Job Discussion Forums

[Beatnik009]

As a newcomer to Vietnam, I am astonished at the state of road traffic here, especially in Saigon. I haven's been to Hanoi yet, but imagine it's similar. I know this is not directly related to teaching in the country, but I would be curious to know what other teachers make of the issue.
Concerning traffic safety, how do you think Vietnam stacks up against other countries in the region, China and India for example, Cambodia and Thailand?
And, for motorbike riders, what tips and strategies do you have to avoid severely reducing your employability either through death or disability? Most particularly, is the convenience of having a motorbike worth the risk of injury or mortality? Interested to hear what you veterans have to say on the subject. Cheers.

[jestert79]

I'm in Hanoi - I've been here for over 7 months and still haven't driven a motorbike. I take the buses and share taxis with my girlfriend.

I've heard that the traffic system is quite easy and accommodating for a beginner - that it looks insane but in reality everywhere you try to go the traffic will part for you. In terms of fun, it opens up a lot of stuff for you - you can take jaunts out of the city, you don't have to haggle with greedy xe om/taxi drivers, etc.

What gives me pause about getting a motorbike is several things that have happened in the past few months to people I know:

1) A girl who had recently arrived rented a motorbike - literally 10-15 minutes later she was hit by a taxi going the wrong way and cracked her pelvis.
2) A guy we know, a quite experienced driver, got into a fairly bad accident and knocked out his front top row of teeth.
3) Another girl got into an accident and had her arm and chest in this sling thing.
4) One guy is in a coma from a crash (although I heard this is because he was driving home with his helmet loose and under the influence of various substances.)

Anyway, for each one of these situations there are tons of people who have been here for a long time without being in a bad crash. I'm still considering it...

[Beatnik009]

Thanks for that jetert79 - it's precisely this situation that has me in a quandary. I am really keen to be able to get out and about and explore the countryside around Saigon. It's possible by bus to get to many places, but slow and restricting. Also, as you note, the constant haggling with xe om drivers is a hassle and over time the cost builds up.
Against this is the very real possiblity of injury. From what I have learned almost eveyone has an accident sooner or later, but that many of them are not that serious - because for the most part the traffic is not moving that quickly. Ironically perhaps, the congestion and anarchic nature of the traffic prompts people to travel more slowly, thus reducing the severity of accidents.

In the west a number of towns and cities are experimenting with something called "shared space." In this, the distinction between kinds of road users is almost completely eliminated - traffic lights, kerbs and other conventional road infrastructure removed so that pedestrians, cyclists, motorbike riders and car drivers all mingle on the roadway, with no automatic right-of-way. It's like people on a sidewalk, you just move around each other, staying alert to avoid bumpig into others.

Obviously this means the traffic must move slowly, and it only works in certain areas. But so far the results have been good, reducing accidents in those areas dramatically. The inner city parts of Saigon that I frequent appear to have a version of this going on. It gets far more serious in less congested areas, and outside the city, where there is far less congestion and traffic moves far faster. What do you think?

[sigmoid]

[deessell2]

It's also very important to note that your insurance company will NOT pay-out for a motorcycle accident if you do not have a Vietnamese driving license.

[Tayne101]

Its ridiculously easy to rent a bike here. I got mine in 10 minutes. You just give them a photocopy of your passport, your address and phone number, pay the money and the thing is yours. Kinda scary actually. I got mine from one of the cafes in Pham Ngu Lao. You shouldn't pay more then around 900,000 dong.

The traffic does look like total chaos, but when you're in it if you just go with the flow its not so bad. As long as you drive carefully and don't try anything too stupid you should be fine. Theres so much traffic on the roads that you usually won't get past 40km/h anyway.

I habitually drive over sidewalks, the wrong way down one-way streets and stuff all the time just like the Vietnamese. When in Rome...

[Tiger Beer]

Regarding comparisons to other parts of Asia. The roar of motorcycles is unique to Vietnam. Sure, other places have them (here and there), but nothing to the degree that Vietnam does.

[norbdemn]

Interesting thread! I've lived in Thailand for 2 years and have always been curious why foreigners ride motorbikes there. I think the risks far outweigh the benefits. I have been tempted to get one myself to save time etc, but felt it was too risky. I have a friend in Thailand who has been in 7 accidents and still rides!! and have heard of others who have been in serious accidents.

I respect you guys that do it, but it is far easier to just jump in a bus or taxi and avoid the hassles of defensive riding! It is probably cheaper too.

[FriendlyUser]

I just HAVE to support Tayne. Riding in HCMC is about the best thing the city offers, it�s lots of fun! And yes, down one ways, passing red lights and over sidewalks, that�s like paradise to me.

All my friends and almost all my colleagues rent and ride bikes. The danger is not worth talking about since you hardly ever pass 40km/h. I�ve been riding for 7 month and except once I was drunk and fell off the bike while trying to do a wheelie nothing bad happened.

If you�re worried that you insurance won�t pay, just get a Vietnamese licence. Many think it�s almost impossible and are sooo wrong. There�s a topic in this forum with a lot of useful info on how to get a licence. Of course it�s never the same way but thanks to that information it took me 3 afternoons and two weeks waiting to get a licence. A piece of cake!

By the way, if I compare how people ride bikes in Vietnam and in Thailand I�d definitively say that Vietnam is by far safer � Vietnamese actually think! Thais just go for it � I�ve lived in Thailand too and never had any accidents there in about 1 � years.

My advice is renting at Chi�s cafe for 800,000 VDN

[Tiger Beer]