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Taking a cyclo in Hanoi, Vietnam - a fun way to see the city
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Cyclo rider in Hanoi, Vietnam
If you're going to be in Hanoi, Vietnam, don't miss taking a ride (or two) on a cyclo. A cyclo, or motorcycle rickshaw, is one of those little carriages you sit in and a guy behind you on a bike peddles you down the street. They're easy to take, relatively inexpensive (if you haggle well) and you'll see an unrestricted view of the city as you're up front and the rider is behind.
To take a cyclo, either hail one down and hop in when he stops or find a group of cyclo riders hanging around one of Hanoi's street corners, and tell them where you want to go. They'll usually decide who's going to take you (they have a definite system for which rider's turn it is next), and then ask how much the ride will be. Make sure you bargain though as, especially with tourists, the price will usually be much higher than it should be as they presume you have no idea what you should be paying. Start at around 50% of what they're asking and go up from there.
Once you're in the cyclo, you may feel like you're completely out of control, particularly as you see Hanoi's crazy traffic hurtling towards you. Don't worry! These guys really know what they're doing and, honestly, have very few accidents. Plus, you'll see a side of Hanoi you're not going to see in a taxi, and it's a lot cheaper too.
One gentle hint though, once you get safely to your destination, please give the guy a tip. Most cyclo drivers in Hanoi are lucky if they make $3 a day and, even in Hanoi, that's very difficult to live on.
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