Laughing Squid - Latest Comments in Time-Lapse of Hanoi Traffic at Night

Re: Time-Lapse of Hanoi Traffic at Night

Sorabh — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:54:43 -0000

My last visit to Hanoi some 4 years ago.Hanoi is a good place for visitors.And it has so much bikes or two wheelers one cannot imagine.Is sometimes dangerous but most of the time its enjoyful to drive there,

Re: Time-Lapse of Hanoi Traffic at Night

Nguyen — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:02:59 -0000

They're like fishes in school. Over time they will developed a good sense of awareness, perhaps a sixth sense or the like of it. I have to admit, when I was riding in the backseat for the first time, I was scared shitless but eventually mustered the courage to finally ride one of those scooters.

Re: Time-Lapse of Hanoi Traffic at Night

Joe — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:18:53 -0000

I've spent a large amount of time in Vietnam and most of that was on the back of a motorbike/scooter. The first 24 hours was a complete shock. I did think we were going to get hit. This was entirely based on my expectations of traffic behavior in the USA.

On my third day, I was "one" with the Vietnamese traffic. The best way to describe it is "liquid motion". You have to drive like you are a leaf floating down a river.

They are not fearless. Just very aware of all things around them.

One thing this video is not giving you is the noise level. The Vietnamese love to honk their horns. It helps with the awareness factor. But oh man, it was an adjustment getting used to that.

Re: Time-Lapse of Hanoi Traffic at Night

Leon Wessling — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:57:56 -0000

Yep,
That's pretty much the way it looked last night..... It is kind of harmonious compared to the indemic road rage that would be prevalent in most Western cities given similar circumstances..... and removing the blaring horns in favour of funky music really does give it a surreal beauty that being in the middle of it doesn't convey..

Re: Time-Lapse of Hanoi Traffic at Night

Regravity — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:56:26 -0000

Isn't it amazing that even with an intersection without traffic lights that it doesn't become a 500 car/person/bike pile-up.

Re: Time-Lapse of Hanoi Traffic at Night

Jerome Gotangco — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:18:03 -0000

Hanoi has twice (or thrice, I can't recall) the number of motor bikes than its actual population. Having rode one when I was there, its a crazy place to drive such, but you must muster your sense of adventure to enjoy the stay. Hanoi is very unique.

Re: Time-Lapse of Hanoi Traffic at Night

Kimberly — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:30:44 -0000

They have a lot more bikes than you'll see at American intersections. That said, they still must be fearless, because I'd be terrified of getting hit by someone who claimed right of way. Maybe they're just far more polite than Americans?