Crossing roads in Vietnam as a pedestrian may seem suicidal, as the traffic of motor vehicles and motorbikes flow in a continuous stream that never seems to end as multiple horns are honked in a chaotic rhythm…
Crossing Roads in Vietnam As a Pedestrian
…but actually, crossing roads in Vietnam is really not all that difficult if you understand how to do so — and that a rhyme and a reason exists on how to do it.
As I studied the traffic patterns — or lack thereof — I noticed that despite the seeming lack of organization and pandemonium, I rarely saw an accident or a pedestrian get struck by a motorbike or a motor vehicle. In fact, many of the vehicles were late models that barely had any scratches on them — let alone noticeable dents.
I found that if I crossed the street at a point where oncoming vehicles are not all that close, they simply veered to the left or right of me…
…but once I started to cross, I dared not stop — for stopping interrupts the rhythm and creates a wrinkle in the flow that could potentially cause an accident; and I would receive a cacophony of the beeping horns of angry motorists as a result.
Rather — once I started to cross the street, I became engaged with the rhythm and the flow of the traffic — and I was not nervous at all. I watched how drivers manipulate the streets within millimeters of other vehicles without ever touching them…
…not to mention that I was a passenger on a motorbike twice while I was in Vietnam, which gave me the perspective from the point of view of the driver of the motorbike.
That would be difficult to replicate in the United States.
Final Boarding Call
Crossing busy roads in Vietnam requires walking at a steady and predictable pace. For best results, do so at a traffic signal or designated crosswalk. Trust that as long as you maintain eye contact with the oncoming riders, the constant flow of motorbikes will be safely navigated around you. Ensure that you do not disrupt that flow by stopping, running, or turning back once you start, as doing so confuses drivers. Simply keep your movements as smooth as possible, and you will cross the street just fine…
…and safety in numbers works in Vietnam: if other people are crossing the street at the same time as you, you might feel some more confidence at first before trying it out on your own…
Photograph ©2026 by Brian Cohen.
