Crossing Streets in Ho Chi Minh City

Why go

A walk reveals the cooking and trading that happen along the streets, beyond what you see from a vehicle. The challenge is moving between those streets safely: motorbikes may also use crowded pavements, so treat the pavement and each crossing as places to watch traffic rather than automatic clear space.

Useful to know

• Pause at the curb, look in both directions and wait for a manageable gap before crossing.
• Cross at a steady, predictable pace while watching approaching and turning vehicles; do not assume they will stop.
• If a pavement is blocked by parked motorbikes, check for moving traffic before stepping around them.