Beep beep a lesson on Vietnamese roads

By
Susan_Kirk
– February 10, 2011Posted in: Opinion

Vietnamese roads

On our arrival in Hanoi we were met by a young Vietnamese girl called Mil who shook our hands and directed us to where our driver was waiting. After loading up the car, we set off, for the ride of our lives.

Motor bikes are the preferred mode of travel by the locals, who total some five or so million. The roads, big slabs of bitumen, are full to the brim.  Amidst the continual bleating of bike and car horns, like sheep in a paddock, the traffic weaves in and out. Double lines are ignored and drivers flash their headlights at the oncoming traffic. Crossroads are interesting sparking a test of wills.  These people have become ingenious at carrying freight including family and friends. Small children are placed snugly in front of mum or dad to learn how to drive, so when they are bigger, and not much bigger, they can load up their friends and travel around the city streets. The amazing thing is that it  all works. No accidents, no road rage.

Once I gained confidence in this system. I took in some sights. We travelled through Denang and a number of small towns to get to our hotel in Hanoi. Denang is being transformed by foreign investments and includes a massive casino and beachfront resorts and apartments. The real Vietnam appears as you get closer to the city. I have never seen so many people, an experience of communion.

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About Susan_Kirk

Susan Kirk is a nationally published science writer, with a degree in journalism. She writes extensively for Rural Press publications including Good Fruit and Vegetables and Australian Horticulture. She has TAFE qualifications in horticulture which leads to her interests in crop and horticultural science, with its spinoff to food, organic vs GM. She is a member of the Media Alliance, Queensland Writers Centre, Horticulture Media Association and the Australian Science Communicators. She writes from Kureelpa on the Sunshine Coast hinterland (Australia).