Traffic in Saigon

There are approximately 7 million people in Saigon and more half of them own motorbikes. This combined with the fact that there does not appear to be any rules for driving makes for an interesting city to navigate on foot.

Traffic in Saigon

At first it looks like complete chaos and trying to cross the road can be very difficult but you soon get used to it. You walk across the road in front of traffic and the traffic avoids you. After a few days in Saigon I decided to hire a motorbike to explore the city further and also to get out of the city and see some of the countryside. I thought it was going to be very difficult but it was not so bad, in fact I found it easier than driving in Dublin or London. There does not appear to be any rules, red lights are ignored constantly, taking a left turn usually involves driving into oncoming traffic, roundabouts and junctions are worse and finally you have the constant threat of pedestrians walking out in front of you.

I did not record this video myself but I think it gives a good insight into traffic in Saigon.