Crossing streets a fundamental lesson for foreigners in Vietnam

He then joined three locals who were crossing the street, signaling to drivers with his right hand raised, thinking having a bottle in his hand might help him signal better. Though after more than two years in Vietnam he has improved, he still struggles and finds it necessary to rely on other pedestrians to cross safely.

Before relocating to Hanoi in 2022 he had watched numerous videos of Vietnam’s traffic, which he describes as "chaotic."

"However, my first personal experience was far more startling," he says. "The dense traffic made my heart skip a beat, with seemingly no driver willing to stop."

In his first days Geepee would sit on the sidewalk, observing and admiring how locals navigated the streets effortlessly. His initial attempt to cross at a Hoan Kiem intersection was frightening, with the rapid approach of vehicles sending him scurrying back to the safety of the sidewalk.

He was even hit once by a motorcycle while crossing, which intensified his fear.

A few months later he realized that crossing the street was an essential survival skill and started to learn earnestly. He spoke with locals and long-term foreign residents to ask for tips, but his new strategy was to follow locals closely, using their presence as a safety buffer. He learned the importance of "not rushing yet not hesitating," maintaining eye contact with drivers and using hand signals.

"Sometimes I have to shout to make sure drivers notice me crossing," he says.

He stays alert and scans the traffic constantly, he says.

Nigerian Geepee in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem District, Dec. 2024. Photo courtesy of Geepee

Geepee is among the 70% of foreigners who struggle to adapt to Vietnam’s traffic, especially in major cities like Hanoi and HCMC, according to a survey by the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Another survey by Internations Expat Insider found traffic was one of the major cultural shocks for foreigners in Vietnam, with 45% reporting issues.

The hashtag "how to cross the road in Vietnam" has received significant attention on social media, prompting YouTubers and TikTokers to create instructional videos on the topic, attracting millions of views.

Peter Hall, 29, who moved to HCMC in 2019 for a job, had to turn to these videos after his first three months in Vietnam. On his first day in the city, when he traveled from Tan Son Nhat airport to Thao Dien Ward, he was astounded by the number of motorcycles and locals’ ability to cross streets so adeptly.

"In areas without marked lanes, they navigate by feel and instinct," he says. "It’s quite challenging, but you get used to it."

After more than five years now he has become confident in his ability to cross streets like a local.

"The key is to stay calm, walk at a steady pace, and keep signaling," he says, wisdom that he also passed on to his family when they visited at the end of in 2022.

Street scene in Ha Noi, Vietnam with many scooters on the road Jan. 1, 2024. Photo by Reuters

Tamara Hoffman of South Africa, who arrived in mid-2017 and lives in Hanoi’s Tay Ho District, was initially terrified by the traffic. In her country, traffic accidents were mostly due to drunk driving or speeding. In Hanoi, it felt like a different rulebook for her. She learned quickly to use hand signals and maintain a slow pace.

"If I stop, I get hit," she says. "So I just keep going and ask calmly for the way."

Hoffman finds that while traffic in Vietnam might seem perilous, it operates quite fluidly if everyone drives at a moderate speed. This realization has helped her adjust, and she shares her strategy of "calmness, eye contact and signaling" with new expats and friends visiting Vietnam for the first time.

During the Lunar New Year holidays in late January and early February, when the roads were busier than usual, Geepee noticed that people strictly adhered to traffic laws. He attributes this to the government’s increased penalties for violations, which have been in effect since Jan. 1.

"I hope crossing the street becomes easier. The sooner I become familiar with crossing the street and navigating Vietnam's traffic, the better I will adjust to life here."