Vinhomes Ocean Park (often called Ocean Park 1) lies east of Hanoi across the Red River and is a popular weekend destination thanks to Pearl Lake (Hồ Ngọc Trai), a saltwater lagoon with a man-made sandy beach and the Vincom Mega Mall. Getting there by motorbike is fairly easy, but there is one crucial point: many online route guides are written for cars and use the Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway or Thanh Trì Bridge, where motorbikes are not allowed. This guide focuses on the routes that work on two wheels.
Hanoi abolished its district level in 2025, and the Ocean Park 1 area is still commonly described as part of Gia Lâm. When you enter your destination, type “Vinhomes Ocean Park” or a specific place inside it, such as Pearl Lake, and set your map app to motorbike mode. If you want to add other stops in the area, see our guide on riding to Gia Lâm by motorbike.
Motorbike routes at a glance
Table of contents25
| Route | Red River crossing | Main roads | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Via Chương Dương | Chương Dương Bridge | Nguyễn Văn Cừ, old National Road 5, then Đông Dư – Dương Xá road | The most common route; many trucks on National Road 5 |
| Via Vĩnh Tuy | Vĩnh Tuy Bridge | Cổ Linh, then join old National Road 5 and follow your map into the urban area | Do not take the ramp onto the Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway |
| Via Long Biên | Long Biên Bridge | Nguyễn Văn Cừ, old National Road 5 | Narrow bridge for motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians only |
Travel time depends heavily on traffic on the bridges and on National Road 5. Check the real-time estimate in your map app before you leave.
Roads that are not for motorbikes
According to VinWonders (29 July 2025), suggested ways to reach Ocean Park 1 include crossing Chương Dương or Vĩnh Tuy Bridge and following Cổ Linh onto the Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway, or crossing Thanh Trì Bridge and turning onto the expressway. These are car routes; motorbikes are not allowed on expressways. The same source also mentions another approach: turning off National Road 5A onto Đông Dư – Dương Xá road to reach the urban area. On a motorbike, take old National Road 5 and watch the signs at junctions so you do not drift onto an expressway ramp by mistake.
Each route in more detail
Via Chương Dương Bridge
From the Old Quarter, head towards Trần Quang Khải and cross Chương Dương Bridge, then follow Nguyễn Văn Cừ and join old National Road 5 towards Gia Lâm. Further along, turn onto Đông Dư – Dương Xá road, or follow your map app, to enter the urban area. Old National Road 5 carries many trucks and container lorries, so stay in the mixed-traffic lane, keep your distance and never squeeze between large vehicles.
Via Vĩnh Tuy Bridge
If you are staying south of the centre, cross Vĩnh Tuy Bridge and follow Cổ Linh. This is the stretch that needs the most attention, because Cổ Linh has a slip road leading onto the Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway. Read the signs carefully, stay in the motorbike lane and join old National Road 5 as directed by your map app in motorbike mode.
Via Long Biên Bridge
Long Biên Bridge is for motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians only, and is convenient if you start from the northern side of the Old Quarter. The deck is narrow and uneven in places, so ride slowly. After the bridge, follow Nguyễn Văn Cừ and join old National Road 5 as on the Chương Dương route.
What is there at Ocean Park 1?
According to VinWonders (29 July 2025), entry to the urban area is free and you only pay for services you use. Highlights include:
- Pearl Lake (Hồ Ngọc Trai): around 24.5 ha with a sandy shore up to 35 m wide, offering kayaking, fishing and barbecues (some services need booking in advance).
- Saltwater lagoon: with a man-made sandy beach that many families visit at weekends.
- Vincom Mega Mall Ocean Park: a shopping centre with shops and restaurants.
- Parks and green space: VinWonders mentions more than 100 ha of trees, several barbecue areas and sports facilities.
Opening hours and service prices can change, so check the latest information before you go.
Getting around inside the urban area
Ocean Park 1 is a residential area, so ride slowly and give way to pedestrians, children and cyclists. Follow speed-limit signs and no-parking zones. According to VinWonders, a free internal bus, OCP1, runs from 5:00 to 22:30 about every 10 minutes, starting and ending at the OCP parking point. If you like, you can park your bike and use the internal bus between stops.
What about Ocean City and Grand World?
Many people confuse Ocean Park 1 with Ocean City (Ocean Park 2 and 3), home to Grand World. According to VinWonders (29 July 2025), Grand World is in Nghĩa Trụ commune, Hưng Yên province, open 24/7 with free entry, and about 50 minutes from the city centre by motorbike or car. Because it lies outside Hanoi, if you are on a rental bike you should ask the rental company first whether the bike may be taken to Hưng Yên.
Nearby: Kiêu Kỵ gold-leaf village
If you would like to combine a modern urban area with traditional craft, the gold-leaf village of Kiêu Kỵ is in the same part of Gia Lâm. According to Báo Pháp luật Việt Nam (25 June 2021), its gold- and silver-beating craft is more than 300 years old and recognised as national intangible cultural heritage. Many workshops are family homes, so ask before you look inside, and let your map app guide you between the two places.
When to ride and when to avoid
The Red River bridges and National Road 5 are usually busy during the morning commute and the evening rush. At weekends, the roads into Ocean Park are busier because many families go out. On weekdays, leaving after 9:00 and heading back before 16:30 is usually most comfortable. If you want to watch the sunset by the lake, accept a later ride home and take it slowly in the dark.
Preparing the bike
Check tyres, brakes, lights, horn and fuel before leaving the Old Quarter. If you are renting, see our guide to checking the fuel level at pickup. On a rental, ask clearly about the rental company’s roadside support coverage: whether the bike may cross to the east bank and whom to call if something goes wrong on National Road 5.
Riding on old National Road 5
Old National Road 5 is a major artery with many trucks, container lorries and coaches. Stay in the mixed-traffic lane on the right, keep a generous distance from large vehicles, avoid their blind spots and do not overtake unless you are certain it is safe. At signal-controlled junctions, stop at the line and watch for vehicles turning right. The draught from passing trucks can unsettle a light scooter, so hold the handlebars firmly.
Riding back after dark
If you stay for the sunset or dinner, check before leaving that your headlight and tail light work. National Road 5 at night still carries heavy vehicles, and their lights can dazzle you, so ride a little slower than in daylight and keep well to the right. Avoid riding when tired; a coffee break before the return trip is time well spent.
Parking when you arrive
Use the parking areas or basements provided in the urban area and the shopping centre, take a ticket and photograph it with your number plate. Do not leave your bike on the pavement or in front of a building lobby. According to VnExpress, from 15 October 2026 publicly funded motorbike parking points on Hanoi’s streets charge 10,000 VND per visit; lots inside the urban area and the mall may charge differently, so ask first.
When the weather turns
The lakeside and National Road 5 are open and exposed, so sun and wind feel stronger than in town. In summer, bring water, sunscreen and a light jacket; in winter, dress warmly and wear gloves. In heavy rain, stop under cover rather than pressing on along the highway, where visibility drops and large vehicles throw up spray.
Checklist before you go
- A helmet with the strap fastened, a valid licence and the bike’s papers.
- Tyres, brakes and lights checked, enough fuel.
- Your map app in motorbike mode to avoid expressway ramps.
- The rental company’s phone number, if you are on a rental.
- A raincoat, water and small banknotes for parking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway to Ocean Park on a motorbike?
No. Motorbikes are not allowed on expressways. Use old National Road 5 and turn into the urban area as signposted.
Can motorbikes use Thanh Trì Bridge?
Thanh Trì Bridge is part of a route for cars; cross the river on Chương Dương, Vĩnh Tuy or Long Biên Bridge and always follow the signs on the spot.
Do I have to pay to enter Ocean Park?
According to VinWonders, entering the urban area is free; you only pay for services such as kayaking, barbecues or the pool.
Is Grand World inside Ocean Park 1?
No. According to VinWonders, Grand World is in Ocean City, Nghĩa Trụ commune, Hưng Yên province, about 50 minutes from the city centre.
Is there a bus inside the urban area?
Yes. According to VinWonders, the free internal OCP1 bus runs 5:00–22:30, about every 10 minutes.
Which bridge should I use?
Chương Dương is the most common choice. Vĩnh Tuy suits you if you are south of the centre, and Long Biên is handy from the northern side of the Old Quarter.
Renting a motorbike from Mr Tú
If you would like to explore Hanoi at your own pace, Mr Tú rents out automatic scooters and semi-automatic motorbikes near the Old Quarter, by the day, the week or the month. See our page on motorbike rental near the Old Quarter or contact Mr Tú to ask about availability, the documents you need, where the bike may be ridden and the current rental conditions before you set off.
In short: to reach Vinhomes Ocean Park by motorbike, cross the Red River on Chương Dương, Vĩnh Tuy or Long Biên Bridge, follow old National Road 5 and turn into the urban area as signposted. Never use the Hanoi – Hai Phong expressway or Thanh Trì Bridge, ride slowly in the residential area, park properly and check with your rental company before continuing to Ocean City in Hưng Yên.
Comments