Motorbiking through Hanoi
Motorbiking through Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam, has a population of eight million people. It has a vehicle population of 6.4 million, 5.6 million of which are motorbikes. City officials have said that there will be a ban on all forms of two-wheeled transportation from its city center by 2025 as a result of traffic congestion and pollution. However, the city lacks an appropriate transit system to take their place.
My wife and two of our kids spent four hours yesterday on the backs of motorbikes. “Tony,” our tour guide, and three other drivers, took us all over the city — from the Old Quarter, where each street offers a specific type of merchandise, from kitchenware to medicines to bamboo to the Ba Dinh district, the political epicenter of the city. This district is the resting place of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh.
Initially, we were all a bit tentative to get on our motorbikes — clenching our hands on the shoulders of our guides. Within a few minutes, we were totally comfortable in the organized chaos of Hanoi traffic, going so far as recording our drive and texting on our phones.
Hanoi oozes with vibrancy. It is truly like no other city I’ve visited. The Vietnamese are certainly an ingenious people, as evidenced by all of the amazing things they transport on their motorbikes. Cases in point, which we witnessed on our travels:
If you think these are mind-boggling, check these out that “Tony” shared that he’s come across:
Steve, what a treat to see these photographs your family has captured while riding on these motorcycles in this fabulous and fluid society! I've spent quite a bit of time in some busy cities in Thailand, on the back of motor-cycle taxis, and it reminded me of a reef system teeming with colorful fish and symbiosis of so much going on all around, almost effortlessly -so very exciting to be a part of that experience. The moving motorcycle 'sculptures' are functional art and say so much about the industriousness of these hard-working and creative people. Life! Thank You for sharing these images and opening up my mind to the great world out there -just beautiful! Have a Wonderful time during the rest of your travels that are bringing insight, inspiration, education, and joy to your readers.
Fascinating. The trees! Hahaha.