Hue, the ancient capital imbued with serenity and poetry, has long captivated visitors with its ancient beauty, unique culture, and refined cuisine. Moving away from noisy and hurried means of transport, slow cycling unveils a completely new perspective of Hue – a leisurely, intimate, and profound experience like never before. This article serves as your essential guide, accompanying you to discover the hidden beauty of Hue on slow-paced bike rides, where every street and alleyway becomes a memorable story.
Why Hue is an Ideal Destination for Slow Cycling Tourism?
Hue is not just a city, but a living museum with a wonderful blend of nature and culture. Its diverse terrain, rich landscapes, coupled with the slow pace of life and the locals’ love for bicycles, all create a unique tourism picture, especially suitable for slow cycling tourism.
1. Diverse terrain, picturesque natural landscapes
Hue boasts diverse terrain, like a miniature Vietnam. 70% of its area is rolling hills and mountains, 20% is a rich system of rivers, lagoons, and only 10% is narrow plains. This diversity not only creates stunning natural scenery but also offers ideal cycling routes, from flat roads along the romantic Perfume River to challenging hilly paths.
Slow cycling through the Hue countryside
Discover the peaceful beauty of the Hue countryside on a bicycle.
2. Destinations are close and easily accessible
Hue’s territory stretches from the majestic Truong Son mountain range to the vast East Sea coast. The North and central areas are home to the ancient citadel and traditional villages steeped in cultural values. The South is sheltered by the magnificent Hai Van Pass. Remarkably, most scenic spots and historical sites are concentrated within a 50km radius from the city center. With a bicycle, you can easily explore Hue and its surroundings, fully enjoying the beauty of the ancient capital without having to travel too far.
3. Slow lifestyle and unique cycling culture
Hue people are famous for their slow, unhurried lifestyle, like the gentle Perfume River flowing leisurely. Hue is also oriented towards developing into a green city, a heritage city, a smart city, and especially a bicycle city. Strolling along tree-lined streets, you can easily spot images of Hue residents of all ages leisurely cycling, from the elderly to students in pure white ao dai. Bicycles are not just a means of transportation but also an indispensable part of Hue’s cultural life.
Cycling is also a popular sport in Hue. Every early morning, you will see many cycling groups gathering in the city center, exploring beautiful routes together. After their morning bike rides, Hue people often have a habit of stopping by a coffee shop, sipping strong Vietnamese coffee and chatting animatedly.
Hue people cycling along the Perfume River
A familiar scene of Hue locals cycling for exercise each morning along the Perfume River.
4. Diverse routes and developed bicycle services
Hue is a green city with unique urban architecture, formed and developed through many historical periods. Greenery comes not only from trees but also from the natural river and mountain system, canals connecting to lagoons and the sea. Coming to Hue, visitors will feel a cool, fresh green space, inspiring eco-friendly bicycle exploration trips.
Moreover, bicycle rental, repair services, and bicycle tours in Hue are also very diverse and developed. You can easily find bicycle rentals in tourist areas such as Pham Ngu Lao, Chu Van An, Hung Vuong, and Le Loi streets. Common bicycles and reasonably quality mountain bikes are available for rent from 50,000 to 100,000 VND/day. Many travel companies also offer higher-end mountain bikes, along with helmets and necessary accessories. You can also request your hotel to arrange bicycles for you.
Most Popular Slow Cycling Routes in Hue
Hue is blessed with diverse terrain and rich landscapes. Within a radius of 5-10km, you can explore the heritage sites and ancient streets in the city center. For long-distance cycling enthusiasts, tours further north, west, or south of Hue are great opportunities to immerse themselves in majestic nature.
For easy visualization, bicycle exploration routes in Hue can be divided into the following main groups:
Map of slow bike tours exploring Hue and surrounding areas
Map of popular cycling routes in Hue.
1. Cycling to explore Hue City Center
The gentle Perfume River divides Hue into two main areas: the North Bank and the South Bank. Each side of the river possesses its own beauty and charm, promising interesting cycling experiences.
North Bank of the Perfume River: The North Bank cycling journey will take you to the ancient Citadel, exploring relics inside the Citadel such as Tinh Tam Lake, the Six Ministries, Ho Chi Minh Memorial House, and many other historical architectural works. You can also extend your journey to the bustling Dong Ba Market and the ancient Gia Hoi neighborhood, bearing the commercial imprint of the former Minh Huong people.
South Bank of the Perfume River: The South Bank cycling route usually runs along Le Loi Street, along the Perfume River, An Cuu River, passing Hue Railway Station, exploring ancient French architectural works, Phu Cam Cathedral, and the Redemptorist Church. If you want to explore further, you can cycle east towards Con Hen area and the poetic Vi Da village.
These routes are all within a radius of about 2km, with flat terrain, but can be crowded with traffic during peak hours. You will have many stops to visit relics, shop, and enjoy Hue’s unique cuisine. Spend a few hours or a day to fully explore the beauty of Hue city center by bicycle.
Cycling around Hue Citadel
Hue Citadel with tree-lined streets is an ideal place for cycling.
Read more: Top 5 slow cycling tours in Hue: “Leisurely, elegant, and delightful”
2. Cycling to ancient villages on the outskirts of Hue
The outskirts of Hue hide many ancient, beautiful villages, imbued with traditional culture such as Kim Long, Thanh Toan, Thuy Bieu, and Bao Vinh. Just leaving the city center for about 3-5km, you will immerse yourself in the peaceful space of the Vietnamese countryside, riding on bamboo-lined paths, winding alleys, and trails between rice fields and vegetable gardens. You can freely explore according to your preferences, get lost in small roads, and easily find your way back to the city with the help of friendly locals.
If you want to have an “organized” journey to discover the most beautiful routes and memorable experiences, choose slow cycling tours from reputable operators such as Slow Travel Hue. Each tour to ancient villages has its own theme and story, usually lasting a day or half a day, including lunch at a local’s house. The total cycling distance is about 10-20km with many stops, flat terrain, suitable for all types of tourists.
Tour experiencing Thanh Toan countryside by bicycle
Discover the peaceful beauty of Thanh Toan countryside by bicycle.
See more Hue day tours: Hue one-day tours
3. Cycling upstream of the Perfume River, visiting royal tombs
The Nguyen Dynasty built and developed Hue into a prosperous capital for over 400 years. Besides the Citadel and prominent architectural works in the center, the tombs of the Nguyen emperors are also recognized by UNESCO as world cultural heritage sites. These tombs are mainly located on green pine hills, upstream of the Perfume River. The furthest is Gia Long Tomb, 16km from Hue, and closer are the tombs of emperors Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, Thieu Tri, and Tu Duc.
The tomb area is also favored by nature with a secluded, tranquil landscape. Since ancient times, Zen monks have also chosen this place to establish hermitages for practice, which later became solemn ancestral temples such as Tu Hieu Pagoda, Thien Ton Pagoda, and Tu Dam Pagoda.
The cycling route to the tombs has some uphill and downhill sections, interspersed with flat roads. Although the roads are very good, you need to be in good health and have a quality bicycle to conquer this route.
Gia Long Tomb amidst the spectacular scenery of Thien Tho hills
The majestic scenery of Gia Long Tomb amidst nature.
4. Cycling along lagoons and the coast
About 10-15km east of Hue is the lagoon and coastal area. As some routes are a bit bumpy and the total distance can be up to 30-40km, you need to be in good health and have a quality mountain bike to explore this area.
This place not only has unique ancient villages such as An Truyen village in Chuon Lagoon, Thai Duong village with the Cau Ngu Festival, Bao La weaving village, etc., but also a very special ecosystem. You can combine a bicycle tour with a boat trip on Tam Giang Lagoon, learn to row a basket boat, and cast nets. Ru Cha mangrove forest is also a worthwhile ecotourism destination to explore.
5. In-depth, multi-day cycling to the outskirts of Hue
Routes to the outskirts of Hue are usually for tourists with long-distance cycling experience, who can start and end in Hue or connect to Hoi An, Da Nang in the South, or Quang Tri, Phong Nha in the North. Loop tours can be from 150 to 200km long, so you need to divide them into at least two days or use support vehicles.
60km south of Hue city, the scenic tourism cluster with Canh Duong beach, Lang Co, Cau Hai Lagoon, and Bach Ma National Park is an ideal starting point for an exciting cycling journey. Leaving QL1A at Phuoc Tuong Pass, you follow QL49 through Vinh Hien bridge, exploring Ham Rong beach and Tuy Van mountain. Continuing along the lagoon, you will encounter the ghost city of Vinh Thanh and the beautiful beaches of Hue.
To the North, Phong Dien area, Phong Son mountain forest has diverse flora and fauna and famous hot springs for healing since ancient times. This route is ideal for combining cycling and relaxation. You can also connect with Phuoc Tich ancient village, My Xuyen fine art carpentry village, and Pho Trach sedge mat village. To return to Hue, you follow QL49 along Tam Giang Lagoon, stopping to visit Ngu My Thanh fishing village, famous for its shrimp and fish floating market every morning at dawn.
Cycling west, you will conquer the A Luoi mountain region and the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This is a real challenge due to the slope and winding roads. If you love forest or long-distance cycling, this could be a worthwhile experience. However, tours to A Luoi are usually organized by car so that visitors have time to participate in natural and cultural experiences such as Zeng brocade weaving.
Cycling around Ta Oi ethnic minority villages in A Luoi, 70km from Hue
Discover the unique culture of the Ta Oi ethnic people in A Luoi by bicycle.
What Type of Bicycle is Suitable for Slow Travel Exploring Hue?
With the flat terrain in Hue and the short distances between attractions, a common street bicycle or “city bike” will be suitable for many people. The bike needs to be in good working order, with no flat tires, responsive brakes, and an adjustable seat. You may also need a basket to carry bags and water bottles. If cycling in the city, you don’t need to worry too much if your bike breaks down, as there are always bicycle repair shops nearby or the rental unit will assist you.
If your family has young children, you should request a child seat or suitable children’s bicycle. “Bike trailers” for cycling with babies or tandem bikes are not very common and not really convenient for moving around the city.
A favorite choice for many is a “hybrid bike,” a combination of a road bike and a mountain bike. This type of bike helps you move quickly and comfortably when traveling in the city thanks to its large wheels, while the tires are also suitable for dirt and asphalt roads in rural areas and ancient villages.
In Hue, you can also easily rent good quality mountain bikes such as Giant and Trek. With this type of bike, you need to choose the right size to make your exploration trip as comfortable as possible. Mountain bikes are the perfect choice for hilly or long routes over 20km.
If you don’t know how to or can’t cycle much, you can still join a bicycle tour with others by using a cyclo or riding pillion on a motorbike. Cyclos are a slow, environmentally friendly means of transport and also contribute to creating jobs and income for local people.
Family and bicycles in front of an ancient village communal house
Bicycle tours are suitable for families with many different bike options.
Best Time to Slow Travel Hue by Bicycle?
Every time of year, Hue has its own beauty; the important thing is to come to the right place, at the right time, and spend enough time to experience it. Understanding the weather and climate is one part, but grasping regional characteristics and cultural activities is equally important.
1. Hue climate, weather and seasons
Hue is located in the intersection zone between the Northern and Southern climates. Hue has all four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, each with its own characteristics. The rainy season lasts from late autumn to early spring, and the rest is the sunny season, especially hot from June to August.
The heavy rainy season starts from September to December, with drizzle continuing until April when the first summer thunderstorms appear. Rain is a specialty of Hue, contributing to the lifestyle and aesthetics of the local people.
Rain also helps to cool down and bring deeper emotions. If you are fully equipped and have suitable experiences, you will find slow cycling in the rainy season a pleasant experience.
City tours and inner city tours can be done year-round. You can combine cycling with cultural visits, culinary experiences, enjoying lotus tea, and salted coffee. If you are interested in handicrafts and arts, you can visit the Hue HOPE vocational training center for children with disabilities or Truc Chi Garden to create art paper. Live like a Hue local, and you will enjoy the rain instead of complaining about it.
Have you ever enjoyed "salted coffee" on a rainy day?
Experiencing salted coffee on a rainy day in Hue is an interesting thing.
2. Agricultural season calendar, folk festivals
For rural tours, you should pay attention to the agricultural calendar and festivals. In Hue, rice cultivation still follows two crops: Dong Xuan (Winter-Spring) and He Thu (Summer-Autumn). From September to December, people usually leave the land fallow and do not cultivate in the fields. However, rural tours still have many activities to learn about village culture and experience interesting rural life to compensate for you.
The most beautiful season to see rice fields in Hue is from April to August. This is also the season of many folk festivals. You may be lucky enough to participate in the Xuan Te, Thu Te festivals, boat racing festivals, etc.
In the winter months or the Lunar New Year (Tet) period, traditional craft villages become most bustling. You can visit Thanh Tien paper flower village, Sinh village painting, Dia Linh Ong Tao making village as in the Bao Vinh tour, and Kim Long ginger jam making village.
Spring is the season of many flowers blooming and ripe fruits. The gardens in Kim Long will be very beautiful and fragrant, welcoming you. From March, Thanh Tra pomelo flowers will bear white clusters, creating a distinctive scene of Thuy Bieu ancient village. In September, when participating in the Thuy Bieu Fragrant Tour, you will enjoy the sweet and fragrant Thanh Tra pomelos.
3. Time you spend cycling
Depending on the time you want to spend cycling, you can flexibly choose the optimal time. If it’s just a short 1-2 hour ride, you can do it at any time. However, if you can choose, you should start around 9-10 am in winter when the sky is clearest, or 4-5 pm in summer to avoid the heat.
For a full-day tour, you have more time and can start from 9 am. However, in summer, the sunny season, you should start from 8 am or earlier if possible. You can finish the tour at 4 pm to relax by the pool or rest before exploring Hue at night.
Slow cycling tours from reputable operators often have many stops for you to rest, avoid the heat, and can customize the cycling distance depending on the weather or choose alternative routes.
If you only have half a day, you should prioritize cycling to explore Hue city center. If you have 1-2 days, spend it on tours experiencing rural villages with different themes and heritages. Tours further afield to mountainous areas and lagoons will be suitable for tourists with more time, about 3-5 days.
What is Special About Hue Slow Cycling Tours?
Slow travel is not just a form of transportation, but also a travel philosophy, focusing on deep experiences and genuine connections. The Slow Travel concept is encapsulated in the acronym CASTLE, representing unique criteria:
C – Connecting People: Slow travel emphasizes the connection between tourists and locals, between tourists and themselves. Travel is for sharing and understanding.
A – Authenticity: Authentic travel experiences, not staged or commercialized. Limiting famous tourist spots and focusing on finding places and moments that are authentic and less known.
S – Sustainability: Practicing and spreading environmental awareness. Activities in the tour support the local community, preserve and promote cultural values.
T – Tempo: Slow tours have a slow, leisurely pace, not constrained by time, flexible according to the preferences and interests of each group of guests.
L – Length: Sufficient preparation time, lasting impressions. Each tour is like a handmade product, so the experience will stay long in the memory of visitors and the welcoming community.
E – Emotions: “Go slow, feel deeply.” Tour guides, experts, and homeowners will be storytellers, companions, connecting sincere emotions through each experiential activity.
Slow cycling tours do not emphasize a fixed itinerary and trying to visit as many attractions as possible. Each tour usually lasts at least half a day or a day, including lunch at a local’s house. Attractions are strung together through a consistent theme. Craft village and farming experience activities are special highlights, difficult to get when exploring on your own or participating in conventional tours.
Tea and conversation with local farmers
Family experiencing slow travel and interacting with local people.
How to Enjoy a Slow, Safe Bicycle Tour in Hue?
To have a complete and safe slow cycling trip in Hue, you need to note the following:
1. Choose the right time to travel
Determine the time you want to spend cycling: a few hours, half a day, a day, or several days. Refer to cycling routes by distance, terrain, and density of attractions to choose a suitable itinerary. Allow enough time to leisurely explore and experience, seeing travel as a journey rather than a destination.
2. Choose the right theme and favorite experiences
Do you love historical culture, nature, cuisine, or traditional craft villages? Do you want to participate in in-depth experiential activities or just want to cycle as far and as much as possible? Hue has countless options, research carefully or share your preferences with the tour organizer to get advice and adjust the itinerary accordingly.
3. Choose the appropriate type of bicycle
Sports and mountain bikes are suitable for routes longer than 20km or with many slopes and bumpy dirt roads. However, if you are not used to controlling multi-speed bikes or are not sure about the bike size, you should choose a common bike or a hybrid bike. The most important thing is that the bike is in good working order, has responsive brakes, a comfortable seat, and a basket for luggage.
4. Cycle safely
Hue is still a green city, bicycle-friendly, and traffic density is not too high. However, you still need to pay attention to basic safety principles:
- Choose a suitable bike, adjust the seat height before starting. Take a test ride to check the bike.
- Helmets are essential. You should also equip yourself with a first aid kit and basic bike repair tools.
- Ride in single file and on the right side. Keep a distance from the person in front and behind.
- Pay attention to hand signals from the leader or companions.
- Stop if you feel unsure, especially when crossing intersections, busy streets, or narrow roads.
- Take advantage of dedicated bike lanes and green routes when possible.
- Stop and rest if it rains heavily or is too hot.
5. Clothing, shoes, and accessories
Choose comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities. Professional cycling clothing is not necessary for city tours or flat roads. In the cold rainy season, you can wear an extra windbreaker. Use sunscreen, sun gloves, and sunglasses in hot sunny weather.
6. Eat and drink safely
Drink enough water, especially in summer. You should bring a reusable water bottle to minimize plastic waste. On slow tours, you will have many stops to drink tea and interact with locals.
Cuisine is an important part of slow travel. You can enjoy street food, local specialties, or participate in cooking with locals. Notify the tour company if you have special requests regarding vegetarian food, allergies, or dietary restrictions.
Elders inviting "slow" tourists to participate in a village communal ritual in Thuy Bieu and a death anniversary feast
Experience local culture and enjoy Hue cuisine on a slow travel tour.
Hue is an ideal destination for slow cycling tourism thanks to its diversity of nature, culture, terrain, and climate. With this guide, hopefully you will have suitable, safe, and memorable choices and experiences on your journey to explore the ancient capital of Hue by bicycle. Don’t forget the safety notes and prepare carefully for a complete trip!
In addition to cycling, if you love the slow travel style, explore more “slow food”, “staycation”, trekking & camping tours from reputable travel agencies in Hue for more diverse and enriching experiences.