A great thing here in Viet Nam is you can get a motorbike taxi (xe ôm) instead of a taxi. They normally hang out on the corners of streets and yell out to you, “motorbike” and they do the hand signals of riding a motor bike.  I have never seen a female driver and I don’t think there are any licences required other than the motorbike licence. The other clue they are a xe ôm driver is they have an extra motorbike helmet on their bike.

Now once you find your driver, it is normally a good idea to do a quick ‘risk assessment’.  I think that one of my drivers was drank once and that another had a condition involving involuntary head movements.  It is a good idea to have the place where you want to go written down as I have been delivered to the wrong location before because of my pronunciation!!!

Once there is an understanding of where you want to go, now comes the fun part, the price.  It is the only time in Vietnam that I have to barter.  The price varies a lot between different drivers.

They then give you a helmet and you don’t think about how many heads it has been on.  You then get on, now you would think that you hold the driver around the stomach, but no, I hold onto the the handles just behind my seat at the back.  Once on board, be ready for some exciting times.  Some go fast, some go slowly but you are guaranteed to be weaving in a out of traffic.  I highly recommend it, it is a great way to see the city.  I have walked off numerous times with their helmet still on my head, they have chased me down:).

A little side fact, the ‘ôm’ in xe ôm means to hug which I think is very cute.