Motorcycle Country

Hello My Dear Great Ones,

Some bland, serious, and fun facts about Vietnam, in this blog referred to as: Motorcycle Country.

1. The population of Vietnam is 90 million people.  There are 42 million motorcycles.

2.  3000 motorbikes are bought everyday in Vietnam.

3. Vietnamese often park their motorbikes in their living room to keep them safe and protected.  

4.  They wear motorbike helmets not to be safe, but to adhere to government laws.  Most are plastic shells with a string attached to it.

5.  Say your prayers when walking in any major Vietnamese city with motorbikes.  Traffic laws are not followed and people drive on sidewalks!  Pedestrian crossings are ignored and you must cross at your own peril or call for a helicopter to rescue you.

6.  @10 000 traffic fatalities a year makes Vietnam one of the most dangerous places to drive.  Go by tour bus and increase your chances of survival.

7.  People carry anything and everything on their motorbikes.  Seeing a motorbike laden with 20 ducks or a guy carrying 20 foot metal beams on their shoulder while driving is common.  One motorbike I saw had dad driving,  three year old daughter squished between dad and mom on the back.  And the family dog, with back legs on dad's lap and front paws braced on the handlebars, was riding like a hood ornament on the front.  Even saw a senior couple, at least 75, racing spritely along.

8.  Watching the motor bikes and taking pictures of individual bikers should be considered a must do when visiting Vietnam.

Motor bikes moving on a green light.

Here they come.  Millions and millions of them.

Note the excellent, safe footwear that most bikers are wearing.  Note lone white man having a cultural experience.

A normal scene in Ho Chi Minh.  During rush hour it is downright crazy how many motorbikes there are.

How many Vietnamese every day ask this profound question,  "Now where did I park again?"

Gramma heading to market in her fancy dress shoes.

Homebuilder.

Housewife after buying groceries.

First date.

Landscaper.

Rain protection for driver and motorbike.  Passenger?  Sorry bud you are getting wet.

Off to visit the mother in law and providing her a plant she could either eat or put on display.

Happy(not)husband carrying wife and loads of stuff she bought.  This scene is universal.

Happy dad carrying wife and child on an outing.

Women catching up on the latest gossip.  How universal is that?

Mr. Slick with his new wheels off to an important business meeting.

Hey here is happy(not) husband again with da wife.  Note da wife's eyes.  Whoa if looks could kill. 

After a day at the market this happy shopper is making her way home.  

Again, I wonder how many Vietnamese forget where they parked.  The numbers on the tents no doubt help a lot save undo embarrassment.

Chaos.

Motorcycle Country is awesome.  A must see.  A must do is trying to cross this madness.  Just keep moving and the bikes will swerve around you.  Stop and they will plough you over.  Gulp.

Have a great week.

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk