Hanoi Cycling Protocol · Max 8 Guests
Cycling Safety in Hanoi — an honest guide
Hanoi traffic looks chaotic to first-timers, but it moves at a predictable pace and cyclists are a normal part of the flow. Here is how we keep groups safe, what you should expect, and when we cancel.
The real rules of Hanoi traffic
- Everyone moves slowly. Average motorbike speed in the city is 20–30 km/h, in the Old Quarter 10–15 km/h.
- Make eye contact. Riders anticipate each other more than they look at signs.
- Hold your line. Don't swerve to avoid someone; they are already planning around you.
- Don't stop in the middle of the road. If you need to stop, pull to the edge.
- Pedestrians cross slowly and expect you to go around them, not to brake sharply.
- Horns mean "I'm here", not "get out of the way". They are informational, not angry.
How we lead the group
- Guide at the front, assistant at the back. Nobody is dropped. We regroup after every junction.
- Max 8 guests per group. Beyond that it stops being manageable in city traffic.
- Hand signals are taught at the briefing: slow, stop, turn, hazard.
- Low-traffic routes. On the city tour we use the Old Quarter back alleys and dyke lanes, not the arterial roads.
- Full stop for busy junctions. We get off and walk the bikes if needed.
- A short practice loop near the meeting point before we head into traffic.
Helmets & visibility
- Certified cycling helmet (EN 1078) for every guest, adjustable, washed between tours.
- High-visibility vest when the light is low (early morning, late afternoon, rain).
- Front light and rear reflector on every bike.
- Guides wear high-visibility shirts.
Who shouldn't take the tour
- Guests under 12 (as a self-rider). Under 12 welcome as a passenger on a parent's child seat.
- Guests who have never ridden a bicycle.
- Guests with heart conditions or recent knee / hip surgery (please consult your doctor).
- Guests who refuse to wear a helmet.
Rain, heat and storms
- Light rain: the tour runs. Ponchos provided; the pace drops slightly.
- Heavy rain or thunderstorms: we cancel. You choose a new date or a 100% refund.
- Hot days (May–Aug): we start earlier (07:30), take more water stops, and use shaded dyke lanes.
- Cold mornings (Dec–Feb): we start at 08:30 once the morning fog has lifted.
Insurance & incidents
Every tour is covered by Eco Trip Asia's commercial passenger-service insurance for the duration of the ride (third-party and personal accident). If something happens on tour, the guide is trained in basic first aid and will call a motorbike taxi or ambulance as needed. We carry a small first-aid kit on every tour.
For details, see the full policies on ecotripasia.com ↗.
Still unsure?
WhatsApp our Hanoi team before you book — we'd rather answer honestly than take a nervous booking.