Banana Island (Red River)
A sandy island of banana groves and vegetable gardens in the Red River, right under Long Bien Bridge — Hanoi’s countryside in the middle of the city.
- Hanoi
- Included in 8 tours
- Tours from $45
- Updated October 2026
About Banana Island Hanoi
Look down from Long Bien Bridge and you will see a long, green strip of land in the middle of the Red River, covered in banana trees and vegetable plots. This is Bai Giua, “the middle sandbank”, known to visitors as Banana Island. It is only a few hundred metres from the Old Quarter, yet down there the noise of the city disappears: dirt paths, chickens, farmers in conical hats and the slow brown river.
What Banana Island is like
The island is a sandbar built up by the river. It has no roads, no hotels and no tourist facilities. Local families farm it with bananas, corn, vegetables and flowers, and on the river edge a small floating community has lived on boats and simple houses for years. On hot afternoons Hanoians come to swim, walk their dogs or simply sit under the trees, and on weekends young people come for photos among the banana leaves and sand.
The name “Banana Island” is also used loosely for the banana and vegetable farms on the riverbank under the eastern end of the bridge, which is where many tours, including ours, meet local farmers.
Floods and the future
Because it sits in the riverbed, parts of the island flood in the rainy season, usually in summer. In September 2024, after Typhoon Yagi, the Red River rose to its highest level in years and Bai Giua was under water. Hanoi has long planned to turn the island into a riverside park, and the huge Red River landscape boulevard project began at the end of 2025. For now, in 2026, it is still farmland — but plans may change what you find, so treat any visit as “come and see how it is today”.
Visiting with us
Several of our tours take you to the farms under Long Bien Bridge, where a local family shares seasonal fruit and green tea with you: the half-day jeep and electric scooter city tours, the Green Sisters tours, both evening street food tours, the e-bike tour and the Instagram tour.
What to expect at Banana Island today
Banana Island is farmland in the middle of the Red River, not a tourist attraction: dirt paths, banana and vegetable plots, a small river community and no roads, hotels or facilities. That is the charm – total calm a few hundred metres from the Old Quarter. Parts flood in the summer rainy season, and Hanoi has begun a large Red River park project that may change the island, so treat a visit as “come and see how it is today”, go in daylight in the dry season, and bring your own water.
Worth it?
Why visit Banana Island (Red River)?
- Countryside in the cityBanana groves, vegetable gardens and dirt paths a few minutes from the Old Quarter.
- Under Long Bien BridgeGreat views of the historic steel bridge from below.
- Local farming lifeFamilies growing bananas, corn and vegetables on rich river soil.
- A quiet escapeNo traffic, no shops — just birds, wind and the Red River.
- Sunset over the riverThe sky turns gold behind the bridge and the city skyline.
Make the most of it
6 best things to do in Banana Island (Red River)
Walk down from Long Bien Bridge
About halfway across the bridge, a metal staircase leads down to the island. Walking from the Old Quarter end to the stairs takes about 15 minutes.
Wander the banana groves
Follow the dirt paths between banana trees and vegetable plots. Stay on paths and do not pick fruit — this is someone’s farm.
Sit by the river
Find a shady spot on the sand facing the river; the view of the bridge from below is excellent at golden hour.
Share fruit and tea with a farming family
On our tours we visit a riverside family under the bridge for seasonal fruit and green tea — a simple, genuine welcome.
Photograph the bridge from below
The long steel trusses look their best from the island, especially as a train crosses.
Be careful about swimming
Locals swim here in summer, but the Red River has strong currents and drownings happen. If you swim at all, stay in the shallows near local swimmers and follow posted signs.
Good to know
Before you go: Banana Island practical info
| Access | Stairs from the middle of Long Bien Bridge (on foot); local tracks for scooters |
|---|---|
| Facilities | Almost none — no toilets, few shops, limited shade |
| Flood season | Usually summer to early autumn; parts of the island can be under water |
| Ground | Sand and mud; wear trainers, not sandals |
| Mosquitoes | Many in the evening — bring repellent |
| Phone signal | Usually fine |
| Status in 2026 | Still farmland; a city park is planned, so things may change |
Conditions on the island change with the river level and with the city’s development plans. If you go independently, look down from the bridge first to see what is open.
Timing
Best time to visit Banana Island (Red River)
Dry and mild, with clear skies and the best sunsets.
Cooler, often misty; the river is low and paths are firm.
Hot, humid and sometimes flooded after heavy rain. Check before going.
The best time of day: softer light and cooler air.
Map & directions
How to get to Banana Island (Red River)
- On foot from the Old QuarterWalk up onto Long Bien Bridge near Long Bien station (10–15 minutes from Dong Xuan Market), then about 15 minutes to the stairs.
- By scooterSome local tracks lead down to the riverbank and island; they are rough and change with the river, so go with someone who knows the way.
- By Grab or taxiGet dropped at Long Bien station and walk; cars cannot use the bridge.
- By jeep or scooter with usOur jeeps and scooters drive down to the farms by road via Tran Quoc Pagoda, with free Old Quarter hotel pickup — no stairs to climb.
Eat like a local
Where to eat near Banana Island (Red River)
- Seasonal fruit with a local familyBananas, guava, pomelo or whatever is in season — part of our tours.
- Bring your own waterThere are very few shops on the island; carry water and snacks.
- Dong Xuan Market and Old QuarterStreet food 15–20 minutes away when you come back up.
- Long Bien station cafésCoffee by the tracks at the western end of the bridge.
For your camera
Best photo spots at Banana Island (Red River)
- Under the bridgeThe steel trusses overhead, framed by banana leaves.
- On the sand at sunsetThe river, the bridge and the skyline glowing gold.
- In the banana grovesGreen tunnels of leaves — ask farmers before photographing them or their land.
Local advice
Tips for visiting Banana Island (Red River)
Do
- Wear closed shoes and bring insect repellent
- Carry water and small change
- Stay on the paths and respect the farms
- Check river conditions after heavy rain
- Go with a local if you want to meet farming families
Don’t
- Swim far out — the Red River currents are strong
- Pick fruit or vegetables without asking
- Visit after dark on your own
- Leave rubbish on the island
- Expect cafés, toilets or tourist facilities
Visit with a local
Tours that visit Banana Island (Red River)
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Half-Day Electric Scooter City Tour
463+ booked
From $60
$51
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Sunrise & Sunset Electric Scooter Tour
678+ booked
From $60
$51
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Half-Day City Tour with Female Riders
876+ booked
From $62
$53
per adult
Hanoi · Electric Scooter
Hanoi Street Food Tour with Female Riders
786+ booked
From $72
$62
per adult
Hanoi · E-Bike
Hanoi Self-Ride E-Bike City Tour: Lakes, Riverside & Hidden Gems
576+ booked
From $60
$45
per adult
Hanoi · Instagram & Photo
Hanoi Instagram Tour: City Highlights by Jeep, Limo or Motorbike
397+ booked
From $72
$60
per adult
Good to know
Banana Island (Red River): questions & answers
How do I get to Banana Island in Hanoi?
On foot, walk onto Long Bien Bridge from the Old Quarter end and take the metal staircase down to the island, about halfway across. On our tours the jeeps and scooters drive down to the farms by road via Tran Quoc Pagoda.
Is Banana Island Hanoi worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a quiet, rural side of Hanoi a few minutes from the Old Quarter. It is simple farmland with no facilities, so go for the atmosphere, not for attractions.
Is there an entrance fee for Banana Island?
Usually not. Locals may ask a small fee for parking, private gardens or swimming spots.
Can you swim at Banana Island?
Locals do swim there in summer, but the Red River has strong currents and drownings have happened. Stay in the shallows near other swimmers, or better, don’t swim.
Is Banana Island flooded?
Parts of it flood in the rainy season, usually summer to early autumn. In September 2024, after Typhoon Yagi, much of the island was under water.
What is Banana Island in Hanoi called in Vietnamese?
Bai Giua, meaning “middle sandbank”, sometimes Bai Giua song Hong.
Is Banana Island going to be developed?
Hanoi plans to turn the island into a riverside park as part of its Red River development, which began at the end of 2025. In 2026 it is still farmland, but things may change.
What is there to do at Banana Island?
Walk the quiet dirt paths among banana and vegetable plots, visit the riverside farms where local families share seasonal fruit and green tea, take photos among the banana leaves and sandbanks, and in summer join Hanoians who come to swim. There are no shops or facilities, so bring water.
Is Banana Island safe to visit?
It is fine in daylight during the dry season (October to April). There are no roads or facilities, so wear sturdy shoes and carry water, and avoid it in the summer rainy season when parts of the sandbank flood. Going with a tour that knows the farms is the easiest way in.
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