Job Discussion Forums

[imjustme]

Newbie question (I'm looking to work in VN later this year), so forgive my ignorance please. I'd like to know how you guys in HCMC typically get to/from work each day. Frankly, I'm afraid to ride on a motorbike, and gather from what I'm reading on this forum that buses are inconvenient/unpopular, and that work and home are often distant from each other.

How many walk (if any), how many go by regular taxi, how many by bike, bus, etc.? Thanks!

[Dekadan]

When I was in HCMC, initially I took a taxi, then I took the bus for a month (they're ok, but they can get crowded, plus they stop early in the evening. You will also be a novelty to the Vietnamese, who will stare at you, but I also had some incredible experiences on the bus), and then I started renting my own motorcycle. Ultimately, I bought my own motorbike and rode that around. It's daunting at first, but I actually found it to be safer than trying to cross the street as you learn to go with the flow of the traffic. Plus, I'd rather be in control of the bike and responsible for it than someone else. If you choose to get your own bike, be careful, don't be aggressive, and don't be the first person to make the move for the group (you'll know what I mean if you start riding). I recall there was a pretty good thread on motorcycle riding in Viet Nam, you should look it up.

Almost nobody walks, and this is coming from a person that loves to walk, I often walk 1/2 an hour to and from work everyday in the city I'm in now. HCMC is not a walkable city. There is a slanted...sidewalk (I hesitate to use the word)... that comes up from the street to the front of the house. But not every house is the same, so the slant changes from house to house. You really have to pay attention to what's under your feet. Additionally, the sidewalks are more motorcycle parking lots, you'll be lucky to find space to walk on them. More often than not you're walking on the street. As there are so many different types of traffic on the street (mototcycles, cars, bicycles, people pushing garbage bins, regular pedestrians), you're supposed to walk with the flow of traffic, which is counter to advice that you get in the west - if you're on the street, you walk against the traffic so you can see what's coming towards you. Regardless of what is supposed to happen, I walked against the traffic: I'd rather see what's coming towards me as I'd seen too many terrible drivers over there.

Also, the sight of a person walking is a bit surprising to the Vietnamese. I was harassed a lot by xe oms (motorcycle taxi drivers), who constantly shouted at me "YOU! MOTOBIKE!?!?!" (notice the lack of "r" in the word) I tried to my best to be civil to these people, but you can take only so much being shouted at before you snap.

Finally, it gets hot there! Most days up to 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. As there's a dress code at most places of work coupled with the Vietnamese notion of propriety, you will not want to walk to work only to arrive there really sweaty.

So in sum, I'd advise against walking, but ultimately that's your call. You could take a taxi, but that adds up, plus it's slow. If you don't get your own bike, but you become brave enough to try xe oms, then I recommend getting a regular guy. Keep away from the young ones, they're more likely to be aggressive. Get an older guy, get his phone number, and communicate by text with him. Even if he doesn't understand English, their alphabet is close enough to ours that reading shouldn't be a problem. Oh, and the cost should be roughly half of what it a taxi costs for the same distance.

Good luck!

[1st Sgt Welsh]

Good post Dekadan.

[toiyeuthitmeo]

Considering the traffic issues, the pollution, and the weather (particularly the monsoon) some people find it is well worth paying more to live closer to ones work place, if you're lucky enough to have a steady gig you can rely on over the term of a rental agreement. Other than that, yeah really motorbikes are the way to go. Just how it works here.

[isabel]

I live in a service apartment (no deposits, etc. and cheap) close to work and ride my bike everyday- unless it is pouring in the morning. If it is raining at the end of the day, I ride my bike home.

[Dekadan]

The rain can be bad when you're on a bike, but just plan ahead: wear regular clothes and bring a change in a plastic bag (and probably a towel!).

Yeah, getting taxis can be a pain in the west, and the xe oms are plentiful in HCMC, but I have my own sense of being polite. If a guy gestured and yelled at me the first time, I shook my head and said no. If he continued to yell at me, well that's when I started to get irritated. Why would anyone like being yelled at? I'm not going to change my mind because someone is yelling at me; "Oh, I was saying no to you? I must have been out of my mind! Yes, please, I would like to get on your motorbike, Mr. Aggressive-Xe-Om-Driver. I'm sure your ride is a can't-be-missed-experience!"

Anyway, if you can swing it, try to work at hours that don't coincide with rush hour. Your sanity will thank you!

[1st Sgt Welsh]

[Dekadan]

[Ryan425]

I usually take a bus directly to work or part of the way and walk the rest (thirty minutes of aerobic exercise is good for my health). I don't mind public transportation because the cost of the fares is so low. It costs 4.000 VND for most buses and 7.000 VND for supposedly express buses or for longer distances. If you don't want to keep paying cash on the buses, you can buy prepaid books of tickets at the bus stations around the city.

When I first arrived, most of the buses had attendants who collected your money and gave you a bus ticket, but now quite a few buses have a slot or basket in the front of the bus next to the driver where you put your paper (or polymer) money and then tear off a bus ticket. Keep your ticket handy because sometimes bus officials board the buses to check everyone's ticket to make sure they are current.

The bus seats are comfortable but do pay attention to your pockets, belongings and to the hands of the person standing or sitting next to you. Sleeping on the bus will make you an instant victim.

In addition, the buses are air-conditioned (though it is up to the whim of the driver to turn it on or not), some windows open, and some buses have a monitor in the front which plays animated shorts or Vietnamese music videos.

Please note that there are a few routes in which mini-pickup trucks with bench seats on the back are used. The seats are covered but open to the elements, though side flaps can be lowered if it starts raining. On these vehicles, you pay your fare by passing it to the person who is nearest to the driver's rear window. The driver will hand back change (if any) and the ticket which will be given to you. When you are near your destination and don't know what to say to get the bus to stop, you can do as I have done. It works all the time. Rap on the metal ceiling two or three times. This action will scare the other passengers, scare the driver but he will, in turn, pull over at the next stop.

If you want to take the bus to and from your destinations, then you should purchase a bus map at a bookstore or at the Benh Thanh Bus Station. Then you should take a practice ride to where you want to go, so you will become familiar with the local landmarks near the stop (or stops if you have to transfer) where you have to get off and on.

Moreover, you must pay attention to the times in which the buses run. You can find this information on the bus map you receive from the Benh Thanh Bus Station (but not on the store bought transit maps) or from looking at the bus signs. Most buses run from around 4:30 to 20:30, but you must check the signs to be certain. Should you miss your bus and/or are running late, the bus stops usually have a few motorcycle taxis (xe om) hanging about. You can negotiate a fare with them or show them your map and point at the destination.

Incidentally, not all bus stops have signs. Some stops have signs, are covered, have metal rails to sit on, and have visible yellow letters and lines painted on the street to indicate a bus stop (xe buyt), while others have some of the above or none of the above.

Unlike where I'm from, here you have to flag down the bus. The first time you ride a route, the drivers will be unfamiliar with seeing a foreigner wanting to ride the buses, so they may assume you are trying to flag down a motorcycle taxi or a taxicab and will continue on passed you. Other more onerous drivers will know you are trying to flag down the bus but will just pass by if there aren't any natives also waiting at the bus stop or if they are running late. On a few occasions, I have had to walk into the street and basically stand in front of the approaching bus to get it to stop. I do hope you will never have to resort to this dangerous maneuver. As you ride the routes more often, the drivers will become familiar with seeing you and will naturally pull over and stop when they see you stick out your arm.

Often when you are on the bus, the smallest teenage or adult male will open his legs so that no one can sit on the seat next to him. Well, if there aren't any other open seats on the bus, then simply sit down by pushing his legs together.

If you are an older person, are pregnant, handicapped (temporarily or permanently), a local person may give up his/her seat for you to sit down. This may not always happen, but when it does, thank the person by saying cam on (thank you).

If it is raining outside, do not stand on a crowded bus with your wet rain poncho on. Take it off and hold it with one arm and hold unto a pole or hand strap. Better yet, buy an umbrella.

Finally, for you taller riders, be wary of the ceiling height. On some buses, you may not be able to stand all the way upright or may feel your hair brushing the ceiling.

Well, I hope these tidbits will inspire you to, at least sometimes, travel on the local buses.

[sigmoid]

[isabel]

I have to say that so far I have had no problem with ze om drivers. Maybe being an older woman helps.