Bicycle Days in Hoi An

February 15, 2025

I borrowed the title for this post from a novel I read by John Burnham Schwartz years ago when I was in Japan.  It was about a young man experiencing Japanese culture by bicycle.  In Hoi An we decided not to rent a car and since our VRBO house was a couple of miles outside of town our main mode of transportation was the bicycle.  It was quite an experience to be biking along the busy streets of Hoi An with other cyclists, both foreign and domestic along side the many motor scooters.  Everyone going to a different place.  As I would ride past I would hear shop keepers call out to me to view their wares or get a massage.  I would pass temples and water ways and transverse bridges.  It was a truly magical time. 

Most of the time, however, we took Grabs - the leading Rideshare service of Southeast Aisa - since Francesca was unable to ride a bike due to her wrist and knee injuries suffered in Thailand and Vietnam respectively.  Still we managed to fit a lot of culture, friends and fun into our month in this charming city.  Here are some of the highlights.