Driving in Vietnam

After learning to drive a scooter in Panglao, I can't imagine not having one! It literally opened up a whole world of independence for me, and I hadn't realized how much I missed driving. So of course, when we got to Phu Quoc, we rented scooters! Panglao was easy, chill driving. Vietnam? Not so much!

Looking back, I probably should've expected this. It's not like south east Asia doesn't have a huge reputation for terrible traffic. And yet, I figured it was going to be just like the Philippines. It is not at all.

For the first couple of days, I experienced road rage like no other. People cut in front of you and only inches save you from disaster. Cars have the right of way (or so it seems), and honk every single time they pass you. It's obnoxious. But then after a couple of days, I started adjusting to the flow of traffic. Now I can honestly say, I absolutely love driving in Vietnam.

It's super intuitive driving - you just go. Just keep going. Never stop. Sure, there are a handful of traffic lights, but even those usually have special lights that let motorcycles go through without stopping. Usually, though, you just have round abouts. I've never been so terrified as I am when I see my life flash before my eyes in a Vietnamese round about. Nobody stops, nobody yields, and you just have to jump in!

There's a street in Phu Quoc that is so big that I'm sure it used to be an airplane landing strip! This street is insane because there's really no clear markings, and it seems like each side has three or four lanes - but who is to say?!? People come at you in all directions, and it really is crazy.

The one big pro of driving in Phu Quoc is that the traffic is really very light. Of course you're never stuck in traffic jams, but there aren't very many people on the roads, either. And those who are driving, drive very slow for the most part. I don't know what the speed limit is here, but even on highways we don't go faster than 45 mph.

All in all, if you've heard the horror stories about driving in south east Asia, don't let it scare you. At least on small islands (Panglao and Phu Quoc), it's definitely doable! I'll get back to you when I try it on the mainland...