Vietnamese Street Crossing

Crossing the street to the Independence Palace

With many different types of transportations in Vietnam, one of the biggest things that concern travelers is how to how to cross the streets with millions of motorbikes. To master the art of Vietnamese street crossing, all you need is patience and bravery.

Walking is a fantastic way to explore and discover more of any places in the city, but it is important to do it safely. You will notice soon enough that the traffic laws don’t necessarily get followed through, and that crossing at the marked crosswalk is not for the locals.

Before you cross, the first rule to remember is don't ever run. If you see any oncoming traffic, try to stay calm and keep walking, but walk slowly. Approaching vehicles will try to go around and behind you, so if you attempt to run, it will be hard for the drivers to predict your movement and might hit you.

Keep your kids accompanied when crossing the streets in Vietnam

When crossing, locals will use several hand gestures to alert drivers from afar so that they can slow down. One of the ways is to raise your hand up high, and the other is to put your hand out or wave them with a tap-like motion. These are all signaling gestures to create attention to the drivers.

If you need help with crossing, you can always ask the locals in a green uniform to help you cross, and they are usually spotted at busy intersections with many pedestrians.

Have You Attempted the Vietnamese Street Crossing?

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