been for generations. Here, you can sample a glass of the local wine, and if you wish, try a stronger variety infused with local herbs.

The cycling tour covers around 20 km and takes place on flat, quiet roads, making it suitable for anyone with a normal level of fitness.

What makes this tour truly special is our partner’s close collaboration with the local families you’ll meet along the way. This long-standing partnership helps ensure that your visit also provides a small yet meaningful source of income for the local community.

Duration: approx. 4 hours

Distance: approx. 20 km

We recommend that you book the excursion when booking the tour.

This excursion is also open to guests other than TourCompass’ own guests.