Important Information Before Your Adventure Trip with Vietnam Cycling Tours

Before setting off on your cycling adventure with Vietnam Backroads, here are some important things you need to know to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey.

Country roads in Vietnam are very narrow and winding, especially in rural villages where there are many forks and crossroads, but no traffic signs or signals. There are plenty of small concrete bridges without rails or holders. In rural areas, bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles are the primary means of transportation.

Women and children often ride very slowly, while men and teenagers tend to ride at high speeds.

The handlebars of your bikes may feel wider than the narrow paths, requiring extra care when navigating.

Essential Cycling Rules to Follow:

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01 - Do not ride too close to the front rider. Keep a safe distance to avoid collisions, especially on narrow and winding paths.

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02 - Never block the path or road when you have stopped. When stopping, move your bike to the side immediately to allow others to pass easily.

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03 - Do not ride off concrete paths. The ground can be uneven and dangerous; you could easily lose balance and fall.

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04 - Ride with the traffic on a small back road! Ride on the right-hand side of the road, in a single line. Important: Remember, you are in Vietnam – not the UK!

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05 - Ride on a single line on country roads is save. Single-file riding is essential for your safety and for allowing local traffic to pass comfortably.

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06 - Whenever you stop to capture photos for any reason. Call out loudly: "Stop! Stop!" so riders behind you are alerted and can slow down safely. Move your bike to the side of the road as soon as you stop to avoid blocking the narrow paths.

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07 - Do not take a photo when cycling. Always stop completely and safely before taking photos.

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08 - Do not turn your head back when you are biking. Focus on the path ahead to maintain balance and avoid accidents

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09 - Many little wooden/ concrete bridges have no rails and holders. Many small wooden or concrete bridges have no rails or holders.Always walk your bike across if the bridge is narrow or in poor condition. Country tracks are often very bendy—ride slowly and keep right to avoid collisions with mopeds and bicycles coming from the opposite direction.

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10- Walk your bike across very small or narrow bridges. If a bridge looks too narrow or unstable, get off and walk for your safety.

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11 - Be cautious on high, short bridges: In rural areas, most bridges are high but short to allow boats to pass underneath. Move your body rearward when descending the bridge slope to maintain balance. Do not use the front brake (left-hand brake) when going downhill. Sharing the Path with Mopeds and Local Cyclists:

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12 - Awareness of mopeds on the routes Mopeds often share the same small paths and rural roads. Do not turn around when you hear them approaching. Stay on the right-hand side, cycling slowly to give mopeds and bicycles enough space to pass on your left.

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13 - How to safely pass local riders: It can be tricky to pass local riders who are cycling or riding mopeds slowly in front of you, especially if they are in the middle of a narrow path.