Bikes, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2007)
There are over 7.4 million scooters, mopeds and motorcycles teeming through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam’s largest City. Motorbikes are chosen by many people over buses. They buzz about their business, inches apart; streaming down avenues, weaving, wending, intertwining their way across town and performing hair’s breadth manoeuvres at every cross-road. The whole family would ride in one motorcycle – four up plus baby. The blasting of horns and the screech of brakes is constant, the air is fume-filled and the traffic relentless. But it’s fascinating.
Crossing the road in Saigon is frightening for visitors. If you wait for a break in the traffic you would have to wait all day. You have to muster your courage, pick your moment, step off the pavement, and cross at a slow, steady pace until you reach the other side. Motorcyclists will try to negotiate pedestrians and they’ll pace themselves to avoid you; as long as you don’t step backwards, stop or make any unexpected movements. Always look both ways – even in a one-way street the traffic travels in both directions. If you’re lucky enough to find some traffic lights don’t cross at the last-minute – the scooters will hit the gas about five seconds before the lights change to green.
Bikes, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (2007)
There are over 7.4 million scooters, mopeds and motorcycles teeming through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam’s largest City. Motorbikes are chosen by many people over buses. They buzz about their business, inches apart; streaming down avenues, weaving, wending, intertwining their way across town and performing hair’s breadth manoeuvres at every cross-road. The whole family would ride in one motorcycle – four up plus baby. The blasting of horns and the screech of brakes is constant, the air is fume-filled and the traffic relentless. But it’s fascinating.
Crossing the road in Saigon is frightening for visitors. If you wait for a break in the traffic you would have to wait all day. You have to muster your courage, pick your moment, step off the pavement, and cross at a slow, steady pace until you reach the other side. Motorcyclists will try to negotiate pedestrians and they’ll pace themselves to avoid you; as long as you don’t step backwards, stop or make any unexpected movements. Always look both ways – even in a one-way street the traffic travels in both directions. If you’re lucky enough to find some traffic lights don’t cross at the last-minute – the scooters will hit the gas about five seconds before the lights change to green.