Quang Thuan's neighbours in Cau Giay District were recently surprised to see him leave his expensive scooter at home and go to work by bicycle.
by Trung Hieu & Linh Hue
Quang Thuan's neighbours in Cau Giay District were recently surprised to see him leave his expensive scooter at home and go to work by bicycle.
"My office is just 3km from home; I work during office hours and do not often travel much, so a bicycle is the most appropriate means of transport," Thuan explains.
"I used to go to work by motorbike, but I faced traffic jams every day and petrol prices keep increasing so travel costs also continually increase. Using a bicycle has many advantages: it causes no environmental pollution and helps relieve stress while travelling," he says.
Thuan emphasises that cycling not only saves money but also improves health. "Some of my colleagues have also started copying me and bicycling to work," he adds.
As petrol prices continue to rise, many city dwellers are choosing to travel by bicycle to save money. They say their choice also helps them get exercise and protect the environment.
For some well-off people, collecting bicycles is also a way to show that they are stylish and modern.
As demand increases, shops selling bicycles on Ba Trieu, Tay Son and Xuan Thuy streets now enjoy large profits.
Bicycles are affordable for most people, with prices starting as low as VND1.5-7 million (US$330). Sport bicycles are selling fast, as well as street bikes that young people customise with stickers and other decorations.
Those who can afford them often choose imported bicycles because they are more durable and stylish than their domestic counterparts.
Tuan Tu, a young customer at a bike shop on Ba Trieu Street, says many of his friends are now choosing folding bicycles due to their compact design, which makes them easy to use and repair.
Bicyclists can quickly disassemble the folding model, stow it in a bag, and carry it.
Khanh Van, a Social Sciences and Humanities University student, says: "Using a folding bike is very convenient. In just three simple steps, you can fold it and take it with you very quickly.
"The folding bike is also smaller than normal bicycles so it is easier for me to thread my way through a crowd. If a traffic jam is so bad that the bike cannot be used, I can just fold it up and walk on foot until I find an open space to continue the journey," she says.
Along with regular bikes, many designer mountain bikes that can cost anywhere from tens to hundreds of millions of dong have appeared on the streets recently.
Nguyen Thanh Nam, owner of a bike shop on Ba Trieu Street, says: "The price of these bicycles is fairly high because their parts are imported from companies like Giant, Trek, Bull, Focus and Scott. Buyers can also purchase the parts to assemble themselves."
While a Vietnamese mountain bike costs only VND4-5 million, some people are willing to spend a large sum of money to own a better-quality model with an international brand name.
The cost of a bicycle depends on its material and technology, Nam says.
The weight of an imported bicycle with a famous brand name must not exceed 14kg, and they often cost between VND10-70 million ($470-3,300).
"Generally, the more expensive the bike, the lighter it is. Some bikes even have frames made of carbon so they weigh only about 7kg and cost VND200 million ($9,500)," says Nam.
Their parts are also quite expensive. The bikes can be supplemented with GPS (global positioning system) or touch screens.
Recently, bicycling circles have been buzzing with talk of the "super bike", which has been imported to Viet Nam at a cost of VND730 million ($34,760). It is the M55 Terminus and only 250 bikes of this type have been produced worldwide.
Retailer Nam says imitations of famous brand names – cheaper than the originals but poorer quality – have started to appear on the market so customers should be cautious.
When choosing a bike, he advises customers to hold the handlebars and shake to make sure it is stable. Genuine durable paint will not flake off, so buyers should be wary of bicyles that look new but seem to be peeling.
A young man named Thang Long who was choosing bicycles with his friends said that "using and collecting bikes, especially sport models, is a way for people to express social class".
He encourages people to make a lifestyle change and hop on a bike. — VNS