FLY: Hanoi and Motorbikes

If you have been to Hanoi or HCMC before, I'm sure you already know that crossing the street is not an easy thing to do. Why? Because of the swarm of motorbikes going in different directions. Sure there's a traffic light but I wouldn't rely on it to save my life.

Guess who's driving? 

Another thing to watch out for, drivers carrying different things from chickens to steel pipes!

One of the things you must know if you're planning a trip to Vietnam is how you should deal with the motorbikes. You're probably thinking, why make a big deal out of it? I've crossed the streets of a bustling city many times, what's so different about doing it in a city like Hanoi? Well, that same thought crossed my mind and coming from Manila, I thought I knew how to dodge the occasional cars and motorbikes. Boy, was I wrong!

When I first arrived here, my husband who has traveled to Vietnam several times gave me one important reminder - when I cross the road, be confident and do it slow & steady.

I went out of the hotel to take a stroll around the lake and I was so scared of crossing the busy road, I ended up standing there for a good 5 minutes. I pretended to look at my map and make a few calls/text (lame, i know). Now that we're living here, you can say I'm pretty good at it and have never been bumped by a car or a motorbike.

A common riding attire for women, you can buy in the roadside shops or in the market

My tip: Think of the road as a river and the motorbikes as water, and you are a rock. Just cross the road slowly with caution and i assure you, those motorbikes will navigate around you. Do not hesitate and never go back without looking behind you, unless you wanna be a casualty!

Now driving is another matter I have to tackle next time.