The passion

The Hanoi-based lecturer said that at first she simply saw cycling as a form of physical exercise. She also enjoyed the 7km route from her home in Thuong Dinh Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam to her workplace as she could pass by scenic spots such as Hoan Kiem Lake and tree-lined streets like Trang Thi Street, Hanoi and Tran Phu Street, Hanoi.

Her compact bicycle also helps her move easily through congested intersections. Over time, cycling became both a habit and a passion.

Later, when she moved farther away from work, Chi bought a folding bicycle so she could combine cycling with the city’s elevated metro. Each day, she still cycles about 40 minutes for the round trip.

“This bike can be folded in about five seconds, which makes it very convenient to carry onto public transport,” she said.

Over the past 13 years, Chi has continued cycling to work almost every day, meaning rising gasoline prices are no longer a concern for her.

Do Thanh Phuong (born 1982), a business consultant living in Tay Ho, Hanoi, has also been cycling to work for the past five years. She said she previously commuted by motorbike and gasoline-powered car. When the COVID-19 pandemic intensified in 2021 and travel became restricted, she temporarily borrowed her mother’s bicycle.

Cycling soon became enjoyable for her, as it was both relaxing and beneficial for her health. Later, as parking a car became increasingly difficult, she decided to sell her car and buy a bicycle as her main means of transportation.

Four years ago, her office was about 6.5km from home, which meant roughly 30 minutes of cycling. Each day she left for work at 6:30 am., when the weather was cooler and traffic was lighter. By starting work earlier and finishing sooner, she could return home before rush hour and enjoy a leisurely ride back.

“On average, I cycle to the office about four days a week. On days when I don’t go to the office, when I’m not feeling well, when I have to travel far, meet important clients or dress formally, I take a taxi instead,” Phuong said.

She has since changed workplaces and the distance is now about 10km, but she still maintains the cycling routine.

Staying calm despite fuel price fluctuations

As long-time bicycle commuters, both Chi and Phuong admit that maintaining the habit is not easy.

“Cycling to work depends on many factors such as health, job requirements and weather,” Chi said.

According to her, the biggest challenge that discourages many people is the long and harsh summer in Hanoi. Many cyclists arrive at work drenched in sweat and sometimes exhausted from the heat.

“Fortunately, my workplace has a shower area with full facilities, so I can clean up and change clothes after cycling. But many others have to bring towels to wipe sweat or carry extra clothes to change into, which can be quite inconvenient,” she said.

Chi created a Facebook group bringing together people who are interested in cycling to work. Members share experiences on overcoming challenges and encourage each other to maintain the positive habit.

She said that whenever fuel prices rise, many people consider switching from cars or motorbikes to bicycles. However, from her observation, once gasoline prices stabilize, most of them return to motorbikes or cars because of the convenience those vehicles offer. Those who have cycled to work for years, on the other hand, tend to remain calm about rising fuel costs.

“Cycling to work not only benefits personal health and finances but is also environmentally friendly and helps reduce urban pollution. When people truly understand the benefits and enjoy the experience of cycling, they can commit to it long term and find ways to overcome obstacles,” she said.

For Phuong, the initial reason for cycling was the difficulty of finding parking for her car. Over time, she continued with the habit as a way to stay physically active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“Honestly, without the goal of staying active and living a healthier lifestyle, it would be difficult to maintain this habit. Once I had that goal, I began to see the bicycle not only as a means of transport but also as a workout machine,” Phuong said.

Thanh Minh