You can’t really say you’ve seen Hoi An until you’ve ridden a bicycle through its countryside. Although Hoi An’s Ancient Town is a feast for the eyes, its fields, rivers, and gardens have a way of capturing the heart. Ready to hop on a bicycle and ride off into the sunset (or sunrise)? Here are three of the most beautiful areas to discover on a do-it-yourself cycling adventure in Hoi An.

Cam Thanh

The district of Cam Thanh is surrounded on all sides by rivers and canals. At its center are gorgeous rice fields, country lanes, and quiet hamlets, and its borders are lined by nipa palms and shrimp ponds. For cyclists, Cam Thanh offers a fascinating look into real local life in Hoi An. Here you can visit the Taboo Bamboo and Vuon Giay Viet paper workshop, wander into ornate communal houses, and tour the Thanh Dong Organic Farm.

Turn down the small lanes right from Tran Nhan Tong to catch idyllic scenes along the Thu Bon River, and pedal the lane west of DX19 to uncover lovely organic farms and sleepy canals. The expansive rice fields surrounding The Field Restaurant are perfect for cycling. Take the lane leading to An Villa and have coffee in a hidden garden, or ride west across the fields to see the ancient Tay Son generals’ cemetery.

Cam Chau

Prepare to pedal hard: Cam Chau is known for its vast, open rice paddies. The flat landscape is intersected here and there by duck ponds and lotus ponds. Small lanes slice off into hidden rice fields, and lead on to tidy hamlets, where local people cultivate vegetable plots and flower gardens. Cam Chau is home to a handful of photogenic water buffaloes, and this area is perfect for spotting timeless Vietnamese scenes of farmers working in the fields.

You might like to begin your adventure with a local breakfast at the Ba Le Market, then head towards the fields on Le Thanh Tong. A turn left will lead straight into Hoi An’s widest rice fields, with ponds on either side and flocks of birds overhead, while a turn right at the sign for An My Village will lead you to the lush rice fields around Chic Chillax, and rows of corn and flowers at HEAL Organic Farm. Stop for coffee at Xom Chieu for a breather with a great view.

Cam Kim

Just over the bridge from Hoi An, Cam Kim often surprises travelers with its slow style of countryside living, which feels a world away from the bustling streets of the Hoi An Ancient Town. A noisy ride over the Cam Kim metal bridge takes you directly into this parallel world, where men build wooden boats in huts by the side of the road, lotus ponds bloom in front of ancient houses, and farmers water their vegetable patches by hand.

Once over the bridge, find your way to Kim Bong Tay to explore the stunning rice fields near the Phan Xuan Ancestral House. Afterwards, cycle to Kim Bong Woodworking Village, the oldest craft village in Hoi An. Near Kim Bong you’ll find a busy shipyard where wooden boats of all sizes are built and launched, as well as the Cam Kim Market, full of interesting produce. Don’t miss the chance to cycle the lanes that line the Thu Bon River. Here you’ll see countless colorful boats docked in the daytime, and floating restaurants that serve tasty Vietnamese lunches.

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