Ride on my motorbike? No thank you!

Thousands of motorcycles crowd the streets and sidewalks of the major cities in Vietnam. Everywhere you go, you will see them and almost get hit by them. Many of the riders do not follow traffic lights, swerve into oncoming traffic, and constantly change lanes without a moment’s notice. It is for this reason that many accidents happen daily, and unfortunately thousands of motorists are killed annually (although thanks to there being only one political party, the Communist party, there is no terrorism, kidnapping or danger for tourists a tour guide informed us!).

The true key in crossing a 6 lane highway congested with hundreds of bikes, motorbikes, cars, trucks, hand-pushed carts going all directions and making it to the other side alive, is to simply pick a spot to cross, even with oncoming traffic zooming by, and to go slow. Very Slow. This concept is against what all mothers tell their children for several reasons.

Normal rule number one: Do not willingly walk into oncoming traffic.
Vietnamese reality: If you wait for an opening in traffic, or for a red light to actually be obeyed, you stay at the same side of the road all day.

Normal rule number two: Cross at cross-walks when the green walk sign comes up. Its the only safe way to cross.
Vietnamese reality: See reality #1. True, there are cross-walks with little green men lighting your way across, but they mean nothing to Vietnamese drivers.

Parting advice:
Point blank, one must fight the urge to hastily dodge across the road, and take ones time to carefully judge whether oncoming traffic will swerve to the right or left of you. Yes it’s extremely stressful, but it is the only way to cross!