Trying to cross a street in a major Vietnamese city might be the biggest challenge you will face there, depending on how good you are at processing unrefrigerated street food.
Although it’s well known that you can never step into the same river twice, the endless streams of scooter bikes seem very similar both in Hanoi and Saigon. Maybe the Saigon streams are slightly bigger, but that is well made up for by the lack of sidewalks in Hanoi.
Let’s be honest: it is scary. We’ve all been told not to cross a street until you’ve looked both ways and made sure there is no vehicle coming before you start walking. At least if there is no traffic light. If there is one: easy. Walk on green.
Well that’s all cute, but here is the truth about traffic in Vietnam: Everything you learned so far will either get you killed or frustrated. If you wait until there is no scooter coming your way, you will never move. There is no gap. Deal with it. If you think a green light means free passage you will be surprised out of what angles things can hit you. You will not see it coming.
