{"id":10270,"date":"2022-02-09T13:13:22","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T05:13:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=10270"},"modified":"2022-02-09T13:13:22","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T05:13:22","slug":"vietnam-traffic-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/vietnam-traffic-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Tips To Survive Vietnam\u2019s Notoriously Chaotic Traffic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tips to navigate traffic in Vietnam<\/h2>\n
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So, you\u2019ve just settled in with your new life in Vietnam. You found a nice apartment for a cheap price. You got a job teaching English at a reputable center. All is well with the world. On your first day at work, you wake up fresh and hop on the second-hand bike you just bought, eager to begin a productive day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2026 and you find yourself caught in a traffic jam at the first intersection outside your house. The entire road is packed, cars and bikes alike are desperately trying to fill in the first open space they see with total disregard for<\/span> traffic laws<\/span><\/a>. You get battered by honking sounds, dust, and the occasional curses from all directions, without any idea what you are supposed to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, it can be overwhelming. But allow yours truly \u2013 who went through that every day for 25 years \u2013 to offer some <\/span>tips<\/b> to help you navigate Vietnam\u2019s traffic<\/b> a little bit easier. Most of these tips will be based on the situation in Hanoi, but trust me, if you can survive Hanoi\u2019s traffic, you\u2019ll do well anywhere in Vietnam.<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Don\u2019t expect people to follow traffic laws<\/h3>\n
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\"traffic
\n<\/span><\/i>Traffic in Vietnam is notoriously chaotic<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit:<\/span> VNExpress<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

So the very first tip I have for you is – simply don\u2019t take anything for granted. <\/span>Don\u2019t expect people to follow traffic rules<\/b>. You\u2019re driving past an intersection and you have the green light? Drive slowly and pay attention to both your sides anyway. You never know when someone coming from the other street decides their business is too important to stop at a meager red light.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, it is pretty sad, but it is just a reality we have to live with. If you\u2019re caught in an accident, even if you know it\u2019s entirely not your fault, you may still get hurt. So just be more careful to ensure your own safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Follow traffic laws yourself<\/h3>\n
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\"vietnam
\n<\/span><\/i>Follow traffic rules to keep a measure of order on the streets<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit:<\/span> Tu\u1ed5i Tr\u1ebb Th\u1ee7 \u0110\u00f4<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Now, this is going to sound like the complete opposite of what I just said, but hear me out here: <\/span>try your best to follow traffic laws<\/b>, even when you don\u2019t expect others to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, the prospect of driving onto that empty space on the sidewalk seems particularly tempting when you know it can get you past that one car in front that\u2019s been blowing smoke in your face for the past 15 minutes as you wait to cross a jam-packed intersection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, it is easy to think, \u201cWhy should I follow the rules? Nobody does anyway.\u201d But don\u2019t. Don\u2019t be part of the problem. You\u2019re better than that.<\/span><\/p>\n

I know I sound lofty. Many will probably think that their actions alone won\u2019t make a difference, that if they try to follow the rules when no one does, they\u2019ll just end up being the ones who get left behind. But I believe it does make a difference. I believe that if even a fraction of you who are reading this can try, we\u2019ll see improvements. So please, do try your best. As the saying goes, be the change you want to see in the world. If we want people to start respecting the rules, we need to start with ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Explore small alleys for shortcuts<\/h3>\n
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\"vietnam
\n<\/span>Small alleys often provide shortcuts<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit:<\/span> B\u00e1o X\u00e2y D\u1ef1ng<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Now, this tip will vary depending on which city you\u2019re in, and it\u2019s mostly from my experience driving in Hanoi. But when you find yourself stuck in the middle of a street for half an hour because four buses have somehow managed to entangle themselves into a perfect square at the next intersection, with about a million motorbikes trying to squeeze between them, it\u2019s often a good idea to turn into the next small alley you see along the street.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More often than not, these small alleys will lead to another street from which you can get past the jammed area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, don\u2019t expect this to be a miracle solution to all your Vietnam traffic problems. The alleys will still be crowded because many people will share this idea. But at least small alleys don\u2019t allow vehicles to enter from multiple directions and get themselves entangled in the middle. The traffic will be a one-directional flow. A slow one, yes, but you will move forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Know multiple routes to get around town<\/h3>\n
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This tip is an extension of the above, but it pays to spend time exploring your city\u2019s layout <\/span>and learn multiple routes to get from one place to another<\/b>, as well as how these routes are connected, so you can switch back and forth between them.<\/span><\/p>\n

That way, on days when traffic on your usual route to work is particularly bad, you can try another. Of course, in big cities such as Hanoi, all the streets are likely crowded during rush hours. But if instead of having to wait 15 minutes to cross an intersection, you only need to wait 5, it\u2019s already an improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Avoid rush hours<\/h3>\n
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\"rush
\n<\/span><\/i>Traffic is particularly bad during rush hours<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit:<\/span> Tu\u1ed5i Tr\u1ebb<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Since we were speaking of rush hours, traffic in Vietnam\u2019s major cities is particularly bad between 7AM-8AM and 5PM-6.30PM. Those are times when everyone leaves home for work and vice versa. So, perhaps you can <\/span>take some steps to avoid the worst of it<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most obvious thing to do is simply to leave home early. It needn\u2019t be much. Sometimes, even leaving 10-15 minutes sooner than you usually do can mean you\u2019re on the roads before most people \u2013 which means much less crowded streets.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the same line of thought, if your work allows it, perhaps you can try being extra focused during the day to wrap things up and leave just a little bit early.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alternatively, if you don\u2019t have to be home for dinner, consider eating somewhere close to your workplace. By the time you finish your meal, the traffic should begin to dissipate, and once home, you\u2019re just a shower away from having the rest of the evening for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Get a quality face mask<\/h3>\n
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\"masks
\n<\/span><\/i>Masks can help protect you from air pollution<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit:<\/span> aFamily<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

This applies to motorbike drivers, and no, it doesn\u2019t have anything to do with a certain global pandemic. And by <\/span>\u201cgetting a mask\u201d<\/b> I don\u2019t mean those surgical masks you buy for USD0.10 apiece. Spend some extra cash on quality dust-filtering masks.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re driving a motorbike, you\u2019ll most likely be spending half an hour or more on the streets every day. All the while, you\u2019ll be inhaling smoke from hundreds of vehicles. A quality face mask can help keep at least some of that out. Your respiratory system and facial complexion will thank you for it. I know mine have.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Pay attention to traffic signs<\/h3>\n
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\"vietnam
\n<\/span><\/i>See that \u201cNo bus allowed\u201d sign on the ground? Yeah\u2026 it is there for a reason.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image adapted from<\/span> An To\u00e0n Giao Th\u00f4ng<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

I know, I know, \u201c<\/span>just pay attention to traffic signs<\/b>\u201d sounds painfully obvious. But you\u2019d be surprised how many people drive around while completely oblivious to traffic signs.<\/span><\/p>\n

First of all, seeing traffic signs and following them will \u2013 not <\/span>may<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>not <\/span>likely to<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>WILL <\/span><\/em>\u2013 <\/span><\/i>save you some hefty fines. If you go into a one-way street, or a street where your type of vehicle is banned, the fine can be as high as <\/span>VND1,000,000-VND2,000,000 (~USD44.15-USD88.30)<\/b> for motorbikes, and <\/span>VND3,000,000-VND5,000,000 (~USD132.45-USD220.75) <\/b>for cars. And how do you know which streets are one-way, and which streets ban your vehicle? That\u2019s right, signs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Secondly, many streets have signs that ban either cars or motorbikes from entering them during certain times of the day \u2013 mostly during rush hours. Most often, this is because those streets are physically ill-equipped to accommodate an influx of that vehicle type. If you enter them, chances are you\u2019ll get stuck somewhere and make the traffic worse.<\/span><\/p>\n

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8. Change your mindset<\/h3>\n
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\"vietnam
\n(Photo for illustrative purposes only)
\nImage credit: <\/span>Francois Le Nguyen<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s true the traffic situation in Vietnam, especially in major cities, leaves a lot to be desired, and it will probably be a while before we can see improvements. But while we can\u2019t change how things are in the near future, what we can change is <\/span>our mindset<\/b> about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t think, \u201cI could\u2019ve covered that distance in 10 minutes, but now it\u2019s taking me 40 minutes due to traffic, therefore I\u2019m losing half an hour of free time.\u201d Factor in the time spent in traffic as part of the journey \u2013 a kind of extra chore you need to do each day \u2013 and plan your daily routine around that. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Once you come to terms with the fact that it\u2019s just how things are here, maybe you can at least be less frustrated about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Don\u2019t let the traffic deter you from enjoying life in Vietnam<\/h3>\n
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If you\u2019ve taken the time to read my ramble this far down, my final words to you are: don\u2019t be intimidated by Vietnam\u2019s traffic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, it isn\u2019t something anyone is thrilled about, and it can come as quite a shock if you\u2019re not familiar with it. But at the end of the day, the chaotic traffic is just a reflection of the busy city life here. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>It is as much a part of Hanoi as the <\/span>great street food and archaic charms<\/span><\/a>, as much a part of Saigon as the <\/span>vibrant nightlife and friendly people<\/span><\/a>. If you\u2019ve fallen in love with those things, the traffic is worth putting up with.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more stories, check out:<\/span><\/p>\n