Job Discussion Forums

[sarafate]

Thanks again to everyone who has posted. Does anyone know where I can get a few one-on-one lessons for a bike that's 125cc, or less? It would be great to get lessons with an expat who has his/her license, but I am also open to having lessons with a Vietnamese. Much appreciated!

Best,

Sira

[tefl peasant]

[Handyman]

I really don't know where you guys find all these "fishing" cops. I've been driving here for about 7 years now and find that, if anything, the police avoid me.

As a rule I follow the law but have been sucked into a few errors. Once, when making a newly illegal left turn, the police stopped all the Vn drivers and waved me through. I have a whole list of examples like that. Whenever I approach a group of police they always suddenly get busy with their paperwork or something across the street gets very interesting to them. Anything so they won't have to look me in the eye.

I have even been involved in more than one incident where the police were called and they were more biased for me than anything else. Even before I got my license, I've never been asked, or even hinted at, for money.

I do have a license now but have never been asked to show it. In the city I wear a regular hat type helmet with nothing covering my face. The white skin and full beard makes it pretty clear I'm not from around here. Also, my driving is not limited to only one specific area, in the course of a month I'll have been in most of the major districts and as far out as district 12.

I've heard these horror stories since I first arrived here so I'm sure there's some truth to them but they always seem to happen to a friend or co-worker. The few first-hand stories I've heard have come from people who seem to have a real hate-on for this country. And there are lots of those folks out there.

[sarafate]

Handyman: Thanks for you input, it's nice to hear another side of the story.

tefl peasant: Thank you for the advice, and the well wishes.

All the best, to you both!

Sira

[I'm With Stupid]

Yeah, Handyman's account matches what I've heard from people. The police are less likely to target foreigners because it involves speaking English. Although one friend was stopped the other day with a policeman telling him his light was off (which it wasn't). He eventually got frustrated and told him to go. No money exchanged hands. Ironically, he was the one person I know who always wears a face mask when riding.

[Oh My God]

[tefl peasant]

[tefl peasant]

[Handyman]

I remember hearing about that crackdown, still haven't been pulled over though.

tefl peasant wrote:

[BrentBlack]

I skimmed this thread so sorry if i missed someone saying this previously. When it come to riding a motorbike in this town, you only have to know three thing:

1. Always were a helmet! and a mask for that matter. breathing these fumes, especially from a buss, is like taking a bong rip packed with petrol.

2. Western/US rules do not apply here. for example, no taking turns at right angles, do not expect small one way streets to actually be one way, do not expect everyone's light to be on at night, do not expect that other people are looking out for you, use your horn liberally, it is there for a reason (this may be a western rule like in London or New York or Boston, but where i am from and most other places in the US, people do not give warning beeps or get the f*ck out of my way beeps, they give WHAT THE F*CK! beeps).

3. Get in there and schrage! don't *beep* foot about. rent a bike within your first forty eight hours and drive right into traffic. It's the only way you will learn. Watch other people see what they do. If you do mess up, which be assured you will, give a small smile and a nod that says you sorry and move on. do not take it personal, and do not engage in road rage, (other than with your horn) otherwise, bad things may happen.

Oh yeah, always remember to have fun, because it beats following all those rules back home.

[BrentBlack]

I skimmed this thread so sorry if i missed someone saying this previously. When it come to riding a motorbike in this town, you only have to know three thing:

1. Always were a helmet! and a mask for that matter. breathing these fumes, especially from a buss, is like taking a bong rip packed with petrol.

2. Western/US rules do not apply here. for example, no taking turns at right angles, do not expect small one way streets to actually be one way, do not expect everyone's light to be on at night, do not expect that other people are looking out for you, use your horn liberally, it is there for a reason (this may be a western rule like in London or New York or Boston, but where i am from and most other places in the US, people do not give warning beeps or get the f*ck out of my way beeps, they give WHAT THE F*CK! beeps).

3. Get in there and schrage! don't p*ssy foot about. rent a bike within your first forty eight hours and drive right into traffic. It's the only way you will learn. Watch other people see what they do. If you do mess up, which be assured you will, give a small smile and a nod that says you sorry and move on. do not take it personal, and do not engage in road rage, (other than with your horn) otherwise, bad things may happen.

Oh yeah, always remember to have fun, because it beats following all those rules back home.

[sarafate]

Dear BrentBlack,

Reading your message made me feel like I was smack dab in the middle of Saigon traffic--or at least what I imagine it to be. Thanks for the info, and I will definitely get a face mask; thanks for the link, deadlift. I'm glad to have experience driving in non-western countries, and I'll remember to expect the unexpected when on the road in Vietnam.

[tefl peasant]