As World Bicycle Day spins around again on June 3^rd, digital travel platform Agoda shares five reasons you should explore the world on two wheels, as well as great cycling routes in Vietnam to help you get on your bike now or bookmark for later travel.

Reasons to get on your bike

Get closer to nature

According to Agoda’s Usage & Attitude Study 2019, Nature/Countryside is the top motivation for people to travel. Cycling gets you close to that with many cycle routes boasting and connecting scenic sights, nature parks and the countryside. Take in the sights at your own pace, hop on or off where you like, and quite literally stop to smell the roses.

Unique experiences

Get to know a place, maybe even your own town or country, authentically. Traveling on two wheels allows you to easily navigate off the beaten track areas, go and stop where public transport might not take you, explore country lanes and tracks, meet the locals and experience travel from a different perspective.

A rewarding workout

With health being a key topic in 2020, who would mind some exercise and have fun while at it? There is even greater satisfaction and reward in the experience when you’ve put in the effort to pedal the distance.

Eco-friendly

Keen to reduce your carbon footprint? More than 25% of travelers want to make more eco-friendly travel choices in the next decade, according to Agoda’s recent Next Decade Travel Trends research. Cycling is an affordable and eco-friendly way to get around.

It is all in the journey

You know what they say about how it is the journey that matters. It could be a challenging route with hills and climbs, or a few-hour family scenic cycle with the wind in your hair to a new part of town, traveling on a bicycle brings an incredible adventure from start to end.

Cycling routes in Vietnam

Though cycling in Vietnam may be at times daunting with the traffic in the cities, there are places that you can explore on the saddle to enjoy the country’s splendid beaches, mountain views and sprawling culture. Agoda has over 40,000 properties listed in Vietnam; Choose from unique accommodation like boats and treehouses, boutique or luxury hotels as well as homes for bigger groups.

For families

Get away from city traffic and cruise through Hoi An’s peaceful countryside with the children on an easy bike tour, before roaming around the Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which will be illuminated at night with its signature dangling paper lanterns. If you have a few days, consider heading to the Cham Islands off the coast of Hoi An to get your dose of beach fun.

For cycling enthusiasts

The undulating road that separates mountain-retreat Da Lat from seaside-city Nha Trang should be on the bucket list of all cyclists. The ride encapsulates so much of what Vietnam has to offer, beginning with the stunning vistas of its highlands, winding though small towns with ever-smiling villagers, and leading on to a cliff-top ocean road, culminating in the skyline-meets-surf tourist mecca of Nha Trang.

For nature lovers

Experience Sapa, also known as the ‘Heaven of Vietnam’, by cycling down its valleys with mountains and terraced rice fields as your backdrop. Take time to also visit the tribal villages and have lunch with the locals.