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Hue Half-Day Motorbike Tour Authentic Countryside of Vietnam, History, Culture

ByLanie van der Horst Updated on

Are you looking for a unique way to get around in Hue, Vietnam? Do you want to learn about the history and the culture while riding on the back of a motorbike?

My family took the half-day motorbike tour in Hue, exploring the countryside.

Mark and I visited Hue in 2009 and took a motorbike tour. When we decided to take the kids back to Vietnam, Mark insisted we go on another motorbike tour.

I was nervous, as my kids were just 9 and 10, but as he practically insisted we go, I compromised by saying we could take a tour in Hue, where we wouldn’t be in the city.

The motorbike tour turned out to be our favorite part of the holiday.

If you are trying to decide if you should take a motorbike tour in Vietnam, you should! Maybe you aren’t sure which one to take.

We took a half-day motorbike tour that showed the authentic countryside of Vietnam, the history, and the culture.

Keep reading to know what to expect on this tour.

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Hue Tours to Book Now
An abandoned water park in Vietnam featuring a large dragon sculpture integrated into its architecture, situated near a serene lake surrounded by trees.

✔ Hue Street Food Walking Tour

✔ Sightseeing and Food Tour by Motorbike

✔ Culinary Night Cyclo Tour

✔ Hue’s Famous Sights by Motorbike

✔ Electric Bicycle Tour

Booking a Motorbike Tour in Hue

There are different options for booking a motorbike tour in Hue. We signed up for a 4.5-hour-long tour with Local Motorbike Tour using Viator.

We were the only guests on the tour, and we aren’t sure if we signed up for a private tour. Either way, it was nice being the only participants.

The tour begins at Asia Hotel Hue, or you can request pick-up from your hotel. We met the tour at the regular spot, as it was a short walk from our hotel.

Book Your Hue Motorbike Tour Now!

Thanh Toan Bridge

Group of four people standing in front of a traditional Vietnamese bridge near a river in Hue, Vietnam.

The first stop on our motorbike tour was the Thanh Toan Bridge, which Mark and I immediately recognized.

The bridge is about a 15-minute ride from the hotel in Hue.

On our last motorbike tour, Mark and I visited the bridge, and there was a Chinese fortune teller inside. I had her tell me my fortune.

At the time, I was 28 years old. She told me that I was going to get married at 30, and have 3 kids when I was between the ages of 33 and 42. Then, my husband would start drinking too much.

To make sure that did not come true, I got married the day after I turned 31.

Unfortunately, the fortune teller is no longer alive, but our tour guide knew her.

Vietnamese Local Market

A bustling market scene in Vietnam featuring a young person in shorts and a light purple shirt walking past various stalls filled with fresh vegetables and fruits, while local vendors engage with shoppers.

On the other side of the bridge, there is a market, which we walked through.

Thanh Toan Museum, Rice Museum

A young boy and an adult man are balancing on a traditional wooden water wheel in a rural setting, surrounded by greenery and a building.

After a quick visit to the market, we went to the Thanh Toan Museum, which is a rice museum. We learned about the process of harvesting rice, and the kids participated in the demonstrations.

A child using a wooden pestle to grind rice in a traditional Vietnamese kitchen, with family members seated nearby.

There are a few steps in the rice harvesting process, and the kids enjoyed their roles.

Mark and I had no memory of being at this museum on our last tour, but looking at our old pictures proved otherwise. We had definitely been there before.

Vong Canh Hill, Bunker Hill

A serene view of the Vietnamese countryside featuring tall pine trees by a calm, green lake surrounded by hills and distant houses.

After the rice museum, we got back on the motorbikes and rode about 20 minutes to Vong Canh Hill, known as Bunker Hill. Located on the Perfume River, Bunker Hill has remote French and American bunkers.

A small, weathered building partially hidden by greenery, surrounded by tall trees in a forested area.

We had time to walk around and explore while our guide talked about the area and its history.

At this point, I realized we did not have any photos of us on the motorbikes, as I was too scared to take pictures while we were in motion. The drivers let us sit on the bikes for photos.

Two children sitting on motorbikes in a wooded area, wearing helmets and smiling.

Huong Thuy, Incense Village

A woman demonstrates a craft activity to a child in a market setting, surrounded by jars and craft materials.

From Bunker Hill, we rode just a few minutes to Huong Thuy, an incense village.

There are many different shops along the roads that sell incense. They have brightly colored sticks in various patterns outside.

We went inside and learned about the process of making incense. Both kids rolled their own incense stick, which is harder than it looks.

A young girl smiling while holding a piece of food, seated at a table with dishes of snacks and tea in a vibrant market setting.

We were offered tea and dried ginger.

They sell a variety of souvenirs and snacks.

A family sits together in front of colorful incense sticks arranged in patterns, with vibrant flowers made of incense in the foreground.

Tiger Arena

Two people wearing helmets on a motorbike in a Vietnamese countryside setting with trees in the background.

After a 5-minute motorbike tour, we ended up at Tiger Arena.

Tiger Arena was the only place we didn’t visit on our last motorbike tour (though we didn’t remember anything except the bridge and the incense village).

We learned that Tiger Arena is where they used to hold competitions between tigers and elephants.

Visitors exploring the historical site of a fort or ancient wall, surrounded by lush green grass and blue skies.

Thien Mu Pagoda

A view from a motorbike rider's perspective on a road in Vietnam, with trees lining the street and other motorbikes in the distance under a cloudy sky.

On the way to the last stop of the half-day motorbike tour in Hue, I finally got brave enough to take photos while on the back of the bike.

The ride was about 10 minutes long, and we crossed over the Perfume River.

A tall, multi-tiered pagoda surrounded by greenery and trees, located in a serene outdoor setting.

Once at Thien Mu Pagoda, we had time to explore. Our guide was available to talk to us about the area and its history.

He was great with the kids throughout the day.

Heading Back to Hue

A view from the back of a motorbike riding along a road lined with trees, with other motorbikes ahead and a river visible to the right. The sky is overcast.

After exploring Thien Mu Pagoda, we had a 15-minute motorbike tour back to Asia Hotel Hue.

More Tours to Take in Hue, Vietnam

We spent 2 nights in Hue as we had been there before. In addition to our motorbike tour, we took Grab Taxis to the places we wanted to go, including an abandoned water park and mausoleums.

If you prefer tours to planning it yourself, here are a few fun options.

Hue Motorbike Tour Wrap-Up

A group of motorbike riders wearing helmets, with a cloudy sky in the background.

Despite my initial hesitation, I enjoyed our half-day motorbike tour in Hue, and my kids absolutely loved it.

Taking a motorbike tour in Vietnam is a great way to travel as the locals do. You see so many motorbikes in Vietnam, and it was a unique experience for our kids to join in.

Our tour was fantastic, and while we didn’t talk to our drivers much, they were polite and helpful. I was terrified at the beginning, and my driver said I could hold on to him. The rest of my family held on to the back of the bikes as they had seen the locals do.

While we had actually done this tour before, it was still a great experience. Getting out of the city is always a good idea and the best way to visit somewhere new.

The half-day motorbike tour in Hue visits a variety of locations in a relatively short amount of time. We still had the entire afternoon free to see the city of Hue.

Are you traveling to Hanoi?  Check out the food tour we took in the Old Quarter.

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Collage of four images showcasing highlights from a motorbike tour in Hue, Vietnam, including a historical building, a pagoda, a scenic view, and a family on a motorbike.

Lanie is the owner and author of Make More Adventures, a family travel blog that helps families make the most of their holidays. Lanie is an American living in Australia with her husband and 2 kids who love to travel almost as much as she does. When she is not traveling, working on her blog, or planning her next vacation, Lanie is watching Bravo, reading, or working with kids.

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