How to drive in the crazy traffic of Vietnam

[@shaneparfitt77]

Brilliant video for new riders here. Roundabouts are like rivers, flow like water and use a car as a shield if you can, is the best advice I saw in the video. And for some reason, everyone who enters the traffic from a side street on the right, they do not look as they turn right to enter a street, they just go, so be prepared to manoeuvre to avoid them. Expect the unexpected from everything, cars, trucks, bikes, pedestrians, dogs, chickens, cows the lot. At least twice a minute, someone will do something that will surprise you as a westerner. And do yourself a favour, for a hassle free holiday in regards to your transport, rent from Tigit in Vietnam, the bikes are great, the service was awesome and I could not recommend them enough.

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

Well editing that video, I was amazed just how times "bad driving" is caught on camera. People going up the wrong side of the road, cutting corners etc etc. I don't even notice it in real life anymore. But yes, even this quick example, shows just how bad the driving is here.

[@hollyuloth9774]

That was awesome, thanks! This video has given the confidence that I can bike in my new city, Hanoi. Slow like a turtle. Normal!

[@NathGrech]

Fantastic video

[@Broadus45]

Great video, some things I forget about as I have gotten used to driving in Vietnam.

[@keithhogg1963]

Great video for the beginner like me. Been here a year. And still don’t know how to ride yet.

[@DominateYourGoal]

This is a great video. Every single Westerner living in Vietnam can learn something from this

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

Thanks

[@1990-t1j]

Good advice. It's rather like Thailand but worse, although the traffic moves faster in Thailand, but slower than England. I had to stop suddenly on my Aerox 155 not long ago. Really good brakes. Nick

[@retireditguy9493]

Waiting for the Tigit T-shirt that has "Trust No One" printed on it.

[@cjeremie]

omfg, i'm gonna have to join your instructor when i'm over there

[@williamkreth]

I am going next year and feeling better about renting a scooter while there. Thanks

[@YeeLeeHaw]

Another thing is to never, ever, be close to a large vehicle like a semi. So many horrible accidents happen because of people not following this simple rule.

[@hamadabdullah4016]

Do you mean like what happened in 2:34 or you mean bigger vehicle like trucks ? I have motorcycle trip in Vietnam soon and super nervous about the crowded roads

[@YeeLeeHaw]

​@@hamadabdullah4016 Bigger vehicles like semi-trucks, cement trucks, buses, wheel loaders, and tractors; sometimes you can't avoid them, just make sure then that you can't possibly end up under them or getting squeezed between vehicles and buildings by having enough space. Don't be nervous, you'll pick up the flow really fast, just be extra alert in the beginning and follow the advice he's making in the video and ride slow and extra defensive; always. Another thing is to be careful if there is gravel and sand on the road, as this can make your bike lose grip.

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

The mistake foreigners make is driving too fast and assuming that others will drive properly. In Vietnam anyone can do anything at anytime, and you must be driving at a speed where you can deal with unpredictable scenarios. It is why I am playing the joke "it is normal" halfway through the video. In reality, it comes down to your bike control and skill, of which most motorcyclists have very little of. Tourists tend to think they have skills when they don't. Just because you can drive a 1250cc motorbike back home, does not mean you can drive a 110cc motorbike in Vietnam. Lower the ego, slow down, expect the worst from everyone and you will be fine!

[@RLstavista]

Wow this is all around District 2 near where I live. I just think of all the bikes as being blood cells and the roads being blood vessels. They're small and compact, everyone is squishy and flexible and take any available gap. I don't have a problem with bikes driving on the wrong side of the road, just don't drive too far or too fast. I do more undertaking rather than overtaking as I don't like being on the opposite lane. Good rule of thumb is if you're a slow driver drive more towards the right side of the lane but always leave a gap for drivers driving on the wrong side. I personally try to just do 40kmh in moderate traffic, and 50kmh in light traffic.. you know just try to drive at the speed limit, if there even is one. On that saigon 2 bridge I do 70kmh+ which is fun. Safely of course :D Cars are the bane of my existence though they do like 15 kmh in a 40 zone and drive me nuts. Even when I was in an Uber/Grab and it was 4am, hardly any traffic, the driver was driving so slow... we almost missed our flight! Gave him a 4 star review and left a comment saying he drove way too slow.

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

Cars are a different story, and you won't understand unless you drive a car. Police are extremely corrupt, and the roads don't make much sense to car users. There are many unfair traps for cars and the fines are huge. I find driving a car in Vietnam extremely scary and difficult when it comes to the police. I sympathize with a car being driven slowly. One mistake can lead to a 6 month driving ban, a fine of around 4 million dong or even the car being confiscated. The country has huge corruption issues in this area at the moment.

[@RLstavista]

@@Tigitmotorbikes I see. That would make more sense. Thanks for the insight!

[@andrewelam1612]

You done good with the motor pad Mafia

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

Thanks

[@onehappykamper]

So Vietnam riders are slower in cities. So it's not my imagination! Here in Thailand everyone seems to drive fast.. Even in small cities like Hua Hin... But a recent visit to Da Nang led me to believe that amongst all that chaos was actually more calm. Very interesting. How fast were you going most of the time 20.. 30? Faster? Great video. Thanks

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

In Ho Chi Minh between 20 and 50km/h. I feel Hanoi is quite a bit faster, more like Thailand.

[@drmachinewerke1]

So ride like I'm in a American big city during evening traffic on a wed

[@chrisbebensee334]

7:27 almost ate the front bumper of a Vinasun taxi. "This is how you do it." Overall, great video except for that one part!

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

Timing spot on then!

[@CoLe05]

Hello, i'm learning English so that you can add captions to this video pls, i really like your video about VN. Thank you.

[@dom24363]

How do you find riding in the UK when you come back?

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

1. Going back to the UK, you realize how much we learn to judge other vehicle speeds (in the UK). Or more to the point, how difficult it is to judge how fast another vehicle is going. In Vietnam, the locals simply don't get this practice and they have no idea how to judge other vehicle speeds. 2. Quoting Alex Honnold free solo climber where he says. "What I do is low risk, but high consequence". Applies to Vietnam. Basically, he climbs with no rope, but only climbs rocks well within his limits. He won't fall, so it is low risk. But if he falls, he dies. Therefore high consequence. 3. In Vietnam, it is high risk, low consequence. Crashes happen all the time, but the speeds are slow. You survive a crash here (generally). In the UK crashes are rare (low risk), but the consequence of a crash is death (high consequence). My Vietnamese wife has a car license in Vietnam, but I won't let her drive in the UK. In my opinion, she won't be able to determine other road users true road speed. Pulling out into a road and not really understanding the other vehicles speed = High consequence. I think in the West we are able to adapt to the Vietnam traffic easily. But it is much harder for a Vietnamese person to adapt to the wests rules and road speeds. Looks difficult and crazy here, but in reality it is very simple, and in many ways, very safe.

[@100PercentJames]

I dont think this is a good example of Hanoi traffic during rush hour but all the tips and tricks hold true. I feel like there is a big difference between drivers in the North and the South. In the North the traffic rules really mean nothing at all but everyone looks out for eachother. In the South the rules of the road are followed a bit better but no one cares about eachothers well being. The center of the country is the worst because its a blend of the worst of both North and South, the rules of the road arent followed and no one cares about each others safety.

[@Tigitmotorbikes]

Hanoi is worse than Saigon for traffic on my opinion, and yes, the lack of rules makes it very difficult.

[@steve00alt70]

You still need to wear full motorcycle gear. The road is still sand conveyor belt to your skin and jaw even tho speeds are slow. You will need new skin grafts.

[@drmachinewerke1]

Been riding most days for 45 years . Gear gear gear . I've lay them down in my driveway ' 1 mile long' . I only wear full face .