Hanoi Countryside Motorbike Tour: A Village Visit Review

Thinking about escaping the craziness of Hanoi for a day? Very often, that intense city atmosphere might become a bit too much, so a countryside motorbike tour sounds perfect, right? Recently, your actually humble author tried out the ‘Hanoi Countryside Motorbike Tour Bat Trang Ceramic Village’ excursion. Here is a personal, slightly rambling, totally opinionated breakdown of it, full of all the details to help you see if it is, like, really a good pick for you.

First Impressions: Gearing Up for Adventure

Alright, so first up, the tour people got me right from my hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Which, very truly, is helpful ’cause Hanoi traffic is really something. When I got to their place, they, you know, gave me a pretty decent motorbike – a semi-automatic, easy to handle. Very thankfully, because full-on manual in Hanoi? Absolutely not! The guide, his name was Liam, checked that I knew how everything worked, and was, well, pretty cool and calm. He was saying stuff about safety. Which, for real, made me more easygoing since I did worry a little bit regarding traffic.

Liam described to us, almost quickly, about what the morning had in store, a countryside cruise leading to Bat Trang Ceramic Village. I can’t lie. So, the picture I had was peaceful rice paddies and tiny, cute roads, totally contrasting the loud chaos left behind.

The Ride: Escaping the City Chaos

Ok, that leaving Hanoi was, maybe, pretty wild. I have to be completely straight with you, the first stretch had some heavy traffic to, basically, deal with. Liam skillfully took to these streets and kept watch on everyone in the group. Anyway, so once out of the central bits, the surrounding became more and more lovely. Now and then you might see water buffalo chilling near the rice fields that, yes, is always a treat! The roads got small and smaller, which, actually, made for a calmer and really engaging trip.

We zoomed, almost casually, past local life unfolding – children cycling to school, farmers carefully working on land, roadside markets. It was almost a peek right into the daily lives, a totally different feel coming from tourist spots. It, for real, felt nice to see things unfold almost without us noticing it was unfolding!

Bat Trang Ceramic Village: A Creative Haven

After close to two hours, that is when we finally rode to Bat Trang. It seems that village has been known, potentially for ages, for its ceramics, right? Walking those tiny roads was so fascinating, that, apparently, it feels as if you’re stepping back into another period of time. Little family-run workshops line those little roads, with pieces varying from standard dishes, bowls, and ornamental objects to super original art. We were given what seemed to be quite enough amount of time wandering, observing talented artisans hard at work, so cool to view them shaping clay into pieces of beauty!

I thought it, possibly, was amazing when given a try throwing clay at one shop. And no worries – really clumsy, very, extremely messy. And yet, really, unbelievably interesting! Plus, getting bits of ceramic artwork could become quite tempting: there is such assortment along those streets. Very likely some haggling required too, of course!

Lunch and Local Flavors

By lunchtime, it felt amazing. Liam chose us this small, very local restaurant away from crowds. We got to eat tasty dishes that were typical Vietnamese, such as pho and spring rolls. Honestly, food tastes always loads tastier the moment you have had an adventure in fresh air, it felt so comforting, especially because you have the sounds of surrounding area plus people! It did offer time to talk more closely to those other folks of your group too. Sharing opinions, hearing where people come from – just things that boost travel, if I were very frank!

The Return Ride: Reflecting on the Day

When lunch ended we drove back. I think I noticed things much better than earlier. Likely I got familiar, or things felt a bit less loud the moment I knew them! It, actually, made my understanding on daily Hanoi life that tiny bit better.

That entire experience showed rural contrast – a welcome switch to just get to see what goes beyond regular stuff usually seen throughout travelling. When entering Hanoi later on made it appear far busier, noisier, after getting my fill somewhere completely opposite!

Final Thoughts: Is This Tour For You?

Well, so you like the feeling of getting sun-kissed as you’re heading down roads? Or when you wish getting yourself somewhere further out? ‘Hanoi Countryside Motorbike Tour’ might suit! For everyone who are at ease being out there or just seek a temporary escape route far out beyond city borders- do very heavily give this tour some heavy thought.

Liam was fantastic, bike suited fine for what we wanted. Village and its crafts, definitely worth viewing! Keep yourself cautious along those main roads; traffic needs your alert mode to kick in right when leaving city edges. After all, give Bat Trang Tour quite consideration in planning for fun trips in Vietnam! You certainly discover other side – quite contrasting versus spots typically overran thanks intense visiting! That different edge makes such trips actually much more remarkable for anyone!