Northern Central Vietnam Local Transportation

Cyclos swarm around the city. 10,000 per ride. Bargain like it’s going out of style.
Motorbikes are often cheaper than cyclos. 3000-7000 per ride; around the city 10,000-15,000 per hr. For longer distances, approximately 1000-1500 per km.
Taxis: Mai Linh (☎898 989). Metered and unmetered rides to almost anywhere. For unmetered rides, agree on a price beforehand. Gili Taxi (☎828 282) is all over town.
Boats: Half-day boat trips to visit the Royal Tombs are booked at nearly every restaurant, hotel, and tour office (with English-speaking guide US$5-6). A cheaper option is to ask for a 1hr. dragon boat ride (20,000) from one of the boat owners along the boardwalk on Lˆ Li, north of the Tràng Ti]n Bridge. Though many of these guides don’t speak English, the sights speak for themselves.
Tourist Boat Pier, 7 Lˆ Li, right next to the HCMC Museum. 1-day tours (8am-4pm; 200,000) up the Perfume River to Thiˆn Mƒ Pagoda and the Royal Tombs, or to ThuÆn An Beach, on 10- to 15-person boats. Lunch included. Those traveling solo or in pairs can buy individual tickets at the pier or at tourist agencies, hotels, and the Mandarin and Stop and Go Cafes (US$1.50 per person). The acclaimed Folk Songs of Hu\ (see Entertainment) boat tour leaves every night (1hr.; 7, 8:30pm; 80,000, 350,000 for groups of 10-15 people). The booking booth at 51 Lˆ Li (☎828 945) is at the northernmost end of the street. Open daily 6am-10pm.
Huong Giang Tourist Company, 17 Lˆ Li (☎832 220; www.charmingvietnam.com), arranges nightly folk song excursions (1hr.; 7, 8:30pm; 50,000, 350,000 for groups of 5-10 people). Also arranges tours of tombs and the Citadel and books Vietnam and Pacific Airline tickets. Open daily 6:30am-9pm.
Rentals: Most guesthouses, hotels, and outfits on Hùng V™£ng rent motorbikes for US$3 per day. Some also rent them with hired drivers. Minh & Coco Mini Restaurant, 1 Hùng V™£ng (☎821 822), provides motorbikes with drivers for US$6.50 per day. However, probably the easiest and most enjoyable way to get around Hu\ is to pedal around on a bicycle. There are several bicycle rental shops along Lˆ Li: Nam Thanh, 48 Lˆ Li, has a large selection of bikes. The shop inside Hoàng H™£ng Hotel, at 46/2 Lˆ Li, has very friendly service. Both are open 6:30am-10pm and rent bikes for 10,000-15,000 per day. Don’t forget to bargain. Hotels and cafes, such as the Mandarin Cafe, 3 Hùng V™£ng (☎821 281; mandarin@dng.vnn.vn), Stop and Go Cafe, 4 B\n Nghé (☎889 106), Ph™£ng Nam Cafe, 38 Tr<n Cåo Vàn (☎849 317), and Minh & Coco’s provide bikes with locks for the same price. Phú Xuñn Tourist (see below) rents cars with drivers for US$25 per day.