Here are some of the things observed:
Sidewalks are okay to drive on to go around a corner (especially when pedestrians such as us are standing on the corner on that sidewalk!)
Dont observe traffic lanes, ride on the line between cars or move into the lane occupied next to you
Buses can ride your ass and can pass you by within inches
You can ride the shoulder, between traffic and the other side of the road or make a u- turn in heavy busy traffic and no one seems to care that you do this
You can ride into oncoming traffic lane and no one cares
You can pull over onto the sidewalk in front of pedestrians. So many bikes park on sidewalks so that pedestrians have to walk on the street in the traffic
Do not have bike side mirrors or use them only to check your teeth or hair while driving
It is possible to send text messages with one hand while riding the freeway by motorcycle..and no one cares
Do not ever practice using shoulder check to see what traffic is doing because its not necessary and would only frighten you to see what’s going on around you
Dont look both ways while turning into an intersection or going through an intersection..its just not necessary and will only frighten you. You will somehow be included in the flow of traffic so its not necessary.
It is acceptable to carry windows, tables, children in your arms with no helmets or balance them on bike tank, your whole extended family. Bamboo trees (7 ft tall) can be carried, glass doors/windows, beds, etc. etc. we are finding that those pics you see of motorcycles heavily weighed down with stuff are FOR REAL and more importantly they are the NORM versus the odd exception here. so we’ve really enjoyed watching traffic go by as its so amazing how MUCH is on those bikes!

When we were in the city of hanoi we found it was horrendously noisy, congested and there were so many bikes parked on sidewalks that we ended up walking single file on the curb side of the streets. It was so slow going because of all the traffic and bikes parked everywhere and a STRESSFUL experience to be out and about. crazy. crazy place.

On the occasion of the New Year, members of the Hanoi Old Bicycle association gathered along Thanh Nien road, which runs by West Lake. At 8am, all members were there, looking at a white-haired old man who wore a soldier’s uniform.

Tuan, who is very famous for his collection of old bicycles, explained that that man is Mr. Ngoc, 75, the leader of the club. Mr. Ngoc presented the schedule of the trip.

At 8.10am, all members got on their bicycles to start the trip. Nearly 40 old bikes of different designs followed one another along the road. They rode through the streets and called a halt at Lenin Park.

Getting off his silver 1930 Aviac bicycle, Nhu To stated that he was a retired diplomat who had worked in France for ten years. His passion for old bicycles began in 2005 when he planned to buy a bicycle to save money and travel more conveniently.

“I bought this Nicholas Barra Aviac bicycle from a friend in Lyon at the price of 200 euros,” To revealed. “I liked it the first time I saw it.”

To used the bicycle for nearly two years in France and then brought it home when his term ended. “Since I knew about the origins of this bicycle, my passion for other old bicycles has been growing,” To admitted.

In his last two years in France, he only used the bike to go to work. Nearly two years after his retirement, To has collected nearly ten old bicycles, including two Peugeots from 1954 and an Aviac from 1950, both of which are unique in Vietnam.

To’s Nicholas Barra Aviac 1930 is among the oldest bicycles in the Hanoi old bicycle club and the most expensive. To estimated the market price to be nearly $2500.

The eldest member of this club is Mr. Nguyen Danh Dien, 86. His passion for old bicycles is still as strong as when he was young. Others can easily see his passion for bicycles in his outfit, which is for professional cyclists.

Dien sometimes suffers from severe joint pain, but he has been never absent from gatherings of the club.

“The more my legs are painful, the more I have to cycle to relieve the pain,” he acknowledged.

Dien was a senior cyclist in Indochina and was invited to join races in France in the 1940s. He rides an Aviac 1960.

A founder of the Hanoi old bicycle club, Hung, is the owner of the biggest collection of old bicycles in Hanoi, with nearly 40 bikes including famous French brands like Mercie, Peugeot, Marila, Follis, Joang Fonix, Sterling and Aviac.

After a stop at Lenin Park, the group passed through Hoa Lo, the Hanoi Opera House, Ly Thai To Flower Garden and Ngoc Son Temple. Tuan pulled out a bullhorn to give an order. All members grouped up to shoot photos and videos.

“In this club, I’m a young one, even though I’m 40,” Tuan smiled.

Tuan noted that on October 10, 2010, the 1000^th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi, the group will wear old clothes and ride around the Long Bien bridge and the Old Quarter to take photos at all the relics in Hanoi.

The Hanoi old bicycle club was set up in early 2007. It currently has 43 members of all ages.
(VNN)

- 07:30 Pick up at your hotel and transfer to gathering point to, warning up and correcting bikes.
- 08:00 Escape from the city, ride on the dike of Red river. The first stop-over is Chem Communal house where dedicated to the Chem Saint is considered one of the most ancient communal houses in Vietnam. A short break at Trung Chau Temple before riding through country lane with rice fields on both sides to visit Tay Phuong Pagoda which is famous for statues of 18 arhats and other 80 statues.

11:30 Have lunch and relax time at the pagoda. Continue to visit Thay pagoda which was built in the Ly Nhan Tong Dynasty (1072-1127) where was resided by the monk Tu Dao Hanh. This was the home of the art of water puppetry. The pagoda has a large relic complex of high artistic and architecture values with wonderful landscape. Ride back to Hanoi with a stop at Son Dong carving statue village. Drop off at your hotel.