TTY Travelogue

November 2000
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Nov 15, 2000: Wednesday

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Over My Head

Maybe the head cold I am suffering with contributed to my being overwhelmed, but my head swam with the sight before me. We had just landed in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. As our driver navigated through the streets on our way to a hotel, I stared in awe at the swarm of motorcycles before us. To the constant sound of our driver’s horn honking, motorbikes zigzagged across our path in an endless stream.

The sidewalks looked like any other Asian country we’ve visited - outdoor cafes setting up for the dinner crowd, small shops displaying their wares, the familiar street stalls selling local food, and people laughing and conversing in small groups in front of buildings. These things did not overwhelm me. It was the traffic. There was so much of it!

I chuckled nervously, wondering how I was ever going to cross the street once I set out exploring the city. By observing others I thought maybe I could learn a lesson or two before I tried it myself. But unlike other cities I did not see many pedestrians braving the traffic. From the few I saw, I learned I must take it slow, inching my way across the road. Taking slow steps would give drivers enough time to account for my being in their path. Hopefully they would avoid me.

Once I got over the initial shock of the volume of traffic, I settled back to watch motorcycles speed past us. Women dressed fashionably in silk outfits sat upright and proper on their motorbikes, their noses and mouths covered with fabric to keep the black fumes out. A family of four whizzed by, all precariously perched on the one small seat. A young girl, still wearing her school uniform, nonchalantly merged her bicycle into the mass of traffic. I gasped as she came dangerously close to a speeding motorbike. She didn’t even give it a glance. I realized it’s just another typical ride home from school for her.

Sharing the road with the motorbikes are a few cars and trucks, many cyclos (3 wheeled rickshaws), buses, and bicycles. Our driver pulled up to a street known for it’s cheap hotels, making it a magnet for backpackers. We pay him the agreed $5.00 and hop out. Immediately I have to face my fears. The hotels are all on the opposite side of the busy road. I looked to Tim for support. Apparently he didn’t share my same fear for he was already in the middle of the road, weaving in and out of traffic. I took a deep breath, looked for a small space to step into and slowly crossed the street. I felt like I was in the middle of a video game – attempting to avoid all the monsters trying to devour me! I made it to the other side, Tim standing there grinning at me. We both knew we accomplished a small victory – crossing the street in Ho Chi Minh City.