I absolutely love driving like this. For all the things western people might think, this is the most efficient method of driving and reducing traffic. Western people are spoiled, to the point where they don't pay attention to what they are doing....and take endless time to simply deal with a stop sign or similar. It honestly drives me nuts how sleepy western drivers so often are. This kind of driving is alive...and vibrant....and incredibly creative. Gotta just drop your fear...and go.
It takes a while to get used to, but after a few months you don't know any better. I put 45,000 km on the clock since I arrived in Hanoi, and now I'm addicted to his crazy traffic. It makes you feel like you're a character in a video game.
Small tip: When you enter the alley, if you see intersection use horn, people on the other side will notice and prepare, they'd often honk as a response
+Nguyen Du It took me a few days to figure out what the real rules were! Sometimes people stop at red. Sometimes they don't. By the way- we loved our time in Vietnam. My favorite country I've ever visited.
It honestly doesn't seem that unsafe, everyone's moving so slow that you seem to have plenty of time to react. Not much different than walking in a crowd.
Why there are only this few people interested in this genuine and interesting video. It is really how traffic in VN is ( I am a Vietnamese). I grew up here so I feel normal driving like that but I always feel funny when I listen to foreigners sharing about their feeling of driving in VN :D Some told me that we Vietnamese drive like we want to kill them lol
Well done! I was in Saigon City maybe ten years ago, and the traffic was crazy! It was chaos but there was a rhythm to it. You did very well. Way to go! I wanted to do it but I didn’t have the nerve. And I have never ridden a scooter before. 🥂
Amazing traffic! It looks like we can close our eyes while walking across the road without any accidents,other cars will avoid crashing us by themselves.
Good day to you. I am a senior rider on HONDA from Japan. Enjoying touring ,camping and video uploading. This is so nice video Awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing! Full supported ! Have a nice day my friend!!
ha great video and brings back some great memories of riding in Hanoi. There is safety in the madness I think. In 'the West' the rules lull people into a false sense of security. In places like Vietnam there are very few rules so everyone acts like anyone could hit them at any time. That brings a way of riding that end up being quite intuitive and safe (ish). Though I know the statistics don't always reflect that. Thanks for the video and commentary.
Sounds rational, but statistics of accidents and seriously injured and dead, show otherwise. Don't forget that even a minor accident on a motorbike can have a very bad outcome.
@@gravityfalls8439 Safer. In Vietnam on the road you are never safe. Crazy car and truck drivers there also. If you want to be safe, stay at home. Or use the subway, oh, wait...
because The car in Vietnam more expensive than US car 3 times, So a new car in US only 17000$ , In China only 10000$ a new car, But In Vietnam , the same ones is about 40000 - 50000$ , So, Motorbike is final choice ,
I rode in Vietnam all of last month, HaGian Loop, Hanoi, Danang, Nha Trang, Saigon and Phu Quoc. You called them bad drivers but actually most bikers are good drivers which is why the chaos is working. Also, you DO use your blinker and many do. Don't move left or right without knowing what's on your side. Allow distance between you and parked cars. Always be ready for riders going against traffic.
Haha it's all true I don't live in Vietnam but I'm visiting for a month and the main thing is you need to make eye contact with people (especially when crossing the street) and not go too fast in case you need to stop for a guy cutting you off out of nowhere
Outstanding video. About time someone showed others what nit wits we have driving here. My customers come in all the time with "road rash" I run Big Daddy's axe throwing club in Saigon and get many ex pats. All have fresh skin removal or scars from past driving incidents here. The stories I hear. I ride a dirt bike. Been riding off road and and moto cross 50 years and that prepared me just to drive to the store here. If you aren't an experienced bike rider? Take a grab or Be car. You'll live a lot longer.
TBH watching more and more westerners bravely riding through southeast asian traffic got me giggled a bit. I am an Indonesian i remember back in 2009 riding through Jakarta's hectic roads on a bike with a friend who just came from Italia, he got so scared he held me so hard and when we arrived to our destination the first thing he said to me was, "how could you survive everyday in this traffic?" 😂
I’m visiting Vietnam at the moment, and it feels hellish, yet at the same time, I feel safe when being taxied. The roads are super disorganized and weird, but people are more wary of each other than in any other place I’ve been in. Besides for people carelessly crossing busy streets of course. It’s extremely different when compared to Japan.
I have to say your real down on the Vietnamese traffic experience. I am an American and currently live in Dak Lak and traffic can be hard here as well but if you know what your doing on a motorbike and are smart enough to take care of it and keep looking 1 step ahead you will be fine. Cars can be you friend or enemy as well as Packs of motorbikes can be good defense against cross traffic.
I first went to VN in 2010, the first few days in Hanoi I was scared to cross the road. Fast Forward 5 days I was walking in the road rather drunk!. You just have to learn the flow, its like a dance. On bikes, just expect the unexpected and don't go too fast if there is too much traffic. Follow other people, they are better than you. Forget what you know to an extent, and learn how to go their way. Practice a route when you start, just turn right and come back on yourself, do that for an hour every day for a few days. It will build confidence to ride to other places.
i'm a Vietnamese but grew up in a small village. I also have that experience and memory of how to cross the street when I moved to the city 20 years ago. It took me 2 3 days to feel as a normal person crossing road.
It's worse during rush hour in Saigon and I assume the same in Hanoi! I got caught walking during the rush hour and didn't even have room to walk so I just stopped surrounded by scooters. I was still a newbie!
That's why I'd rather die in traffic than drive on the sidewalk. It is so much uncivilized and discourteous. I used to do it a lot in the past til I had to walk home and got bothered by all the mopeds trying to seize a place on the sidewalk!
Some foreign friends don't like the helmet gift from me. After returning from Vietnam they were grateful to me. and they know why I'm good at math and physics
I was talking to a friend in good ol' safe driving city of Glasgow, Scotland when I told him to "imagine walking around a really busy shopping centre, now imagine that every person, who is ducking and weaving around the place is a moped. Welcome to Hanoi"
I spent a morning (hungover) trying to navigate Edinburgh in a rental car and return our rented suits from a wedding. It was terrifying- I’ll take Hanoi any day! 😅
@@timandfin I know; driving in Scotland is really boring. You can't mount the curb or go right through the intersection when you're late for anything! 😂 But yeah the capital is a nightmare... The streets in Glesga are simple for people with hangovers because drinking is all all we do! 😂
When I was visiting my relatives, I personally rode a bicycle first just to get familiar with the traffic then I borrowed my cousin's 50cc scooter. 10/10 would come back
Oh my god this is the best video I have seen in a while. Headed to Vietnam in a few days - thought it might help to see what scooter rippin was like there and pulled this up first. So good. Super afraid and excited!
Dude! I grew up in that kcuf up environment, ( not in Hanoi) didn't see that bad until looking back and saw your clip. It really scares the f... out of me. Your clip and your narrative made me laugh my assreee off 😄😄😄
The traffic is so confuse because the infrastructure is poor condition after a long time without mantainance , the roads are narrow and have many obstacles and holes. Besides the population is increasing rapidly, especially in big city because people from various provinces come in search of a better life.
Vietnam iam white as sour cream dude and i will tell my is from vietnam and were going agian here in a few days and man i want to do this ride a bike in vietnam :)
I’ve been driving in Bangkok on a scooter since 10th grade and honestly it was fun but so many close calls and traffic jams.. it was however fun to drive on the side walks haha
I have ridden in taiwan, so this will be no issue for me. Maybe not on big cc motorcycle but most probably on YAMAHA NOUVU ELEGANCE125, SYM COMBIZ125 or HONDA WAVE125. Cos some countries their road network its not feasible to own and ride motorcycle bigger than 200cc. 👍👍👍👍👍
I rent a scooter there for one day when i was in Hanoi, it scares you at first but you‘ll get used to the rhythm quite fast. Even though i saw two accidents happening in 2 days (i was not involved)
As a Vietnamese, you get used to it. Plus the most your going in a packed area is like 30 km/h. Im going to say this now there are no rules when it comes to traffic.
Tried this at Guangzhou with one of the electric Mopad. I've never had so much fun in my life lol. I could finally drive like an idiot for once in my life.
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves." -Bruce Lee
Hey Adam- I know it says 18 hours on Google Maps, but things take ALOT longer in practicality when you're there. You will get flat tires, have bad weather, etc. Additionally, its difficult to OWN a bike as a foreigner in Vietnam. You'll very likely (but not 100%) have difficulty taking a bike into Laos. If I were you, I'd spend the five days exploring around Hanoi on bike. You could do short trips to Ninh Binh and Ha Long. That's what I would do with five days there.
Totally hear you!.....95% of the time I'm at least in a full face helmet and riding jacket, even with Midwest heat. That overseas stuff though? Always a helmet- I don't want to take any chances at a foreign hospital.
Liked this? You'll love our two month trip from Saigon to Hanoi on Motorbikes: th-cam.com/video/1wJsWuJZFwQ/w-d-xo.html
TIM and FIN what’s the camera and mic setup in this vid?
I absolutely love driving like this. For all the things western people might think, this is the most efficient method of driving and reducing traffic. Western people are spoiled, to the point where they don't pay attention to what they are doing....and take endless time to simply deal with a stop sign or similar. It honestly drives me nuts how sleepy western drivers so often are. This kind of driving is alive...and vibrant....and incredibly creative. Gotta just drop your fear...and go.
It takes a while to get used to, but after a few months you don't know any better. I put 45,000 km on the clock since I arrived in Hanoi, and now I'm addicted to his crazy traffic. It makes you feel like you're a character in a video game.
for real
Dude 😂
*As a pedestrian everything you need is on one side of the street because you don't ever wanna think about crossing the road lol*
Everybody crosses the road, the traffic won't wait for you just gotta figure out a way to get across without getting hit.
Small tip: When you enter the alley, if you see intersection use horn, people on the other side will notice and prepare, they'd often honk as a response
i'm Vietnamese, sometimes i wonder should i drive like everybody or be a good citizen and dont pass the red light
+Nguyen Du It took me a few days to figure out what the real rules were! Sometimes people stop at red. Sometimes they don't. By the way- we loved our time in Vietnam. My favorite country I've ever visited.
+Nguyen Du haha love this comment! We found all of the locals to be super courteous drivers when they saw we were foreigners. Thanks for watching!
i think they only did that just bcs youre foreigners. Me, i have to pray myselft everytime i go out :v Anyway, glad you survived Vietnam trip. :D
+Nguyen Du haha!! Good luck Nguyen!!
Cut the craps Nguyen,we all know you gonna cross the red light if you have a chance LOL
"and then just goose it!!!" LOL dude...Thank you for such a funny,exciting video...
I was thoroughly entertained for the entirety of this video! Thank you for uploading this!
Thanks Scott- It's my favorite thing I've put together on our channel.
One of the funniest travel/driving videos I've seen 😂. Please make more and travel safely!
It honestly doesn't seem that unsafe, everyone's moving so slow that you seem to have plenty of time to react. Not much different than walking in a crowd.
then try to drive a car , driving a car in tiny busy street with full of light motobike coming from of nowhere and only centimeter away from your car
controlled chaos works in slow speeds .....
I think this would be a good training if you're into motorcycling... you really can't survive these streets if you're not riding defensively...
GoPro effect. Crashing at some of those speeds WILL not feel good
The fun started when you found less congested roads as people would ride faster and you have to follow their rythm (means you too have to ride faster)
Why there are only this few people interested in this genuine and interesting video. It is really how traffic in VN is ( I am a Vietnamese). I grew up here so I feel normal driving like that but I always feel funny when I listen to foreigners sharing about their feeling of driving in VN :D Some told me that we Vietnamese drive like we want to kill them lol
Well done! I was in Saigon City maybe ten years ago, and the traffic was crazy! It was chaos but there was a rhythm to it. You did very well. Way to go! I wanted to do it but I didn’t have the nerve. And I have never ridden a scooter before. 🥂
OMG you made my day man. I live here now in the Philippines and I am saying exactly the same things about my impression of driving over here
Amazing traffic!
It looks like we can close our eyes while walking across the road without any accidents,other cars will avoid crashing us by themselves.
As a 5 year expat in Ha Noi, this commentary is absolutely spot on.
One of the funniest videos I have seen in a long time.
Just learning on a scooter in Saigon. This commentary really helped me with the mentality to have.
This is so funny and accurate! I’ve just went to Vietnam in July 2018 and this video is just a gem
Good day to you.
I am a senior rider on HONDA from Japan.
Enjoying touring ,camping and video uploading.
This is so nice video
Awesome!!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Full supported !
Have a nice day my friend!!
I love the hysterically blasé commentary. The contrast between what you saying and what you are experiencing is night and day. Too funny!
This is the video everyone coming to Vietnam needs to see.
That balloon bike was hilarious!!
Excellent explanation and safety tips
ha great video and brings back some great memories of riding in Hanoi. There is safety in the madness I think. In 'the West' the rules lull people into a false sense of security. In places like Vietnam there are very few rules so everyone acts like anyone could hit them at any time. That brings a way of riding that end up being quite intuitive and safe (ish). Though I know the statistics don't always reflect that.
Thanks for the video and commentary.
Sounds rational, but statistics of accidents and seriously injured and dead, show otherwise. Don't forget that even a minor accident on a motorbike can have a very bad outcome.
@@guyhanoi8561 exactly , that is why my parents bought me a car and didn't allow me to ride a bike or scooter
@@gravityfalls8439 Haha, but with a car' it takes you 4 times as long to arrive.
@@guyhanoi8561 yeah but atleast you are safe!
@@gravityfalls8439 Safer. In Vietnam on the road you are never safe. Crazy car and truck drivers there also. If you want to be safe, stay at home. Or use the subway, oh, wait...
Looks like an insane amount of fun!!
Highly recommend you Paloma Motorbike Tours in Hanoi combined with street food and drink
because The car in Vietnam more expensive than US car 3 times, So a new car in US only 17000$ , In China only 10000$ a new car, But In Vietnam , the same ones is about 40000 - 50000$ , So, Motorbike is final choice ,
I rode in Vietnam all of last month, HaGian Loop, Hanoi, Danang, Nha Trang, Saigon and Phu Quoc.
You called them bad drivers but actually most bikers are good drivers which is why the chaos is working.
Also, you DO use your blinker and many do.
Don't move left or right without knowing what's on your side. Allow distance between you and parked cars.
Always be ready for riders going against traffic.
This is the most realistic video about driving in Vietnam ever. I like it
Awesome video man I was laughing the whole way, I'm heading there and doing the same trip in 5 days your videos have helped alot.
Cheers!
Holy crap have an awesome time- we just did the Ha Giang loop and it was a blast as expected. Can't wait to go back and we just left.
@@timandfin can i get a bike n ride without license?
Haha it's all true I don't live in Vietnam but I'm visiting for a month and the main thing is you need to make eye contact with people (especially when crossing the street) and not go too fast in case you need to stop for a guy cutting you off out of nowhere
This is absolutely fantastic! I want to go with my gf now and experience this chaos! it's so organized and free!!!
Outstanding video. About time someone showed others what nit wits we have driving here. My customers come in all the time with "road rash" I run Big Daddy's axe throwing club in Saigon and get many ex pats. All have fresh skin removal or scars from past driving incidents here. The stories I hear. I ride a dirt bike. Been riding off road and and moto cross 50 years and that prepared me just to drive to the store here. If you aren't an experienced bike rider? Take a grab or Be car. You'll live a lot longer.
TBH watching more and more westerners bravely riding through southeast asian traffic got me giggled a bit. I am an Indonesian i remember back in 2009 riding through Jakarta's hectic roads on a bike with a friend who just came from Italia, he got so scared he held me so hard and when we arrived to our destination the first thing he said to me was, "how could you survive everyday in this traffic?" 😂
I’m visiting Vietnam at the moment, and it feels hellish, yet at the same time, I feel safe when being taxied. The roads are super disorganized and weird, but people are more wary of each other than in any other place I’ve been in. Besides for people carelessly crossing busy streets of course. It’s extremely different when compared to Japan.
I have to say your real down on the Vietnamese traffic experience. I am an American and currently live in Dak Lak and traffic can be hard here as well but if you know what your doing on a motorbike and are smart enough to take care of it and keep looking 1 step ahead you will be fine. Cars can be you friend or enemy as well as Packs of motorbikes can be good defense against cross traffic.
Great Video. Much love and respect from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
I first went to VN in 2010, the first few days in Hanoi I was scared to cross the road. Fast Forward 5 days I was walking in the road rather drunk!. You just have to learn the flow, its like a dance.
On bikes, just expect the unexpected and don't go too fast if there is too much traffic.
Follow other people, they are better than you.
Forget what you know to an extent, and learn how to go their way.
Practice a route when you start, just turn right and come back on yourself, do that for an hour every day for a few days.
It will build confidence to ride to other places.
i'm a Vietnamese but grew up in a small village. I also have that experience and memory of how to cross the street when I moved to the city 20 years ago. It took me 2 3 days to feel as a normal person crossing road.
It's worse during rush hour in Saigon and I assume the same in Hanoi! I got caught walking during the rush hour and didn't even have room to walk so I just stopped surrounded by scooters. I was still a newbie!
That's why I'd rather die in traffic than drive on the sidewalk. It is so much uncivilized and discourteous. I used to do it a lot in the past til I had to walk home and got bothered by all the mopeds trying to seize a place on the sidewalk!
This makes me very excited to ride from south to north. The states should operate like this
Some foreign friends don't like the helmet gift from me. After returning from Vietnam they were grateful to me. and they know why I'm good at math and physics
That was funny, good video
I was talking to a friend in good ol' safe driving city of Glasgow, Scotland when I told him to "imagine walking around a really busy shopping centre, now imagine that every person, who is ducking and weaving around the place is a moped. Welcome to Hanoi"
I spent a morning (hungover) trying to navigate Edinburgh in a rental car and return our rented suits from a wedding. It was terrifying- I’ll take Hanoi any day! 😅
@@timandfin I know; driving in Scotland is really boring. You can't mount the curb or go right through the intersection when you're late for anything! 😂
But yeah the capital is a nightmare... The streets in Glesga are simple for people with hangovers because drinking is all all we do! 😂
When I was visiting my relatives, I personally rode a bicycle first just to get familiar with the traffic then I borrowed my cousin's 50cc scooter. 10/10 would come back
Oh my god this is the best video I have seen in a while. Headed to Vietnam in a few days - thought it might help to see what scooter rippin was like there and pulled this up first. So good. Super afraid and excited!
Have fun! And BE SAFE!! 😅😅
Dude! I grew up in that kcuf up environment, ( not in Hanoi) didn't see that bad until looking back and saw your clip. It really scares the f... out of me. Your clip and your narrative made me laugh my assreee off 😄😄😄
great commentary, that was hilarious and informative.
Coming from India this is very easy for me to ride here, It's like my everyday city ride.😅
My uncle got himself a red light violation ticket in the US, after he thought he was driving in Vietnam.
A lot of bikers start moving at 3 on red.
The traffic is so confuse because the infrastructure is poor condition after a long time without mantainance , the roads are narrow and have many obstacles and holes. Besides the population is increasing rapidly, especially in big city because people from various provinces come in search of a better life.
you're hilarious, I can't wait to visit Hanoi!
lmao this is so funny to me. Honestly, riding a motorbike in Hanoi just made it to my bucket list
This video made me went out 3 month ago and purchased my very first scooter lol. Its funny as hell riding around my area
This video is great on so many levels! Tim you are a funny dude.
Vietnam iam white as sour cream dude and i will tell my is from vietnam and were going agian here in a few days and man i want to do this ride a bike in vietnam :)
Soooo funny, been driving in Saigon for 3 months now and it's just like this!
I’ve been driving in Bangkok on a scooter since 10th grade and honestly it was fun but so many close calls and traffic jams.. it was however fun to drive on the side walks haha
Didn’t notice the overpass in first shot and was like nooooo oh.
the funniest thing is this is true everywhere in southeast asia
Do you need an international license to drive a scooter in hanoi?
I have ridden in taiwan, so this will be no issue for me. Maybe not on big cc motorcycle but most probably on YAMAHA NOUVU ELEGANCE125, SYM COMBIZ125 or HONDA WAVE125. Cos some countries their road network its not feasible to own and ride motorcycle bigger than 200cc. 👍👍👍👍👍
What certification did you need for this
100% spot on
I rent a scooter there for one day when i was in Hanoi, it scares you at first but you‘ll get used to the rhythm quite fast. Even though i saw two accidents happening in 2 days (i was not involved)
Funny how the accidents are never that bad, and most would just walk it off while crying cause they have to pay repairs for the bike
Fantastic! So true!
This was funny. Ty. Looks kinda crazy. What parts of Vietnam is this, im guessing south?
Filmed mostly around Hanoi, but we grabbed clips from all over.
Ahhh southeast asia 👍🏻
NYC is almost there maybe another year walking will be obsolete ...
One time thing...........yes. Every day.. NEINE! I would require a small wheeled APC to drive there.
117 mpg scooters....no wonder alot of peeps in Arkansas ride them in town
Kudos, Great informative video, So to sum it up, just drive like your from the United states!!!!
spot on…. and i thought the thais were bad 😂😂 driving in vietnam is like playing turbochicken every time you turn the bike on
EXACTLY how it is in philippines, just gotta go ham
well, i think this is much worst....
This is real freedom
in what situation we can use the horn sound?
As a Vietnamese, you get used to it. Plus the most your going in a packed area is like 30 km/h. Im going to say this now there are no rules when it comes to traffic.
I like this video with the sound off. I really don’t need someone telling me what I’m actually seeing..
The tasty fresh shrimp at the end though. 👌
Tried this at Guangzhou with one of the electric Mopad. I've never had so much fun in my life lol. I could finally drive like an idiot for once in my life.
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves." -Bruce Lee
Looks like so much fun lol
i want to get a supermoto over there, this looks insane
You missed 1 common feature also peculiar to VN: riding a moped & texting a msge multi-tasking
2:14 had me dying haha.
Boom easy left 💀
I am getting India vibes here 😂
Same thing here in Guatemala City
*Looks like true freedom*
Looks like my country India 👌
Undeveloped shithole as well!
We have plenty of Vietnamese workers in Hungary!
So, we have plenty of Vietnam!
Looks like a fun driving game lol 😂
Honestly I was less stressed out for the 3 and a half minutes of traffic than i was for that 3 seconds of extremely narrow alley, haha
😂🥰
what a normal day in Vietnam
Great video
i have a question i should be arriving on march 12 for 5 days could i buy a motor bike and drive it from hanoi to luang prabang laos
Hey Adam- I know it says 18 hours on Google Maps, but things take ALOT longer in practicality when you're there. You will get flat tires, have bad weather, etc. Additionally, its difficult to OWN a bike as a foreigner in Vietnam. You'll very likely (but not 100%) have difficulty taking a bike into Laos. If I were you, I'd spend the five days exploring around Hanoi on bike. You could do short trips to Ninh Binh and Ha Long. That's what I would do with five days there.
WorldTraveler | HD thank you so much
No worries! Have a great f-ing time on your motorbike trip mate! Best thing we did the entire year.
idk y but Vietnam feels very nostalgic for me
Amazing video! Although I live for signalling : (
1970~1980's Taipei Taiwan.
Balloon delivery!!
Im Watching this video in Vietnam.
I'm surprised how many people are wearing helmets. Seems to have really caught on vs what I saw ~10 years ago.
+Ryan Bray since about 2008 helmet's been mandatory
before that 'twas only for the highways
before that, nada
after many accident by motorcycle they make a rules everyone must wear healmet when drive in traffic
Probably for the best. After returning home, it's crazy to see so many people in the States driving without helmets on.
I live/ride in CA. Whenever I go to AZ and see people riding without a lid it makes me pucker.
Totally hear you!.....95% of the time I'm at least in a full face helmet and riding jacket, even with Midwest heat. That overseas stuff though? Always a helmet- I don't want to take any chances at a foreign hospital.
Next step: Take the same routes on a Harley.
sounds like fun
😂😂🤣 just goose it. Love it. Wow it's so crazy. 🇻🇳👍🏻🇻🇳