Cycling is an excellent way of sightseeing around towns, and you shouldn’t have to pay more than 20,000VND per day for the privilege, even outside the main tourist centres.

While you can now buy decent Japanese-made bikes in Vietnam for around $100, if you decide on a long-distance cycling holiday, you should really bring your own bike – not forgetting all the necessary spares and tools – with you. Hardy mountain bikes cope best with the country’s variable surfaces, though tourers and hybrids are fine on the main roads. Bring your own helmet and a good loud bell; a rear-view mirror also comes in handy.

When it all gets too much, or you want to skip between towns, you can always put your bike on the train (but not the SE1/2, E1/2 and S1/2 express services) for a small fee; take it to the station well ahead of time, where it will be packed and placed in the luggage van. Some open-tour buses will also take bikes – free if it goes in the luggage hold (packed up), otherwise you’ll have to pay for an extra seat.

If you want to see Vietnam from the saddle, there are several companies that offer specialist cycling tours – see details of specialist tour operators in "Organized tours".