The last time I heard a car horn in Germany was 6 years ago

Many readers have shared their perspectives on Vietnam's honking habit, comparing it to their experiences abroad.

Reader Nguoixala reflected on their time in Europe: "After reading about how Vietnamese drivers rely so heavily on honking, I thought about honking culture overseas. When I lived near a busy street in downtown Germany, I hadn't heard a car horn in years. Despite the heavy traffic, it was usually silent, with only the occasional sound of an ambulance or fire truck siren.

The last time I heard a car horn in Germany was five or six years ago, when a driver honked to shoo a cat sitting in the middle of the road. With a long line of cars waiting, the driver had no choice but to honk. Once the cat moved, traffic resumed quietly.

Returning to Ho Chi Minh City, I was shocked by the constant honking—at red lights, in tight spaces, or even when traffic was flowing freely."

A woman rides a bicycle in Frankfurt, Germany. Illustration photo by Pexels

Reader Khanhhoatrinh expressed similar frustration: "After 40 years of driving in the U.S., I can count the number of times I’ve heard honking. Those honks were usually gentle reminders to distracted drivers at green lights or warnings about unsafe lane changes. In Vietnam, I hear hundreds of honks daily. Most are out of impatience or irritation with other drivers."

Other readers pointed out why honking seems unavoidable on Vietnam's roads.

Minh Do shared: "In other countries, drivers obey traffic laws. In Vietnam, try not honking, and you'll likely face motorbikes darting out of alleys, cutting across lanes, or slow-moving bikes clogging car lanes. Many drivers text or talk while driving, completely distracted. What annoys me most is incessant honking in traffic jams or the use of loud modified horns that deafen everyone nearby."

Jose Jien added: ""In Vietnam, not honking feels impossible. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen cars suddenly brake, swerve across lanes to buy food, or stop in the middle of the road to answer calls. Even if I don’t want to honk, I have to. The worst situations are when drivers weave recklessly at high speeds or crawl at 20 km/h on a 60 km/h road. In those moments, honking feels like the only option."