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Published: November 1st 2017
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Congestion and goods on bike Hi readers
After returning from Vietnam 6 days ago, I’ve been going over some photos putting together the best selection of photos in various groups that show what both countries are really like.
The first collection that makes the most impact compared to anywhere in Australia is the traffic or should I say the use of the roads. Not our usual orderly manner and after Thailand I thought I’d seen it all. This mayhem is orderly in its own dramatic way but not for the faint of heart to attempt to ride a bike/scooter here nor to try crossing the roads. There are white zebra crossings but that’s it. There are no lights that go with them and the traffic don’t actually stop to let you cross there any different to other places but I think they are supposed to be more aware to look out for pedestrians in these areas and we did cross at these areas thinking it was maybe a more lifesaving choice. Don’t know if it was or not as the heart rate was just as fast anywhere ha ha.
Another notable difference is the sometimes choice of clothing for bike riders. Men seem
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Bike loaded up front and back to go with anything and only helmets more prevalent down in the city Saigon than anywhere else. Also how many fitted on a bike the same size was different around the travels. And of course when you see the most bizarre thing, the camera isn’t loaded ready as you or they fly past. Or we were in one of our mini vans heading off somewhere and pass something unusual and no one is ready to photo it. Some of the shots are moving but you get the idea of what we saw.
Females from young teenagers to maybe their 30+ all these days don’t want a sun tan. There want their skin lighter and will go to great lengths to prevent their skin being exposed to the elements. At first I thought it was sunburn that was the worry or the face masks were for pollution or they didn’t want to get germs. But we were told no it’s for the sun protection as in not to tan. Although I totally understand those out on the highways or very busy areas wearing a mask ? with the exhaust pollution there. But they even have outfits made to wear over
Bike rider
Full gown cover up their work clothes that cover them from the tips of their fingers, arms, neck, head, and some are long even down over their legs. They have what look like hoody jumpers that they will put hood on and if they have a helmut that goes over top. Now these outfits are worn in all weather and I’m talking 35 deg some days. Some of the specially designed outfits have long sleeves that cover your hand and fingers. Don’t know how they hold them on. But along with a face mask of some style as some were wearing surgical masks and others wear a cloth one you buy, then their head is covered too so they look a real sight at times com8ng up the highway
Large loads of stock for a business is tied on and around the bike evenly to balance, long pieces of timber ( no red flag or any thing tied on the end to warn all the other riders not to get too close), freshly cut meat from a farmer heading up the highway total uncovered to the elements. And then there was the children. Apparently the law in Vietnam is no more than 3
per moterbike. Well I guess in the country and away from the city police there is room to improve on this as 2 adults and 2-3 children can be loaded on. Many a parent has a young baby to toddler sitting in front of them looking all around. I can understand how they adapt to being a driver when they are sitting up on the bike from birth. Many a school as children were just com8ng out there were a mass of bikes waiting to collect kids. Some of the teenage girls you see sitting side saddle playing on their phone and not even hanging on as their rider weaves between traffic. That’s why they are all so skinny due to the constant use of their stomach muscles balancing all the time when they are on the road. Often after school was out we saw teenagers or younger children under 12 being the driver with younger siblings loaded on heading home. It’s just the norm and their way of life.
Enjoy a mixture of photos from our 3 week journey on these roads. Some are named and you get an idea of where they are from and some aren’t.
Bike rider
Riding through country rice fields Also you see some of the architecture around the city streets from the old Hanoi narrow streets to the wide city streets of Saigon. Hundreds more photos still to sort.
Enjoy from Jo
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