“We will have to take the bikes on our shoulders, and cross the stream”-
announced one of our biking-tour
coordinators, as we reached a shallow river canal which is actually a branch of
the mighty Mekong River. We had only scraps of perceptions about how our biking
trip in Vietnam was going to be, however, nowhere in our wildest of dreams did
we ever imagine that after crossing the canal, we had to ride for almost 7 to 8
Kilometres being half drenched almost up to our waists. This might seem to be
quite challenging for the ones who seek luxury, but, several instances like
these, work as catalysts that spice up a biking trip and make it enthralling in
a true sense.
As a true adventure lover, I
have always considered biking as a major reason of my happiness. For me,
nothing can be comparable with the joy of seeing the world from the saddle
because it not only gives me an opportunity to perceive the nature from a
different viewpoint, but it also makes me feel energized and liberated. This is
what has persuaded me to go on cycling expeditions around several popular
biking trails of the world.
With serene countryside and spectacular
riverside landscapes, Vietnam has always worked as an ideal destination for
bikers. Thus, when one of my friends came up with a suggestion to head off to
Vietnam, I did not think twice and started packing for the trip which later
turned out to be a valuable chapter in my bicycle diary.
Owing to the language
barriers, we decided to opt for Vietnam Bike Tours offered by a renowned tour
operator of the country. Our journey was about to start from Hanoi and nothing
could have been better than pedalling through the busy streets of the Capital
city.
Hanoi
Image by Leon_Ting from Pixabay
We wanted to travel as much as
we could on the first day and this is why we started off early. As we went past
the busy streets of the city, we came across several three wheel cabs which are
popularly known as “cyclos”. The streets were full of French mansions and
restaurants where people were busy cooking in their courtyards. The hustle of the
streets was one of a kind and the best thing about Hanoi was that it never
wanted to take rest.
Hue
Image by ThanhNamNguyen from Pixabay
Unlike Hanoi, Hue is
comparatively quite and it provides the bikers entire scope to free their arms
and enjoy the breeze. As we rode past the countryside, we took a stop near a
school where all the kids were dancing to some popular native tune. Later, we came
to know that it was a part of the local festival and the thing that caught our
attention at the first go was the smiling faces of the small kids. Travelling
along the serene rice fields of the region was a jaw dropping experience for
all of us.
Saigon
and Can Tho
Image by Haynie C. from Pixabay
The best part of the entire
trip was the time that we spent while biking from Saigon to Can Tho. Along the
way, we came across picturesque landscapes which were worth witnessing. And as
far as Can Tho is concerned, it is undoubtedly one of the best locations where
a bikers dream is sure to come true. Amazing riverside lifestyle, beautiful
floating markets on the Mekong River and diverse cultures are few things that
make Can Tho, a biker’s paradise.
