I would like to take a minute or two to remind you about the traffic here in Saigon. 70% motorcycles, 10% cars, 10% buses and the rest are some type of other transportation. During the day, crossing the street isn't too stressful. You wait for the red light (it's rare when you don't need to), look both ways (yes, both ways is important!), and if a moto isn't turning directly at you, step off the curb and begin to walk. Don't worry about all the motos turning onto the street who look like they're going to hit you - they won't. Don't worry about the few vehicles who are coming towards you (except buses) - they'll slow down (from 15km/hour to 10). Just keep walking.
If it's rush-hour however (and strangely this is a vocabulary word you'll find on numerous beginner lists when learning Vietnamese), all rules change.
To begin with, if you've never experienced the sight of rush-hour in Vietnam, you'll find yourself standing on the street for several long minutes taking in what you see. If you thought the countless motos were many during the day, you'll quickly find that that was nothing. Instead, come 5:30 in the afternoon, as the sun is going down, what you'll see is a swarm of motos and buses, like bees, just waiting for the lights to change green. There are no formed lines or organization - it's every moto for itself. Whoever can get to the front of the line before the light turns green gets to leave first when the light does turn green. How any of these drivers know what the move will be of their neighbor, or how they find space to creep forward before or after the green will also leave you boggled.
Once your mind has overcome the shock of the sight, you remember why you're on the street - to cross it. And so I'll share with you what I've quickly learned.
Rule 1: If you don't have to, don't cross at the busiest
intersections.
intersections.
Rule 2: Do NOT cross if you aren't starting with the change of the light. Wait until you have maximum time limit. (This rule should be used at any time of the day.)
Rule 3: Watch the locals. If you're really unsure of yourself, walk with them as they cross.
Note: Here are 2 good Utube videos of the traffic in HCMC. It'll give you an idea of what people go through just to get to the other side of the road. While there are numerous crossing zebras all over the city, many of them aren't near traffic lights and even when they are, the drivers ignore their purpose.
