Traffic In Viet Nam

The traffic can be a nightmare for visitors to Viet Nam for the first time. Believe it or not, there are transport rules but people don't seem really interested in following them. Three or four people on one motor bike is a common sight, particularly with the young and young families.

The traffic is worst during the rush hour when everyone is attempting to get to work or get home quickly. Some people ride their motorbikes on the pavement rather than waiting in the a traffic jam. The people walking are just as likely to get hit on the pavement as they are crossing the roads at such times. It's crazy. Road users become very impatient, constantly using their horns when there's obviously nowhere to go, even shouting at others to get out of the way. You have to be quite aggressive or you get nowhere.



Another point which is concerning is the increase in the number of cars on the road. People may think that Vietnam is a poor developing country, but in Hanoi there is an incredible number of cars, a lot owned by the government but increasing numbers owned by private individuals. Recently, the government approved a policy to allow second hand cars to be imported, which is only going to add the the congestion in big cities like Hanoi and Saigon.

Food blogger Noodlepie down in Saigon mentions that “he gave up driving a motorbike in Vietnam about three or four years ago” because it gave him ” zero pleasure and mucho stresso”. To see what the driving conditions are like in Saigon, check out the short video on his post.

While the increase in car use and congestion are serious problems, the most annoying thing about the traffic in Hanoi is the way people use their horns. It's a habit which serves no purpose most of the time. A disturbing trend is the fashion for installing air horns on motorbikes. Of course this is not allowed in the city but the traffic police in Hanoi seem to be so overwhelmed by the volume of traffic that little can be done. This is really annoying for other people and sometimes it causes accidents. To avoid the horns, take Our Man in Hanoi's advice and get some driving music together for journeys on the back of a xe om(motorbike taxi).

Recently departed Hanoi blogger, Hanoi Mark, in a post about his “most vivid images and experiences” of living in Viet Nam, captures another unique side of the Hanoi traffic from “under his big plastic poncho raincoat”.

There is definitely something strangely addictive about the traffic experience in Viet Nam especially for foreigners. However, the traffic conditions are seem to be getting worse, not better. It is really worrying to think about what the situation will be like in the next five years or so.

45 comments

  • Doug Greene

    Hi again friends: I have been back in Vietnam for several months again. I am glad you are keeping this conversation alive. It is an important one. So far I have not received a traffic ticket since the one I received last year in Binh Thuan Province. I do have a radar detector, but I use it only to remind me to obey the speed laws here, especially because I am a visitor and want to leave a good impression. Believe it or not, things seem better here. Especially in Phan Thiet where I live half of each year. We have more elecrtric traffic signals and the police do monitor for violators. If you desire you can visit my blog about Vietnam at: http://maigreenevietnam.blogspot.com
    I look forward to your comments. See you next time. Bác Đoug

  • Hoà Binh

    I am 50 years old, a teacher for nearly 30 years. I do bileive in young generation in general, but not all. From the north to the south of our country, many student in school and university lazy around. So that, I think what Jennie Dinh thought is unfounded optimism. Because nothing change without dynamic.

  • Doug Greene

    Tu Van Cong started this post on April 11th 2006. Since then the helmet law was passed in Vietnam and is being enforced. Panoramic highways have been created to help with traffic. Television programs are aired to increase traffic safety awareness and the number of people dying from head injuries has dramatically been reduced. I give Vietnam an “A” grade and applaud its efforts. I hope this long running post will continue. It covers an important subject.

  • Hoà Binh

    I have been many country, but nowhere like Vietnam. Even Malaysia, people obey traffic law every where. In my opinion, the administration is very strict and honest. Vietnam police keen on money not the job. That evil some my friend from different country told me they know.

  • Dam Minh Thao

    I always love my country

  • I think traffic jam in VN is worse than before. A lot of blockhouses are built more and more in the streets in HCM City.

  • I live in Vietnam and have never seen 6 people on a motorbike yet. I bet people stared at them. My parents taught me to allow traffic rules, so I think not every one do that way

  • Nguyen Chi Cong

    Jenny, please ignore words from the mouths of those puppets. They know nothing outside what has been handily put into their brains.

  • Thanh

    Nguyen Chi Cong,
    How rude!!!! People leave comments here as a conversation and i wonder how possiblitly you could said things like that. I think you should proud being a vietnamese and whoever contribute their advises that should be appreciated. if you don;t like this article and these comments, please don’t come and comment. I’m a reader of Vietnamese God website and I think he’s trying to show the world abotu Vietnam, the good, the bad and the reality. And this article is very interesting thats why many people read int he past 7 years.

  • Thao Nguyen

    I agree with Thanh. Things have changed so much in Vietnam and i aprreciated tourists and westerners who don’t mind spent time and money to contribute to vietnam or even just a comment. Being Vietnamese, I think we want to stand on our own feet and I dont want to be like singapore or american. We are have thousand of years of great history and that what we should proud of. Think about what you should say and be respect to other readers Mr Cong.
    Thanks to the author very much for a very interesting article.

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