Traffic and transportation in Vietnam can be like a dangerous attraction

Traffic and transport in Vietnam is hassle free. Well…. it is if you bite the mental bullet and embrace the concept that almost everyone, everywhere, is running about like a madman. Often people do not comply with any rules of the road. It is quite common to ride on sidewalks/ pavements and the wrong way in one-way traffic. An exception might perhaps be in the large and well-known city centers, where there may be a group outbreak of sensible driving following some rules of the road. But stay calm ! and you won‘t see a lot of accidents.

It is important to realize that the war in Vietnam and the bombing had a great influence on the current transport infrastructure. Lots of railways and roads were destroyed during the war. Although it has been a long time since, there have still been traces of this damage until recently. Roads in remote mountainous areas especially are not in a good condition. However, the situation is changing and I have seen a lot of roads newly built or repaired.

In almost any place in Vietnam you can travel by bus or rent a motorbike.

For the most remote areas really the best way to get there is to rent or buy a motorbike in a town. If you are on a guided tour and finances are not a problem, well you probably can get by without a bike. The best advice I can give you is that It is important to ask and talk with the people! you will find people helpful – “Everybody knows everything.“

GRAB or Go-Jek – alternative taxi services for less than half price. Great mobile applications and taxi, motorbike services (apps for Android and iOS) you will save your credit card to your private secure account so you do not need any cash you can book your ride with the application, select the location where do you want to go within a few minutes the driver will pick you up, take a ride and after you get a receipt by email you need to have mobile internet, buy a prepaid SIM card with 3G Internet in Vietnam you can use Grab and Go-Jek in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (more information on websites) information about Uber in Vietnam (according to media reports from February 2018, Uber will leave Southeast Asia market and pass its activities to Grab, more info) Motorbike or scooter is the most widely used means of transport in Vietnam.

You will probably also use the services of buses, which are very widespread, also trains or taxis. If you use a motorbike for transport and Google Maps, watch out for road markings. Some small roads can be displayed as main roads, but when you get there, it can be a very difficult to pass dirt road (especially in remote areas). The traffic in Vietnam can sometimes be dangerous, personally, I’ve seen only one minor traffic accident in Hanoi, and it was only a fender bender ?