How To Cross the Street In Ho Chi Minh City

“I should’ve never left the hotel room.” This was my thought as I stared past the thick stream of honking motorbikes, buses, bicyclists and taxis that created a river between my hotel and me. The passing automobiles ran so closely together that if I squinted my eyes, all the vehicles merged into one very long, noisy, and seemingly unending train.

I’ve never advanced past the first couple rounds of “Frogger,” but I imagine the video game’s final round might look something like the streets of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City. The former capital, still called Saigon by many, ranks as the world’s 20th largest city based on population density, according to City Mayors in 2007. With an estimated 9 million residents in the metropolitan area, Ho Chi Minh City’s streets are teeming with people as soon as dawn breaks.
 

Caught in traffic in Ho Chi Minh City

But what’s scary about crossing a street in Ho Chi Minh doesn’t really have to do with the population. If the city’s officials enforced driving rules (y’know, basic stuff like traffic lights or stop signs), then the city roads wouldn’t be like a war zone. For instance, it isn’t uncommon to see a bus and a motorbike face off down a one-way street until one vehicle swerves out of the other’s way at the last minute.

So as entertaining as it is to observe, jumping into the mix as a first-timer can be a paralyzing experience. Much like walking on a bed of hot coals, your instincts will tell you that danger is afoot. Multiple sirens will go off in your head as you try to step off the curb, and for several brief moments you may find God again. But before you do anything, the key is to (as Frankie says) – RELAX.

After your mind is calmed, here is what to do:

1. Your instincts will wait for a clearing in traffic, but depending on where you are and what time of day it is – you could end up standing on your street corner until night falls. So look both ways, make sure that there aren’t any oncoming buses, and take a step onto the road.
2. Once you are off the curb, walk slowly and steadily. It will test your faith in the cosmos, but you must believe that traffic will part for you. As drivers see you, they will gauge your pace and try to avoid you. This is why it’s crucial to not stop in the middle of the road or make any erratic movements.

If you are too freaked to make the walk alone, you can also wait to follow a local who is going the same way. Another option is to get assistance from a cop, usually dressed in a green uniform, who should be more than happy to help you cross the street – trust me, you are not the first distressed foreigner to ask for help and you won’t be the last, either.

And for you visual learners, here’s a video:

[photo by stefan77dd via Flickr]

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Tags: bicyclists, crosswalks, Frogger, Ho Chi Minh City, motorbikes, Saigon, Vietnam