Traffic, traffic laws, and safety

One of the first things that you would notice if you came to Vietnam is the traffic. It would be very unnerving for you, especially if you are uncomfortable with ambiguity. A red light may not mean stop, but just yield. But not everywhere. Crossing into oncoming traffic and driving in their lane may also be okay if you are planning on turning left, or are passing someone, or if you feel like it. If you are on a scooter, turning quickly in front of large tourist buses, narrowly missing being smashed to a pulp is encouraged. Scooters may also drive on the sidewalks. Honking indiscriminately appears to be a sort of national sport, a game that everyone plays and enjoys except foreigners who don't yet know the rules.



Crossing the street can be daunting, too. In fact, it may be as dangerous as driving, perhaps because you aren't wearing a helmet. The rule is only move forward, don't make sudden movements (you need to remain predictable so they can drive around you with no surprises), and keep moving, don't stop. Amazingly, the drivers just drive around you, sometimes surprisingly close.

This is an excerpt from the US State Dept. on traffic in Vietnam. If you want to visit the US State Dept. web page on Vietnam, Click Here)

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Vietnam, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Vietnam is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Traffic in Vietnam is chaotic. Traffic accidents occur frequently. The most common victims are motorbike riders and pedestrians. At least 30 people die each day from transportation-related injuries and many more are injured, often with traumatic head injuries. Traffic accident injuries are the leading cause of death, severe injury, and emergency evacuation of foreigners in Vietnam. Traffic accidents, including those involving a pedestrian and a motorized vehicle, are the single greatest health and safety risk you will face in Vietnam.

Traffic moves on the right, although drivers frequently cross to the left to pass or turn, and motorcycles and bicycles often travel (illegally) against the flow of traffic. Drivers honk their horns constantly, often for no apparent reason. Streets in major cities are choked with motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians, and cyclos. Outside the cities, livestock compete with vehicles for road space. Sudden stops by motorcycles and bicycles make driving particularly hazardous. Nationwide, drivers do not follow basic traffic principles, vehicles do not yield right of way, and there is little adherence to traffic laws or enforcement by traffic police. The number of traffic lights in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is increasing, but red lights are often not obeyed. Most Vietnamese ride motorcycles; often an entire family rides on one motorcyle. The urban speed limit ranges from 30 to 40 km/h (or 19-25 miles/h). The rural speed limit ranges from 40 to 60 km/h (or 25 – 37 miles/h). Both speed limits are routinely ignored.

If you are walking, you should be careful, as sidewalks are extremely uneven and congested, and drivers of bicycles, motorcycles and other vehicles routinely ignore traffic signals and traffic flows, and even drive on sidewalks. For safety, you should always look carefully in both directions before crossing streets, even when using a marked crosswalk with a green "walk" light illuminated.

Road conditions are poor nationwide. Numerous accidents occur due to poor road conditions. U.S. citizen travelers have lost their lives on the roads while traveling in northern provinces during the rainy season due to landslides. You should exercise extra caution in the countryside, as road conditions are particularly poor in rural areas.

Driving at night is especially dangerous, and you should exercise extreme caution. Roads are poorly lit, and there are few road signs. Buses and trucks often travel at high speed with bright lights that they rarely dim. Some motor vehicles don’t use any lights, and vehicles of all types often stop in areas of the road that have no illumination. Livestock are often in the road.