Ho Chi Minh City Transportation Tips by dinhyen

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Motorcycle
Getting TO/AROUND: Frankly, Saigon traffic scares me. However, after a while, you'll get used to it. Eventually I got up the nerves to ride a motorbike around, and it was actually kinda fun.

Crossing the streets here requires a leap of faith. You just have to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and lunge forward (I'm exaggagerating a little, but not much). You're like an island, and traffic sort of flows around you.

You probably can just walk if you're staying in the city center, where most landmarks are within walking distance. You can always hail a cab. We typically spent around VND50000 (around USD3.5) to go from the suburbs to the city center.

An alternate mode of transportation is riding on the back of someone's motorbike. Many of them stand at street corners offering rides. A ride is typically 3 times cheaper than what taxis cost, and you get to feel like a local. However, they don't wear helmets (though new laws may change this), so make sure you're comfortable with the idea. With motorbikes, you should discuss the price before hopping on.

Most of the drivers only need to be told where to go and they'll take you there. Unless you mispronounce badly.

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