VIETNAM – Hanoi – Cycling in the Ancient Village of Duong Lam

Description

Nothing is better than a cycling tour to discover a typical Vietnamese village! Especially when this village, surrounded by bright green rice fields, is as vast as Duong Lam (a village made up of 9 hamlets). The area is a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi. Vietnamese life-hens, bikes, children’s balls- spills out onto the roads to form big communities. 

Duong Lam is an ancient village, famous for its equally ancient houses. Nowadays, Duong Lam village conserves about 800 of these ancient houses, complete with their main gate, the garden, the yard, the main house, outbuilding, kitchen, and a well and livestock barn .The cycling tour through the narrow streets of the village and the countryside gives guests the chance to discover the authentic rural life near Hanoi, visit temples along the river, and meet locals working on the fields, at the market, or during the lunch in a local house. An easy cycling tour for all ages in a charming atmosphere.

Selling points

• To take a stroll and take pictures of the village
• Easy to adaptable to all travelers’ fitness levels
• To immerse yourself  in Vietnamese culture
• Easy cycling road with beautiful scenery

Level Of The Excursion

The Impact Of This Excursion

Social/cultural Impact

Environment Impact

Economic Impact

Additional Information

Positive Impact:

This activity has several positive impacts. First, several entrance fees will be paid while visiting monuments in Duong Lam Village, which is one of the oldest villages in Vietnam. The entrance fees directly help to protect the traditional wooden buildings, which have high maintenance costs. The visit is made by bicycle, rented from a local homestay. Lunch is taken directly in a beautiful homestay which provides income to locals in the area who might otherwise relocate to Hanoi in order to find work. Note: doing the visit on weekdays helps to flatten the volume of tourists visiting the village on weekends, as Duong Lam is a popular destination for the domestic travel market.

Negative Impact:

During weekends (particularly during high season for the domestic market) this activity could have negative impact on the village due to the large volume of local tourists from Hanoi.

Time And Transportation

Duration

Half-day cycling tour: 15 kilometers, about 3 hours including visits and breaks.

Min pax

2

Max pax

50

How to sell it

• This tour is suitable for every type of client at any fitness level.
• For travelers who love nature and discovering a new culture
• Possibility to highly increase the cycling duration – Cycling starting point from Hanoi

Why this activity

• An activity with the advantage of visiting off-the-beaten-path places
• An active-leisure activity; quite calm and easy
• Visit pagodas, temples, and handicraft activities
• Safe trails to cycle on in the village

Good to combine with

• Possibility to increase number of cycling kilometers – Cycling starting point from Hanoi, at least 60 kilometers in a day. For this option, the activity will become an Active Activity, using an active supplier, active guidelines, and active bicycles.
• Lunch in Duong Lam village
• Overnight in Moon Garden homestay

Do not combine with

Places that the cycling tour already goes to.

Market suggestion

Competitor comparison

Some DMCs

Pros

• Road condition is good for both bus and bicycles
• Easy to find accommodation or a place for lunch
• Have an alternative for bikes – if guests don’t want to ride, they can walk and do the visit

Cons

• Local bikes from the homestay are not very good

Information

The tour passes by some places as follows:

• Chua Mia pagoda
• Phung Hung temple
• Ngo Quyen temple

Important information

• There is already an English-speaking guide included in the tour. In case of a request for a guide who speaks other languages than English, please add an extra guide.
• Understand the clients’ and travelers’ needs and expectations before proposing an active or an active-leisure activity
• Understand the cycling level of the travelers – (0. Not cyclists, 1. Casual Cyclists, 2 Intermediate Cyclists, 3. Expert Cyclists, 4. Sport Cyclists)

INFORMATION ABOUT CYCLING 

• Duration is not too long, but we can extend the duration and the daily kilometers.
• The back-up is always available for emergency (guide should contact the bus driver)
• This leisure active activity is available for level 0 – not difficult
• Roads conditions are good: pleasant trails mainly flat, easy to cycle with no difficult technical paths.

From March to end of November for the perfect temperature. From middle of May to end of August, it can be very hot.

LOGISTIC & TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE 

With different types of service level – depends on the budget and request of the guests and client

• STANDARD (Bikes provided by the homestay)
• SUPERIOR (Active activity – bikes from Hanoi; supplier is Mr Trung)

SNACK PACKAGES

• Water 3L/pax/ full day cycling

Price range

From 10 USD

Quotation guideline

• Trek Mountain Bike: 10 USD/bike/day
• Any Road Bike: 11 USD/bike/day
• Price includes helmet, tube, patch, pump (Gia tren da bao gom mu BH, bom, sam & xe du phong. Gia chua bao gom 10% VAT.)
• Mechanic fee: 500.000 VND/day/package
• Truck: 1.500.000 VND/truck/day/package  (under 200 kilomapplied(applyed for group from 5 pax and up)
• Price exclude 10% VAT

Inclusion

• Bike rental
• Lunch at the homestay
• Water

Possible Extra

• Special catering at the homestay

Important notes

• Number of bikes: 20 bicycles for adults and 5 bicycles for children
• Guests will be provided helmet or hat when cycling
• IF OPTION  – ACTIVE ACTIVITY – 60 kilometers – Use active supplier
• MAP OF THE MODULE:  link – ONLY FOR ACTIVE ACTIVITY – DAY 1: Cycling in the red river delta (Please don’t share with the guests)

ACTIVE BICYCLE SUPPLIER

• Bike rental in Hanoi (Mr.Trung)
• Request information Active client excel file from Sales: Name & surname travelers, the weight, the height, Bike size, the cyclists’ level, allergy, insurance details.
• Send to the supplier the information about the participants when you book the service in order to prepare the bikes in advance and all the tour properly
• At least 2 days in advance of the group arrival reconfirm the service
• Request the bike supplier similar type of bike, same brand and if possible same color.
• Request the bike supplier to provide necessary tools and Bike Spare parts (tube, patch, pump)

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

• Please consult the Active Supplier Database
• 2 packages for the logistic on ERP  – (See information on Time and Transportation above)
  • LOGISTIC – STANDARD PACKAGE or
  • LOGISTIC – SUPERIOR PACKAGE

Transportation rules:

• From 1 to 3 pax: 1 van 16 seats + pax bikes + 1 guide + 1 driver + 1 guide
• From 4 to 7 pax: 1 van 16 seats + 1 truck +1 guide + 1 mechanic
• From 8 to 15 pax: 1 bus 25 seats or 29/30 seats + 1 truck +1 guide +1 mechanic

ACTIVE GUIDE

• Use Active Guide Database and contact Active team before booking a Cycling guide
• Always remember to provide the First Aid kit to the Guide
• Explain clearly to the Guides the profile of the travelers and expectation of the travelers
• Ask the guide to stop and try some local snacks along the way, which is important to allow travelers to experience local life and Vietnamese traditions
• Cycling guide must be flexible on the spot and the guide must adapt the speed and the length of the trails to the needs of the guests

ADVENTURE SERVICES 

• Snack package: includes water (3l pax/day) & snacks – Two type of snacks – (Guide in charge of buying them):
  • Locals snacks (fruits, rice banana cake) or
  • European snacks with cereal/chocolate bars and Royal D.
• Active First Aid kit – Operation Team must give to the guide
• Bikes, Helmet, spare parts kit – Supplier must provide them
• Special Active catering equipment (towel, tables, chairs, cutlery) – when we have a picnic lunch during an active program, Operation must provide the catering equipment to the driver, guide

Special Guide notes

• Operation must have a look to the training for guides 

Contact

English

During your cycling trip, you will discover the distinctive beauty of Duong Lam’s houses, just outside of Hanoi: they are built of laterite blocks and are covered with curve sided roofs. Some are up to 400 years old and have hosted dozens of generations. You will then visit the temples of Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen, where the two national heroes of the same name are celebrated. Your bike ride will finally take you to the Mia pagoda, built in the 15th century. There, step back and admire the 287 diverse statues and statuettes, some representing famous figures, such as Buddha in the Himalayas, and the eight deities of Vajra.

French

Vous partirez pour une balade à vélo, où vous découvrirez le caractère distinctif des maisons de Duong Lam : elles sont construites en blocs de latérite et sont recouvertes de toits courbes. Certaines maisons ont 400 ans et ont accueilli des dizaines de générations. Vous visiterez ensuite les temples de Phung Hung et Ngo Quyen, où sont célébrés les deux héros nationaux du même nom. Votre balade à vélo vous mènera enfin à la pagode de Mia, construite au 15ème siècle. Vous pourrez y admirer les 287 statues de toutes tailles, certaines représentant des personnages célèbres comme le Bouddha dans l’Himalaya, les huit divinités de Vajra, etc.

Repas inclus: Déjeuner – Chez l’habitant

Niveau: 0

Distance & Durée: 15 Kilomètres – 2 heures (3 à 4 heures avec pauses et visites)

Terrain: route principalement pavée traversant des villages locaux
Transport: 60 kilomètres – 2 heures

Spanish

Excursión en bici por el ancestral pueblo de Duong Lam

Durante su excursión en bici, descubrirá la genuina belleza de las casas de Duong Lam, justo a las afueras de Hanói: están construidas con ladrillos de laterita y tejados curvados. Algunas se remontan 400 años atrás y han sido el hogar de docenas de generaciones. Posteriormente, visitará los templos de Phung Hung y Ngo Quyen, que honran los nombres de dos héroes nacionales. Su excursión finalizará en la pagoda de Mia, construida en el siglo XV. Aproveche para dar unos pasos atrás y admirar las 287 estatuas y estatuillas que alberga; algunas de ellas son la representación de figuras célebres como Buda en el Himalaya o las ocho deidades de Vajra.

Comidas incluidas: almuerzo en el alojamiento.

Nivel: 0

Distancia y duración: 15 kilómetros – 2 horas (de 3 a 4 horas, incluidos descansos y visitas). 

Terreno: principalmente carretera asfaltada que cruza algunos pueblos locales.

Transporte: 60 kilómetros – 2 horas. 

Italian

In bicicletta nell’antico villaggio di Duong Lam

Durante il vostro viaggio in bicicletta, scoprirete la bellezza distintiva delle case di Duong Lam, appena fuori Hanoi: sono costruite con blocchi di laterite e sono coperte da tetti con curve laterali. Alcuni hanno fino a 400 anni e hanno ospitato dozzine di generazioni. Visiterete poi i templi di Phung Hung e Ngo Quyen, dove si celebrano i due eroi nazionali che danno il nome ai rispettivi edifici di culto. Il vostro giro in bici vi porterà infine alla pagoda Mia, costruita nel XV secolo. Una volta arrivati, fate un passo indietro e ammirate le 287 diverse statue e statuette, alcune delle quali rappresentano figure famose, come il Buddha sull’Himalaya e le otto divinità del Vajra.

Pasti inclusi: pranzo in famiglia

Livello: 0

Distanza e durata: 15 chilometri – 2 ore (da 3 a 4 ore comprese soste e visite)

Terreno: strada prevalentemente asfaltata che passa attraverso i villaggi locali

Trasporto: 60 chilometri – 2 ore

German

Radtour durch das uralte Dorf Duong Lam

Während Ihrer Radtour werden Sie etwas außerhalb von Hanoi die unverwechselbare Schönheit der Häuser in Duong Lam entdecken: Sie sind aus Laterit-Blöcken gebaut und mit seitlich gebogenen Dächern bedeckt. Einige Häuser sind bis zu 400 Jahre alt und haben bereits Dutzende von Generationen beherbergt. Anschließend werden Sie die Tempel Phung Hung und Ngo Quyen besuchen, in welchen zwei Nationalhelden mit eben diesen Namen geehrt werden. Die Fahrt mit dem Fahrrad bringt Sie schließlich zur im 15. Jahrhundert erbauten Mia-Pagode. Treten Sie dort ein Stück zurück und bewundern Sie die 287 unterschiedlichen Statuen und Statuetten; einige repräsentieren berühmte Persönlichkeiten, wie etwa Buddha im Himalaya oder die acht Gottheiten von Vajra.

Mahlzeiten inklusive: Mittagessen bei Gastfamilie

Schwierigkeitsstufe: 0

Strecke & Dauer: 15 Kilometer – 2 Stunden (3 bis 4 Stunden inklusive Pausen und Besichtigungen) 

Terrain: hauptsächlich gepflasterte Straße, die durch Dörfer führt
Transport: 60 Kilometer – 2 Stunden 

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