City Life - Hanoi

Driving to Tam Dao took about 2 1/2 hours. We left the city of Hanoi and drove north. Tam Dao is only about 50 miles from Hanoi but because of the poor road conditions (not just potholes but motorbikes and bicycles on the highway) everyone drives less than 30 miles per hour; there really is no other choice. This is a typical city street, full of motorbikes and other assorted moving things. Although it is not visible in this photo, there are also many cars, SUVs and delivery trucks sharing this same space. Very hectic. But the most striking thing about this situation is the level of tolerance to this sort of thing – they simply don’t mind. They know there are a lot of people and everyone has to get somewhere. No one drives fast, and many many people cross the street right in the middle of it all – no traffic lights or crossing lanes. People just go around. Horns blow constantly– but only to tell other traffic that you are coming from behind or crossing an intersection. No one calls one another names, makes faces or uses obscene hand signals. They are very patient. This is just the way of life.