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Location Date Europe 1335308400 North America 1335049200 Oceania 1329264000 Asia 
1324425600 -
Arriving in Hanoi city center by car is the most bizarre and scary experience. I was luckily quite safe in my new Volvo people carrier taxi, but everybody else in Hanoi, and I mean EVERYBODY drives mopeds and scooters. I think the general idea is that they drive on the right, but if there is something in front of you, you just go round it, onto oncoming traffic on the other side of the road. You don't indicate - ever. And scooters and bikes don't have mirrors.
The way to make yourself heard is to beep your horn constantly the whole time you're driving, making sure everyone knows you're there. If you pull out of a junction you never look, you assume someone will swerve round you. At rush hour there are literally hundreds of thousands of mopeds on the roads, they drive on any side of the road and don't stop for anything. Being a pedestrian is another experience altogether. The trick is to just step out in the road, walk really slowly, and they will swerve round you, make a sudden move or run and you get hit - several times!
Asides from the traffic horror, Hanoi is extremely crowded with people living in tall houses but doing most of their cooking on the 'pavement' in front of their house (there is no real pavement to speak of, no one walks in Hanoi). The noise from the horns and traffic is constant, and it's humid and smoggy all the time. It's very hard to get a grasp of where things are in relation to each other, and a cab or motorbike taxi is the only way to get round really.
But despite all that, it really grew on me, there isn't a massive amount to see in terms of sightseeing, but I was actually a bit sad to leave (probably because I was leaving on the night train and I knew I'd be on it for the next 13 hours!)
More Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Hue details to follow, but now it's time for bed...
- comments
Dave Wood So I think a hasty moped lesson is in order, but don't bother with the license LOL... DW :-) P.S. I am worried that I have to add up a supposedly simple maths sum every time I add an entry 1+1 & 3+5 was really taxing my MathEmatics GCSE...
Dad How was the train journey? Hope all going well and you're now enjoying yourself, got to be better than working!! Hope you're taking plenty of pics. Take care. thinking of you. speak soon. Love youDad & Donna
Graham I watched a clip on youtube regarding the traffic situation, apparently "traffic lights" are a somewhat new introduction to the city and haven't yet taken off, but cooking on the pavement sounds like fun, I mean dinner is only one road kill away by the sounds of it.
Steve Page I am so jealous I love scooters.
Andy Pop So you're somewheres east of Suez, but is the best like the worst? Are there no ten commandments, and can a woman raise a thirst?
Pete Dayson Hi Box and must be such an adventure. If you do get to any Museums and they have any leaflets on anything pick them up for me. We all miss you here not the same without you. Take lots of care and can't wait for next instalment. Be safe. lol Peter xx
Esther M It sounds exciting! I'm looking forward to hearing the next installment. What has the food been like? Most memorable dish so far? Have you met any interesting characters? Take care of yourself and I look forward to seeing some pics.
Sarah W Hi Rox, Sounds like you are having a great time ( im well gel! lol) Missing you loads, looking forward to your pics. Take care Sarah xxx
Julie Clark Hi Roxanne sounds like your having great fun. I know deep down you still wish you were at Havering doing the disciplinarys ;-) Enjoy the rest of your travels and keep us posted xxx
Lynne Trubridge Hiya Rox. You sound just like our Zoe and Martyn. They had the same traffic experience in Vietnam as you. They said that people carried their entire families on one moped including luggage and livestock!!! You seem to be having a fantastic experience and I am really envious. Maybe Will and I will do it on our 'gap year' when we retire. Miss your lovely cheery self. Take lots of care in those strange places. Rox rocks!!! xxxxxxx
Mum Hi roxanne, Glad your ok and keeping us informed of your journey. Can you let us know a bit more of your itinerary over the next week or so. It was good to speak to you on Monday. Hve fun . Mum and Fred xxx