in Hanoi there are 9 million inhabitants and 6 million mopeds. The same percentage applies to all of Vietnam. Imagine the traffic. Scooters go all the way, they run the sidewalks, they go backwards, they run the red light, they park in bars and hotel halls, they honk the horn all the time. The scooters are the soundtrack of Hanoi.
The moped is the king of Vietnam, a’improper weapon, a tool that makes invincible, the only way to circulate (you might say) for Hanoi. Some use helmets, others do not. There are also taxi scooters (cramps) that allow you to arrive on time. You can do anything with mopeds. I’ve seen a few scooters with only one passenger, many with two passengers, and also several with three and even four passengers. The scooter is an art, a science, to drive it requires a special skill and in fact a special license is required because that of the car is not enough. Everyone can drive a car. Motorcycle drivers must be able to get out of a traffic jam alive, they must be able to cut through the crowd without killing anyone, they must be able to run you over without hurting you. If a pedestrian is on the same route as a moped, he should know that the moped will not change its course by one degree. When the truck man meets the man on the scooter, the truck man is a dead man. I saw scooters on the passenger’s seat had a pig destined for slaughter. I saw a bricklayer driving with one hand because with the other he carried a ladder (around he had made the void). I saw a moped with a husband, wife and three goats. I saw scooters made invisible under a huge load of parcels (in the city) or palm leaves to build roofs (in the countryside). Buffalo no, buffalo on the scooter I have not seen any. The buffalo of Vietnam are smart. On a scooter they would never get on.
my previous posts with Claudio's trip:
https://free-libbberamente.blogspot.com/2019/11/claudios-trip-1.html
https://free-libbberamente.blogspot.com/2019/11/claudios-trip-vietnam-2345.html
https://free-libbberamente.blogspot.com/2019/11/claudios-trip-go-with-vietnam-6.html
https://free-libbberamente.blogspot.com/2019/11/claudios-trip-go-with-vietnam-7.html
https://free-libbberamente.blogspot.com/2019/11/claudios-trip-go-with-vietnam.html
https://free-libbberamente.blogspot.com/2019/12/claudios-trip-we-danced-ethnic-dances.html
