Motorbikes, blaring horns, scorching heat, smog... Recently, I came back from a two-week trip around one of south east Asia's most beautiful countries... Vietnam.
There’s no denying it. Vietnam is nothing short of a culture shock, and quite a big one at that. As well as getting a good dose of food poisoning – I’m not sure whether it was caused by the “fresh” pineapple I bought from the market or the snake stew I ate – I also got a good dose of “motorbike mayhem.”By that, I mean the streets are literally swarming with motorbikes steering in every direction. In Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, there’s a population of around 6.5 million and – get this – 98% of households own a bike, resulting in complete chaos. Your eardrums ring with the incessant honking horns and whirring engines.
With a population of over 89 million, Vietnam is the thirteenth most heavily populated country in the world. However, riding on two wheels in Vietnam's chaotic traffic is an adventure that too often ends in death or serious injury. A shocking 15,000 die every year in motorbike accidents, and it’s no surprise given their bad driving habits.
Death by Motorbike
When crossing a road in Vietnam, take the plunge and start walking. There’s no “stop! look! listen! think!” involved when crossing a road in Vietnam. Surviving just requires a good horn, good brakes – and lots of good luck. Don’t expect anyone to stop for you if you cross the street. Since there’s never any gap in the traffic, when crossing a road, you just have to throw caution to the wind and start walking. The theory is the cars, bikes and buses avoid you. Watch this geezer as he risks his life crossing a road in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:
Motorbikes rule, man!
The Vietnamese don’t need family cars to ferry around their kids, nor do they need trucks to carry electrical goods like washing machines. No siree. They do it all using their invincible two wheel vehicles. Check this out...
Rush Hour in Hanoi
If you think rush hour in the UK is bad, think again. We present you rush hour in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital...
Family of 5 Riding on Scooter
Seeing a whole family riding around on a motorbike in 'Nam is no surprise. The sad reality is that helmets are only required for adults, not infants, toddlers, children or teens. Apparently because their skulls are still soft, they can’t be damaged by concrete. What??!!
Susie Davids - Currently an E-Commerce Copywriter at DSG International (The Dixons Stores Group), I have proven editorial experience in the creation of ...
