The best way to get around Ho Chi Minh is by motorcycle.  The most common are Honda automatics and around the 125cc.  They are the family vehicle and also the business vehicle.  During Niels’ visit we spent a lot of time traveling around and we managed to get some video of the roads however it doesn’t show you exactly how busy it is.

It looks chaotic, however the traffic is only going about 25 km/hr, somehow it just works. I have ridden over 1000km in Ho Chi Minh and I have learnt a few things. Not many foreigners drive and so you get looked at.  You drive by only looking ahead and if you are crossing lanes, you do it slowly and you don’t need to really look back, only if there is a bus.  If you go the wrong way, it is simply fixed, just stop turn around even if you are on a one way road and go back.  You stick to the curb and occasionally beep and have your indicator on.

You can also ride on the foot path, this is done when traffic is particularly heavy or again you have gone the wrong way, so pedestrians beware. You are only allowed to carry two adults including the driver on the bike, however, it has been necessary for me to carry up to 3 adults, including me. Now this is a real test of skills.  One, the weight distribution is at the back so it makes steering hard and also you are only sitting on a tiny portion  of the seat so it makes changing gears and breaking harder.

You see some funny things on the road and I must admit this doesn’t look comfortable.

Now you would think I would have seen a lot of accidents, but I haven’t, only a scooter slipping or being nudged by a car.