After about 2 months in Hanoi, I finally gathered enough courage to ride a motorbike on the streets of Hanoi. I don't know why the Vietnamese call them motorbike instead of motorcycle. Maybe it's just easier for them to say it. I met someone in the office who knew where I could rent a motorbike. Not only he rented the motorbike for me, he delivered it to my apartment. Then he showed me how to ride.
I can't remember when was the last time I rode a motorbike but it must be very long ago.
The motorbike you see in the picture above is what I rented for the afternoon. It's a medium-size bike and it costs me $4 to rent it for the day. Together with the $6.50 helmet and my $2.50 fake Oakley sunglasses, I was ready to hit the streets.
But, wait a minute, don't you need a license? I asked my friend and he said don't worry.
"If the police stops you, just call me." Another friend had told me to have 200,000 Vietnamese dongs ready in case I am stopped. That's how the system works here.
"If the police stops you, just call me." Another friend had told me to have 200,000 Vietnamese dongs ready in case I am stopped. That's how the system works here.
After practicing in my neighborhood for about 30 minutes, I was ready to hit the big streets. Having studied how the Vietnamese ride their bikes, I started to see a pattern.
Number 1 - they don't stop for you. You have to push your way through. There are no STOP signs.
Number 2 - they don't look sideways or behind them when they change lanes or move from a stationary position.
Number 3 - they don't always follow the traffic rules. Red light doesn't mean everyone will stop.
Bottom-line is, you always have to be on the alert and you have to be bold.
I rode around for several hours. As you would expect, there were several tense moments.
I accidentally rode into the Old Quarter. The streets here are narrow and very, very busy. Anyway, I managed to get through the streets without hitting someone or someone hitting me. I felt a bump or two. Sometimes I revert to my American courteous driver style. Doesn't work here. You just have to let others worry about themselves.
Conclusion: It's a fun experience but not the safest. I don't think I will buy a motorbike. I will probably rent one for the weekend when I need to explore the areas outside the city center.
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ReplyDeleteMeng, do you see a lot of accidents around the city? With so many bikes and motorbikes ripping around you would think that folks would be flying everywhere!! Stay safe and take care.
ReplyDeleteJohn, believe it or not, I see very few accidents. My Vietnamese friends tell me that because they ride so slow, they don't get a lot of serious accidents. You get a few bumps here and there and maybe someone falling off his bike but in general, I haven't see any serious accidents. I think what is more scary is how they allow little kids to ride on the bikes without a proper seat or helmet.
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