Job Discussion Forums

[Mushroom Druid]

I've driven a motorbike for years. I've been lucky enough to have never had an accident. The traffic has never stressed me out or bothered much. But starting about 1 1/2 years ago I started noticing many streets in Hanoi becoming clogged. Not just during the rush hours of 8-9:30 am and 4:30 to 6 pm, but at 11 am to 1 pm, and throughout the day.

It's not just the time wasted, but also the fact that now cars take up ALL lanes, not just the far left lanes like cars did in the beginning of car acquisition.

Now, every day cars actually are driving into my oncoming lane, the wrong lane, in which I'm driving legally, because the driver of this car wants to go faster than the pack.

I've lived in other countries with worse traffic, but the car buying continue and that infrastructure, lack of parking and narrow streets cannot sustain all these cars.

Its time to say goodbye. Other countries await.

Here's an article on more car buying:
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[Jbhughes]

While I'm not leaving VN over it (or criticising your decision to leave), I also see the increase in car ownership as a big step backwards for VN.

I don't live in either of the big cities, but everywhere I have re-visited over the last 2 years or so (including both the big cities) has had increased car traffic, increased congestion and, when driving in those cities, increased '****ing-car' close-shave moments.

The infrastructure here is largely unable to cope with the ever-increasing motorbike traffic let alone cars. I have no idea what is involved with getting a car licence (at least for the VNese), but so many domestic car drivers appear to be god AWFUL in their futile attempts at controlling their vehicles. Add to this the overriding 'might is right' rule here and it's a total nightmare.

Almost every adult student answers questions like 'what would you buy if you had more money?' With 'car.' It seems to be the ultimate status symbol here.

As a driver on VN roads, I have no wish to own a car at all. I can only imagine parking being a bane and being in constant fear of bumping a bike or getting a scratch. When I was up in HN I initially thought that cars had the most control, then I worked out quickly that as a motorbike driver you can dictate to a car a great deal due to their fear of bumping someone. During the rainy season I admit my love of driving a motorbike in VN is tested to say the least - until those satisfying moments where you drive past a stranded, waterlogged car.

[[email protected]]

You would figure, build the infrastructure first, then allow the cars. It seems it's the other way around. Why is that? Because someone is making a lot of money with all these cars being sold and they don't care what it does to traffic or if the infrastructure can handle it or not.

[The Mad Hatter]

Youre premise is that cares are increasing but did you think the article suggests the increased license fees will lead to increased in number of autos?
I believe when they do this it is to discourage car ownership. To keep a lid on the situation.
They tried this with motorbikes before, back in 2003-5 when there were hardly any cars and a lot fewer motorbikes.

[The Mad Hatter]

[/quote]the government�s decision to increase license plate fees for cars 10-fold to VND20 million in February.

[Mushroom Druid]

[I'm With Stupid]

It's starting to annoy me too. Although most of the problems are still pretty easily fixed. I go along Vo Thi Sau Street every day, for example. At the end of one of the blocks on Vo Thi Sau Street is a hole in the road taking up slightly more than one of the three lanes, causing a huge backlog every day. I've never seen a single person working on the hole, or in the digger that is permanently parked there doing nothing. But of course within that, the vast majority of the congestion is still caused by impatient bus and taxi drivers going into the bike lane. But it's quite funny to then watch their cars being hit by all of the bikers. It's not just cars though. I once had to try and get through a sea of bikes who had taken over our side of the street, because they were too impatient to wait 2 minutes for the cars in front of them to move.

There's a stereotype about BMW drivers back home, about how they have this sense of superiority and entitlement on the road. But in Vietnam, it's like anyone who owns a car is like this. Although I must admit I do enjoy deliberately not moving out of the way of cars that beep at me. There may be this impression of might is right, but in reality, the last thing they want to do is crash their stupidly expensive car. Although judging by the car control of the taxi drivers I've ridden with, it might be a bit stupid to assume that what a driver wants to do bears any relation to what he actually does.

Not something I'd leave the country over though. I find that traffic doesn't annoy me any more here than at home, it's just different things that annoy me.

[1st Sgt Welsh]

[tonyjones01]

When driving in front of a truck, I can't help but think about the video of the VN traffic cop that was run over and cut in two. The poor guy laid there for 20 minutes (alive and talking) while a crowd gathered to gawk and take pictures.

Google it if you want to see the 'worst case scenario' of driving a moto in VN.

[Kornan DeKobb]

Funny thing about the OP. I've been here only about six months, and I ride a motorbike, but I am about ready to leave because of them, too. Sucking in those fumes all day, and even on the bike there can be massive traffic jams (and I am not above riding on the sidewalks, either!)

Those masks people wear, they don't really help, do they?

[Mushroom Druid]

[deadlift]

The supermarket in the basement of Vincom plaza in HCMC sell real masks, with filters. Probably still not 100% effective, but a vast improvement on a bit of cotton, I'm sure.

I've also recently taken to wearing a pair of safety glasses when I ride. I got sick of catching bits of god-knows-what in my eyes.

[1st Sgt Welsh]

The common cloth style masks may stop a bit of dust etc, but otherwise are useless. I think a lot of people wear them just to prevent getting a tan and looking like they do manual labour outdoors I've got a Respro mask and it's great! You can be sitting on your bike in the middle of a traffic jam during rush hour and it still feels like you are breathing in fresh air. The masks are expensive [but the filters are cheap and last a couple of months], around $50, but, as far as concerned, they are worth every cent. If you are in Saigon you can buy them from Patrick at Saigon Scooters (25/7 Cuu Long, Ward 2, Tran Binh Distrrict, ph: 0903013690, e-mail: [email protected])

[Kawika]

One way to avoid the commute headaches / traffic jams is to live close to work and walk

I made it a priority to live close to work, and now enjoy a leisurely walk, unless it is rush hour and enjoy a semi-hectic walk

Reduce your carbon footprint

[Jerullan]