The son of the family wanted me to meet some of his friends and show me some of Hanoi's most famous places. As a college student, he owned his own motorbike. I nervously agreed to his plan. When it was time to go, I jumped on the back of his bike, made sure my helmet was nice and tight, and I held on to the seat. As we drove through the city of Hanoi, I fell in love with motorbikes. With the bike, you could easily move through traffic and observe the city without anything blocking your view.
The popularity of motorbikes in Vietnam can tell us a lot about Vietnam's culture and environment.
In Vietnam, it is not uncommon to see people selling food, drinks and clothing on the side of the road. Many people on motorbikes can easily stop on the road and quickly buy some sticky rice and ice tea. Often people do this during lunch breaks or after school and work. Think of it as fast food.
Also, motorbikes are useful to have when navigating the roads in Vietnam. In Hanoi, the traffic is almost always bad. Cars have difficulty crossing the street or completing a turn because of their size and the number of other vehicles around it. Motorbikes, however, can be easily adjusted when the driver thinks of a faster or more convenient route. Next, the roads in Vietnam vary greatly. This means it is important to have a vehicle that can handle any terrain. Some parts of the country have paved roads with even motorbike-only lanes. There are some parts of Hanoi that can only be accessed by a motorbike. In more rural areas, like Lang Son, there are dirt roads with deep puddles, rocks, and mud.
