Sidecar Tours in Hoi An Vietnam in 2024 Review

Have you enjoyed sidecar tours anywhere in your travels?

We had never thought that we would be in Hoi An Vietnam enjoying vintage sidecar tours to Monkey Mountain with Victoria Hoi An Resort.  The thought had not crossed our mind, ever.

This is our review of the sidecar tour that can be booked directly through Victoria Hoi An Resort & Spa here

Throughout Vietnam, there are nearly as many motorbikes as there are numbers of people.  We had spent the last 6 weeks dodging motorbikes on roads and even pavements.  When did pavements become roads for motorcycles?

We even shied away from tours in Hanoi that included traversing the city via motorbike, feeling that we were not confident enough to even try a short journey.  So what were we thinking of when we said yes to a Sidecar tour to Monkey Mountain in Hoi An Vietnam. We were sponsored by Victoria Hoi An Resort for this adventure, as always our opinions are our own.

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We were staying at the EMM Hotel in Hoi An which is part of the Vietnamese TMG Group, Asia’s leading customer-centric travel group providing all-inclusive travel services.

If you need to book a hotel in Hoi An the EMM Hotel is centrally located, with breakfast included and wifi, a swimming pool and their excellent Spice Viet Restaurant.

Their sister hotel is the Victoria Hotel Resort & Spa Hoi An located on their own private beach about 5.5 km from Hoi An’s Old Town.  If you are staying at the EMM Hotel you can take their free shuttle to the Victoria Hotel Resort & Spa for a day trip.  After the hectic pace and busyness of Hoi An’s Old Town, it was a welcome relief to relax on the private beach and enjoy the luxury facilities the hotel has to offer. You do not have to be staying at the Victoria Hoi An Resort to enjoy the tours they have on offer.

Motorbike tours in Vietnam are very popular and one of the popular routes is from Hanoi to Hoi An.  If a Vietnam motorbike tour is not for you we can highly recommend the next best thing a Sidecar Tour with Victoria Hoi An Resort.

So we said yes to the motorcycle sidecar adventure! The tour depended on the weather conditions so for the next few days prior we were watching the weather patterns closely. The day dawned clear and at 9.00 am we presented ourselves at the Victoria Hoi An Resort for an adventure of a lifetime. BTW one of us does not like riding on motorcycles (you can probably guess which one of the team member that is!) Our two Ural motorcycles with sidecars were lined up ready and waiting!

Our Victoria Sidecar Specifications

• Ex Russian Ural motorcycles that belonged to the Military
• Built-in the 1960s
• 650cc engines
• Transverse engine and drive-shaft driven

Want to come along on our adventure with us? Our YouTube Video highlights our adventure:

Let Our Sidecar Tours Adventure to Monkey Mountain Begin

Off we flew on our sightseeing sidecar tour! It was exhilarating travelling up the beach road from the Victoria Hoi An Resort past Marble Mountain and into Danang. Our two sidecar drivers were careful and responsible and had our safety at the top of their minds throughout the day. Zipping along the beachside road our bikes with sidecars were getting plenty of attention.

#1 Stop – Fishing Village on Danang Beach

Our first stop was just outside Danang on the beach where the local fishermen and fisherwomen were sorting their catch from the night before.  The fish is sold to the local markets in and around Hoi An and Danang. Whilst we were there we witnessed two fishermen hauling in their net with very little fish caught compared to what we had seen a few minutes before from the evening catch.  Fishing is the #2 industry for the economy here in Danang, tourism being #1.

#2 Linh Ung Pagoda Complex

Our second stop was at the Linh Ung Pagoda on Son Tra Peninsula.   Locals say: “Linh Ung Pagoda – the most peaceful place with a stunning view”. The Complex was a short distance from the fishing village that we had just visited.

On arrival, our drivers offered us cold drinks and cold towels. It can be quite hot and sweaty under our helmets so the towels were a welcome relief. We felt very pampered.

The Lady Buddha (aka Goddess of Mercy) is the highest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam standing at 67m high. She stands at the entrance to the Linh Ung Pagoda which completed construction in 2010. The Lady Buddha is a protector of the fisherman in the region and is also the protector for women.

During our visit, we wandered through courtyards of bonsai trees as well as 18 Arhats statues that protect the main shrine. The views are stunning from just in front of the Lady Buddha.

Pro-Tip: There are a lot of monkeys who are very clever around the complex. We highly recommend making sure that if you do approach them to keep your hats, sunglasses and any food or drink hidden from their sight and prying hands.  Believe us, they are quick, very quick. They may look cute but they are devious.

Entrance: Free

Remember: Take your shoes off when visiting the Pagoda and dress respectively.

#3 The Heritage Banyan Tree

Off we flew to our next stop around 20 minutes to the famous Banyan Tree of Son Tra Peninsula. The views are spectacular – where the mountain meets the sea! Lush green forests of the Nature Reserve line each side of the road.

The Banyan Tree is over 800 years old and stands 22m high with the main trunk of 10m.  There are 26 secondary roots and root heights are up to 25m.  In June 2014 it became part of Vietnam’s Heritage Tree programs.  Unfortunately, there are people who believe it is fun to carve their initials into the trunk. The area was once used as a base during 2 resistance wars against foreign invaders.

#4 Monkey Mountain

Leaving the Banyan Tree behind we followed the roadway we had just taken and headed further up towards the top of Monkey Mountain (Son Tra Mountain). The road is steep, narrow and winding most of the way up.  We were pleased we were in the sidecar and not riding pillion on the back of a motorcycle.

From the top, you can see for miles over Danang City on one side and mountains covered by clouds and mist on the other heading down into the South China Sea.

There is even a statue of Confucious staring intently at a chessboard.

#5 Gourmet Picnic Lunch with Wine

Our drivers pulled up at a spot a short distance from the summit of Monkey Mountain where we had just visited.  We did not expect a gourmet smorgasbord with wine and beer included in our sidecar tours adventure created by Victoria Hoi An’s resident French Chef. Our drivers suddenly became our own personal Chefs! Out came the table cloth, chairs, beer, red wine, chicken, quiche, baguettes, salads and cheeses, all with the best view in town! They must have known we were Australians, as we were presented with a very cheeky well known Red Wine to enjoy with our picnic. What a picnic!

Unfortunately, all great things must come to an end. It was time to pack up and head back home down Monkey Mountain with more stunning views over Danang City down to Hoi An.

Our Verdict

A definite yes for anyone at any age to do.  The sidecar tours around Monkey Mountain and Danang were so much fun and we would definitely do it again when we return to Hoi An or anywhere else in the world. There is nothing better than enjoying an open-air experience of Hoi An town and the local area while being chauffeured around in a vintage sidecar.

Sidecar riding could be our next hobby, but one stipulation it has to be a classic sidecar motorcycle. Would you enjoy sidecar tours too?

Other Sidecar Tours Offered by Victoria Hoi An Resort

1. A 60-minute Sidecar trip to the countryside past rice fields, fish and shrimp farms, buffalo and a visit to the Tra Que  vegetable village
2. A Sidecar tour to the villages of Hoi An. Two options available both 2 hours in length. The first option visiting the Thanh Ha Pottery and the second option visiting the Cam Thanh Coconut Village and skilled woodworkers and shipbuilders at the Kim Bong Carpentry Village
3. A Full Day Sidecar Tour to Laguna.  A total distance of 170 km through the countryside and Hai Van Pass. After visiting the pass the journey continues to Lang Co Beach and then the final 20 km distance to Laguna where lunch is at the Laguna Resort’s restaurant.
4. A half-day Sidecar tour to Ba Na Hill which was established in 1919 as a colonial French Hill Station. A stop at Marble Mountain is included.
5.  A full day sidecar tour to Hai Van Pass and on to Lang Co Beach as well as a visit to Marble Mountain. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.

If you have any questions on our sidecar tours or you would like some advice we would love to hear from you. You can reach us via our Facebook page or email us here.

Air Asia, the budget carrier, has flights into Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Nha Trang, from major Asian cities.

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