Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interviews
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Escape Plan
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomadism
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Italy
      • France
      • UK
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Panama
      • Costa Rica
      • Nicaragua
      • Honduras
      • Belize
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
    • Others
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
      • Africa
      • Asia
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

LIFE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR EXPATS, DIGITAL NOMADS, AND DREAMERS.

  • Your Escape Plan

The Ten Unholy Driving Commandments Of Vietnam

  • April 24, 2015
  • BY EA Editors
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

The Ten Unholy Driving Commandments Of Vietnam

Driving in Southeast Asia comes with the ever-present dangers of poor road surfaces and suicidal animals darting across the road.

That being said, driving in Vietnam poses some unique dangers of its own. The roads are a paradigm of the country itself: busy, unpredictable, and wonderfully made. Unsurprisingly, they are also incredibly dangerous.

Vietnam has one of the highest road mortality rates in the world. Approximately 14,000 deaths per year are caused by traffic accidents. Visitors die regularly on the roads, mostly whilst riding motorbikes, which make up 95% of all registered vehicles.

Even if you are a safe, experienced driver, there are still many perils to consider. So please take five minutes to read these vital rules to help you understand the method in the madness. Vietnam is a breathtakingly beautiful country, but please, appreciate it carefully.

 

1. Thou Shalt Be Wary Of The Lanes

Things are rarely simple in Vietnam. Despite the fact that the Vietnamese drive on the right-hand side, this is also where the fastest traffic can be found because it is here that all of the motorbikes gather.

The second fastest lane is on the left which leaves a tiny middle lane full of careful drivers surrounded by speed-freaks on either side. Of course, this isn’t to say that motorbikes won’t be weaving through the traffic in every lane so watch out!

 

2. Thou Shalt Always Keep Thine Eyes On The Prize

The most important maxim behind Vietnamese driving states that: ‘If everyone is constantly looking straight ahead of themselves, then no one will ever crash into anything’.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t account for hitting someone from the side, a slight loss of concentration… or blinking. In Vietnam, it is unlikely that a motorbike has wing mirrors, and it is even more unlikely that the motorbike driver uses them.

The same goes for checking blind spots before turning. Yes, you should check your blind spots before turning, but choose your moment very carefully and don’t take your eyes off of the road ahead for too long.

When you need to turn or change lanes, it is essential that you move slowly and steadily with plenty of warning. Vietnamese drivers will be unprepared for sudden movements.

 

3. Thy Horn Is Thy Best Friend

All too often, visitors get aggravated by people constantly honking their horns for what seems like no good reason. There is a reason and it’s an important one.

Due to rule 2, people need a system to let other drivers know where they are. The horn works as a kind of primitive sonar system that lets other drivers know how close to them you are and which direction you’re headed in. Listen carefully and use yours wisely, especially when over-taking.

Handpicked Related Content: Live In Vietnam

 

4. Thou Shalt Not Expect People To Obey All Of The Rules That Thou Art Used To Them Obeying

Red lights seem to be more of a timid suggestion to some drivers. Keep an eye out for this when you’re driving or walking. The same goes for one-way streets, no entry-signs, zebra crossings, and just about every other instruction that you learned in the Highway Code.

 

5. Thou Shalt Not Take Rush Hour In Vain

The main danger here is starvation. Most of the time traffic is so busy in Hanoi and Saigon that seeing hordes of motorbikes driving on the pavements is a regular occurrence.

A talented driver or master Tetris player can work his way through these crowds. But during rush hour, traffic can come to a complete standstill. During other times of the day, motorbikes tend to form a hive mind, like a shoal of fish moving efficiently as a unit.

However, during rush hour, motorbike drivers seem to lose their sense of fraternity and turn into a mindless mechanical octopus squeezing itself into every tiny little space available in order to get an inch closer to their destination, which regularly brings traffic to a complete deadlock.

 

6. Thou Shalt Not Expect Everyone To Indicate

Perhaps half of the Vietnamese drivers do not use their indicators. Nor do you have any guarantee that they will notice or respond to your indicators. A wave of the hand is more likely to get noticed but it’s best to do both for extra safety.

Handpicked Related Content: 11 Things To Know Before You Visit Vietnam

 

7. Thou Shalt Be Wary When Giving Priority

Giving priority is a dog-eat-dog system in ‘Nam. As a rule of thumb, the bigger vehicles have right of way.

If the size is equal, then the larger number of vehicles have right of way.

If the vehicle count is equal, the fastest vehicles have right of way. If the vehicles’ speeds are equal, the loudest vehicles tend to have right of way.

If everything else is equal, the driver with the biggest cojones has right of way.

 

8. If It Fitteth On A Bike Then So It Shalt Be

In Vietnam, cars tend to be impractical, serving primarily as status symbols for the higher echelons of Vietnamese society. Everyone travels by bicycle or motorbike. This also means that whenever someone has to carry something big or heavy, they will need to use a motorbike. And they will carry anything.

This provides a constant and ever-changing hazard. It is common to hear stories of poorly fastened gas canisters bouncing off the backs of bikes in the middle of the highway or people having to duck under ladders and panes of glass held by drivers like some sort of deadly vehicular Laurel and Hardy show.

Handpicked Related Content: Work In Vietnam

 

Overloaded motorcycle in Hanoi

Photo Source: Rebecca Wooden

 

9. Thou Shalt Be Ever Cautious Of Women Attired In Floral Coats

Don’t be deceived by the flowery appearance they are the most dangerous people on the roads. Pale skin is fashionable for many Vietnamese women so when the sun is out they cover up every inch of flesh in facemasks, large sunglasses, and the dreaded floral jacket.

All fashions come at a price, the price of this one being peripheral vision. They may well make sharp turns even when you’re driving right next to them. Give. Them. Space. The same rule applies when it rains because everyone wears huge hooded waterproofs.

 

10. Thou Shalt Drive Slowly And Predictably

There is a reason Vietnamese tend to drive slowly, and it isn’t from a lack of experience. Due to rules 1-9 reflexes are very important, you need to give yourself as much time as possible to react to the unpredictable. What is more, Vietnamese drivers are used to Vietnamese drivers. It’s dangerous to try and beat the system.

Good luck and, by God, slow speed!

 

Conclusion

Here is probably the most extensive ebook on Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Eliminating Your Taxes, Protecting Your Assets And Regaining Privacy Over Your Life And Investments. It is called The Ultimate Guide To Going Offshore. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this article: The Ten Unholy Driving Commandments Of Vietnam.

Is leaving your home country for a new country a priority of yours? Do you wish you knew how, but don’t? Then here is a great article for you to read. It can help you understand a little bit about Citizenship-By-Investment programs around the world. For more information on the CBI programs, please contact our office HERE.

Banner photo source: Joseph Gobin

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • expats
  • getting around
  • local culture
  • local customs and etiquette
  • local laws
  • local transportation
  • owning and driving a car
  • quality of life
  • safety and security
  • Southeast Asia
  • Vietnam
Previous Article
  • Your Escape Plan

Ethical Investments Offer Major Returns

  • October 24, 2014
  • BY EA Editors
View Post
Next Article
  • Your Escape Plan

ATM – “Temporarily” Out of Order

  • December 15, 2015
  • BY David J Drummond
View Post
You May Also Like
Tourist visas remain the simplest path to setting foot abroad.
View Post
  • Plan B
Living on a Tourist Visa – How Long Can You Stay?
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • June 4, 2025
Moving abroad can be a fresh start—but only if you do it with your eyes wide open.
View Post
  • Plan B
Moving Abroad to Reinvent Yourself
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • May 28, 2025
Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation.
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • May 7, 2025
Not all retirements are created equal—especially when taxes are involved.
View Post
  • Plan B
How to Retire Tax-Free Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 23, 2025
Choosing the right country can shape your investment strategy.
View Post
  • Plan B
How to Secure a Second Home Overseas
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 18, 2025
The good life in Belize.
View Post
  • Belize
The Plan B Strategy—Securing Lifestyle and Liberty in Belize
  • BY Michael K. Cobb
  • April 5, 2025
Investors diversify globally to protect their future.
View Post
  • Plan B
Why Every Investor Needs a Plan B Abroad
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 3, 2025
Tallinn, Estonia is Europe’s digital gateway for borderless business.
View Post
  • Plan B
The Best Countries for Financial Freedom
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 1, 2025
Trending Posts
  • Auckland’s peace begins with the landscape. 1
    • Field Notes
    Falling for Love and Life in Auckland
    • June 2, 2025
  • Moving abroad can be a fresh start—but only if you do it with your eyes wide open. 2
    • Plan B
    Moving Abroad to Reinvent Yourself
    • May 28, 2025
  • A new generation claims space through movement. 3
    • Africa
    How Ethiopia’s Girls Are Rewriting the Rules on Wheels
    • May 30, 2025
  • A large mural adorns the exterior of the London Graphic Centre. 4
    • Art & Culture
    The Coolest Art Scenes Around the World
    • May 26, 2025
  • Tourist visas remain the simplest path to setting foot abroad. 5
    • Plan B
    Living on a Tourist Visa – How Long Can You Stay?
    • June 4, 2025
Know Before You Go
  • A new generation claims space through movement. 1
    • Africa
    How Ethiopia’s Girls Are Rewriting the Rules on Wheels
    • May 30, 2025
  • Residency programs worldwide are undergoing rapid transformation. 2
    • Second Citizenship
    Beyond the Golden Visa – The Future of Residency
    • May 7, 2025
  • A typical crosswalk in Tokyo. 3
    • Blue Zone
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Japan
    • April 18, 2025
  • Photo courtesy of iStock/Kosamtu. 4
    • Digital Nomadism
    The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Digital Nomad
    • April 16, 2025
  • Every day life unfolds on Australia’s golden sands. 5
    • Australia
    Top 10 Things to Know if You’re Moving to Australia
    • April 7, 2025
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Newsletter Subscription
Our Spring Sale Has Started

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/