Wait for an appropriate break in the traffic (e.g. Hanoi slow step: The only technique to cross a road in Hanoi. Indicators: Hanoi scooter drivers use their indicators to show that they are about to merge directly into the oncoming stream of traffic to get to wherever they wish (usually a prime parking spot on the footpath), Indicators are not used for trivial changes in direction such as suddenly turning right or left, which are basic survival skills. Frivolous use of the horn is strongly discouraged. Horns: Horns are only used when passing another scooter or car, crossing an intersection, greeting a friend or approaching pedestrians on the road. Cyclo riders constantly try to get foreign tourists to sit in this seat to serve as human airbags in the event of a collision. It also means that they can turn right at any time merging seamlessly into the cross traffic and any pedestrians who thought that they could safely cross on a green light.Ĭyclos: A form of transport with a passenger seat in front of a bicycle. A red light means that vehicles can continue to cross the intersection until the counter reaches 20, even though the cross traffic is already moving. Traffic lights: Hanoi has only red and green lights with a 30 second timer counting down the period. Two-way street: a street where 50% of the traffic is going in each direction, occasionally on the opposite sides of the road. One way street: a street where 90% of the traffic is going in the same direction. Occasionally, pedestrians walk on the footpaths, but this can be quite dangerous - it is better to use the road. It is also a useful short cut for scooters when the roads are busy. ![]() Traffic: A euphemism for the daily danse macabre that takes place between motor scooters, cars and pedestrians on the streets of Hanoi.įootpath: a narrow paved strip between road and building used for small restaurants, shop displays, street vendors and, primarily, as a place to park scooters. ![]() These particularly apply to the Old Quarter. It was definitely time to leave, the vibrant chaos of Hanoi was growing on us.Īfter spending 7 days on and off in Hanoi between various trips, we started to feel comfortable as pedestrians and can now pass on some useful definitions to aid the new arrivee. It was hard to believe that in just an hour or two this city would once again return to the horn-blaring noisy chaos of scooters, cars and people that is Hanoi by day. Hanoi was just waking, the Old Quarter streets were strangely quiet and empty, but around Hoan Kiem Lake, the citizens of this city were out doing ther morning exercise, jogging walking or playing badminton on the footpaths, while small groups carried out gracefully synchronised tai chi exercises to the sounds of Chinese music. The last memory of Hanoi was arriving back from Sa Pa in the early morning and walking back to our hotel. It had started quietly, but Christmas 2008 in Hanoi will certainly be one of our more memorable. It took us an hour to get back to the hotel, where the owners were waiting with a case of Hanoi beer, Christmas hats and nibbles to bring good cheer to all returning guests. The entire road system around the lake quickly became a gridlock, so the scooters took to the footpaths and gardens already crammed with pedestrians. ![]() Not only was it Christmas, but Vietnam had just defeated Thailand for the first time in 10 years in the ASEAN Football cup final - it was an outpouring of national pride. The entire circuit of roads around the lake was chock-a-block with scooters, horns honking, people shouting and chanting, a sea of yellow-starred red national flags waving from the bikes, balloons, flashing lights, music and sheer unbridled joy. For some, the words went up on the big screen, so we joined in, undoubtedly massacring the Vietnamese language in joyful song, but it's the thought that counts! We left the church, walked back to Hoan Kiem Lake, still wondering what the great majority might do this night and walked into the greatest scenes of celebratory chaos that I have witnessed. It started innocuously we went to a Church in Hanoi where a choir gave beautiful renditions of well-known Christmas carols (lyrics in Vietnamese naturally). When we first arrived we were surprised to see all the decorations and preparations for Christmas - it promised to be interesting to see just how an officially atheist (?) predominantly buddhist country would celebrate one of the two great events of Christianity.
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