Cyclo tours are a popular attraction for tourists. (photo: Saigon Adventure Tours)

The cyclo, spelled "xich lo" in Vietnamese, was invented by a Frenchman named Coupeaud in 1939. To promote his invention, Coupeaud organized a cyclo journey, with two men taking turns pedaling a cyclo 200 kilometers from Phnom Penh to Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). Since then, the cyclo has become a familiar mode of transportation, carrying people and goods around the city. Today cyclo tours are a popular attraction for tourists.

Huynh Van Ut, a cyclo driver in Ho Chi Minh city, said: “I’ve been riding cycle for more than 20 years. Tourists from many countries, including the US, China, India, and Thailand, enjoy city tours on cyclos. It makes me happy.”

The cyclo is an ideal mode of transportation for tourists, who enjoy the relaxing experience of traveling through crowded streets and markets taking in the historical architecture. Nguyen Phan Hoang Minh, a student in the US, said: “I’ve traveled in Ho Chi Minh City several times, and what impressed me the most is traveling by cyclo. It made me feel closely connected to the local life and people.”

A cyclo tour takes tourists past the Notre Dame Cathedral in Ho Chi Minh City. (photo: Klook)

It’s easy to find a cyclo near famous tourist attractions and popular shopping areas. Many cyclo riders can speak English, and many of them can tell interesting stories about the city.

Hong Minh is a tourist from Hanoi: “Traveling slowly by cyclo allows me to take in the surroundings, explore the local life in narrow lanes, and breathe in the urban air. It’s easy to take photos while travelling by cyclo and then your photos will depict the HCM city’s life from another angle”

A cyclo tour of Ho Chi Minh City takes tourists past landmarks like the 110-year-old Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee headquarters, bustling Ben Thanh market, Nguyen Hue walking street, and many impressive high-rise buildings.