Traffic, Ho Chi Minh City

by travelmad478
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Saigon's streets are spectacularly chaotic. Cars, animals, motorbikes, bicycles, cyclos, and pedestrians pack the pavement, with no apparent attention paid to such minutiae as traffic lights, stop signs, the idea of keeping to one designated side of the road, or terrified foreign tourists trying to cross the street. A never-ending festival of horns, bells, and shouts enhances the effect. Crossing the road generally takes nerves of steel. If you're cautious like me, you can stand on the edge of the sidewalk for ten minutes waiting for a break in the traffic. If you're braver than I am, you just walk out like the Vietnamese do and simply assume that all those vehicles will manage to avoid you. As my friend Kathy and her cyclo driver found, this does not always work out well. Within 15 minutes of starting out on our first ride through Saigon, Kathy's driver crashed into a motorbike. No major damage done, but it was a little nerve-racking.


	Traffic: The Horrible Traffic It is a...	Tip Rating:

By carstenj

on August 24, 2002

by carstenj
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The Horrible Traffic It is a nightmare and I strongly recommend you do not drive yourself. The rules may be there, but they're completely disregarded. If you wish to cross the road, the trick is to start crossing very slowly and you will find that the traffic will avoid you. Usually you will get safely from one side to the other this way. Good luck.


	Traffic: It's as safe as any Asian...	Tip Rating:

Updated By smithsgen

on June 28, 2006

In spite of what my travel guide said it was as safe as similar asian cities like HK and Bangkok. I didn't take any special precautions and never experienced anything unusual. Traffic can be hazardous though (crashed once with a moto), and you need some nerve (or alcohol) to cross the streets.


	Traffic: Watch those bikes!

Updated By jolou

on May 3, 2005

by jolou
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Green Cross code?

"Look ahead and walk with purpose". It didn't get any less scarey though! Alternatively wait for a local to start crossing and tag along with them. The bikes don't actually go very fast although that doesn't help the pumping adrenaline when you are amongst them!


	Traffic: Watch out, motorbikes!

By Audia

on March 22, 2008

Be really careful when you are crossing the road. Don't ever stop right in the middle of the buzzling motorbike, go straight forward - lose your doubt and go ahead. (HCMC is a lot better than Hanoi...)


	Traffic: Be Brave & Go Forth!

By Aidy_p

on April 28, 2007

by Aidy_p
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Saviours of Tourists
Crossing the Roads

Before I left for Ho Chi Minh City, I was told by one of my relative that one should just walk across the street without making eye contact with the motorists. Taaa!!! Wrong! That would be the fastest way to kill yourself. Crossing the road can be quite simple with practice. Do not run, and do not be indecisive in the way you cross. Motorists read your body language, so don't confuse them by moving forward suddenly, then back. One good thing is that the vehicles are not moving too fast, and the motorcycles will usually go around you. But if you're not sure how to cross the road, get the security people to guide you across, and no, they will not extort you of any money.


	Traffic: Crossing the Streets

By Eurasian68

on January 7, 2006

by Eurasian68,
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Don't wait, just close
your eyes and GO!

Crossing the streets is harder than you think! Cars don't take notice of you, so just follow a local to cross the street safely! Or just close your eyes and walk, the motorcycles and cars will slow down...


	Traffic: Crossing roads

By albaaust

on October 28, 2006

by albaaust
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HMC is definitely motorbike city which means that it can be quite hairy trying to cross roads. Basically, you walk without panicking and stopping- the motorbike riders will adjust so long as you walk predicatably.


	Traffic: Look both ways before you cross...

By pgj579

on January 25, 2007

by pgj579
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Bustling Saigon Streets

Ho Chi Minh City has the most difficult streets to cross of any where I have traveled. They are crazy. The motorbikes seem to come out of nowhere. I recommend just sticking close to a local when he or she crosses the street and hope you don't get hit.


	Traffic: Driving and Walking in Traffic

By Blatherwick

on October 10, 2004

by Blatherwick
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Saigon Traffic

If you are brave or crazy then you can try driving in Saigon. Even though the Vietnamese are pretty good drivers, there are so many motos on the road in close proximity that accidents are bound to happen. They do in large numbers. Anybody who has spent a fair amount of time here have seen at least a couple of big accidents. And rules...what rules? I would suggest hiring a driver for a ride as it is cheap and he will know what he is doing. As for walking across the street, it is very easy. Just leave the sidewalk and move at a regular pace. You can't just wait there or you'll be stuck forever. Don't make any sudden movements and don't stop in the middle of the street. The Vietnamese are very good at driving around pedestrians who aren't stupid and try to play "Frogger".