vietnam trip 2012 - part 5 - traffic on the highway

the traffic situation in Vietnam is really curious. while i recall the massive collective of moto-bikes/mopeds/scooters in Vietnam, i didn't notice the speed or how buses and vans drove on the highways and through cities.

i was thinking when Asians have a rep for driving badly, i think it's the case when they've learnt to drive in their own country before doing so in North America. while everything seems to be alright with the way they drove in their country, it's all wrong when they're in North America.

the road rules, the way people on the road move are completely bonkers through the eyes of someone from North America. i previously wrote about the honking part, but i hadn't really written about the speed drivers go and passing.

first, while a 440 km-trip from Saigon to Nha Trang with Canadian road regulations about 4.5 hours, it takes drivers in Vietnam 7 hours! drivers drive slow, drivers are sharing the road with other buses and trucks, and drivers are sharing the road with bikes and moto-bikes. you've got to be patient.

secondly, vehicles are constantly passing one another and, here comes the scary part, they pass each one the wrong side of the road, -just skimming cars going in the wrong direction.

unfortunately, for a person who is trying to sleep on a bus, the endless honking is something you gotta get used to.