We really take the little things for granted in the USA, like not having to share the road with mules, comically over-burdened bicycles and crazy pieced together vehicles. But in Vietnam all of these things coexist (not exactly in harmony either).
All of these photos were taken by our close friend Vi just a few weeks ago in Vietnam. In addition to the photos, you absolutely have to watch the completely insane videos she took of the traffic in downtown Saigon. It is truly, unbelievable. People pay zero attention to any sort of traffic signal, and as a result it is a complete free-for-all.
Here’s the video of an intersection in Saigon:
Next comes a guy delivering some sort of giant, carved wooden furniture on an old tricycle he has to pedal. It’s hard to believe these little people eat rice and carry this kind of heavy crap around on bikes!
And the fact that they are doing this in the midst of completely insane traffic is … well, insane.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not telling you that the bicyclists or motorcyclists are victims. In fact, they are contributing equally to the shared insanity. Just watch the following video and you’ll see the people on two wheels acting far crazier than their four wheeled counterparts.
Take a look at this mule pulling a completely overloaded cart down the road. The little guy riding on top of the stack must be about 8-10 feet off the ground, and he’s just laying there relaxing. Someone should call PETA.
If you ask me, this is a fantastic shot. This scooter has been modified to accomodate huge baskets containing ceramic pottery, and the rider has to navigate down tiny overcrowded streets. Brilliant.
This one is a little difficult to see, but the guy is walking behind a bicycle full of stuff and steering it with a stick to the handlebars.
Up next is some sort of a home made tractor looking thing with a huge pile of trees strapped to it. It kind of makes me feel sorry for the environment, because just look at this thing!
Not only is it spitting out god only knows how much in pollution, but we’re cutting down the trees that could otherwise clear the air!
Speaking about being out of town reminds me that even there you’ll find “bikes of burden” with little old ladies pedaling around.
Here is another example of a vehicle being used for a purpose other than it’s original intention. I don’t thing the manufacturer envisioned it would be used to mass transport ceramics.
Of course, in the end, if you don’t have a mule, bike, moped, or home-built car, you just have to pull the load yourself.
EDIT: Thanks to Ziggy for the comment below, here is another video of the traffic in Saigon. It might not be that unusual for the locals, but it’s completely foreign for anyone from North America.
Asians are smart and polite. It is only looks like madness but rarely causing any accidents.
It you want a real nightmare visit Cairo. The worst place to drive ever.
You forgot the fighting cock he has under his other arm…
And the 2 pigs tied up on each side of the back wheel(I got a picture of this one)…
Kim:)
There are many crazy laws to drive here in Vietnam. You can be driving on the absolutely correct lane to the law to find out that you’re on the wrong lane when approaching the traffic light which by the way is way to the right of the road and being blocked by a bus. And police will give you the ticket (unwritten) and you pay fine (into their pockets). I drive in so many countries Thailand, USA, France, England, Germany, but not yet understand how to drive in Vietnam. This is the laws of the forest. Police is out there to make their money, not to enforce the law. This is not the country to live in if you think “Oh I can make money”. You’ll feel sorry for yourself when you decide to come and stay.
I live in a small (ish) town in the Southwest of England. Our claim to fame is the magic roundabout
Much fun!
I live in Pakistan.I have seen may strange things here.But in China there are some great innovations about traffic.Look quite silly but then again happens in this part of the world.
It was like this in St Lucia when we went down for our honey moon.. just Nuts!
well, actually this is happen in all crowded city.. especially in Asia, I’m living in jakarta, not as bad as saigon, but the traffic also crowded and some people want to pass the traffic light,
I ever go to china, bangkok, taipei etc, and all big city with crowded traffic have the same problem..
but in my home town, just 30 kilometer from jakarta, the traffic is so convenience, all people obey the traffic signal. they don’t have to hurry and no traffic jam.
Man this is nothing, if you want to see crazy traffic go to Tehran (the capitol city of iran). Tehran has the most traffic related deaths in the world (this is what I had read, but a freind of mine told me that Karachi Pakistan just beat tehran).
Ive lived in tehran, and I constantly visit the city. It makes these videos from saigon look civilized. In Iran ive seen 6 people riding on one motorcycle. I have been in a taxi cab that had 15 people in it (i am not exaggerating). There is 0 regaurd for saftey or traffic laws. Motorcycles and some times even cars drive on the side walks (my aunt was hit by a taxi cab coming out of her apartment, the taxi was driving on the side walk). People drive on the oppasite side of the road through oncoming traffic, buses are so overcrowded that people actualy hang out of the bus doors while its driving. A relative of mine ordered an oven/stove from a store, the man delivered it on a motorcycle, thats right you read it correctly a MOTORCYCLE.
In the US we have stop lights and in some cases 4 way stop signs. I swear I saw traffic signals turn green in all directions in Seoul a couple decades back and it all flowed like pedestrians crossing each others paths in a busy shopping mall……plus a lot of little horns beeping.
everything less than 3 people on a 110cc chinese “honda”-copy is probably only a test-drive or driving school.
normally the driver is txting at the same time while the others holding big bags from shopping…
cheers
Rhoody
My friend is Vietnamese and it’s crazy how the city works. Traffic works, but to a foreigner it looks like a dangerous moving circus!
I’d have to agree that this is not limited at all to Vietnam. When I was in a smaller town in China, it was this exact environment. It looks and sounds crazy when you first are introduced to it, but I found that it became okay after awhile.
I must admit, though, that it was not a very peace-inducing environment. It was all about pushing as much as you can to get what you want (e.g. to cross the street). In some ways, that reminds me of New York (at least my impressions of it). There just wasn’t the same hodgepodge of modes of transportation as in China.
This Asia folks, not unique in any part of South East Asia, Malaysia, or the Philippines. In the small town I live in there are no traffic lights, the traffic is a constant merge, no one stops, and rarely are there accidents. It is not uncommon to see an entire family of four on a 120cc motor bike. It takes some getting used to but eventually it becomes “normal”.
I live in Saigon. Here’s a better video of the traffic. It’s a couple years old; it’s worse now.
youtube video
Bunch of good ones on youtube.
Have to run, New Year’s tonight…