Holy traffic, Hanoi!

When I visited the travel doctor before I left, he told me that Vietnam is one of his favorite countries, but the traffic can insane because of all the motorbikes.

In fact, this t-shirt is sold all around the country:

Image from https://wolkowski.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/img_1536.jpg

The doctor advised me that the best way to deal with the traffic is to just step out and go. Continue across in a straight line at a consistent pace; do not stop or change speed. The motorbikes will not stop, but they will be able to judge where you will be when they get close and avoid hitting you.

Holy crap.

Even with his warnings and having read up on traffic in Vietnam, nothing properly prepares one for the assault on the senses which comes from the crazy motorbike chaos of Vietnam. Particularly entering a large city such as Hanoi after a week in the slow calmness of Lao. It was only the driver sitting on the right side of the car which clued us in to which side of the street cars drive on here.

Shell-shocked, we managed to find our way to a restaurant for dinner.

The old town of Hanoi is a maze of streets which doesn't stop going until the midnight curfew. Restaurants and bars set up stools and tables where ever they can fit them.

And that still doesn't stop the motorbikes from whizzing by.

After dinner a few of us wandered around the area, soaking in the sights. I wanted to buy this, but settled for a photo.

Then we ended up outside at a bar where we were constantly harassed by insistent street vendors peddling pastries, balloons, lighters, fruit and what seemed to be prescription drugs. I acquired a minion buddy.

And we drank.

The next morning we awoke to the sounds of honking motorbikes.