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I might be able to locate it using AI, but within the last year I think we had a major thread where we discussed this subject, because the government recently passed some radically restrictive new laws regarding traffic here in Vietnam. in essence we discussed the law versus the reality of riding on roads here. The law and driver behavior are rarely in sync.

With the help of GROK AI I was able to locate the thread I mentioned:

/en/forum/asia/vietnam/1091201-severe-traffic-police-crackdown.html

Q- Are traffic rules strictly respected or enforced in Vietnam?

A- Its getting better but traditionally I still feel like it has a long ways to go. For example my pregnant wife while walking across a one way street got side swiped by a grab driver going the wrong way and on top of that got yelled at by the same driver doing something illegal.

Q- Are there any unspoken rules, unexpected habits or regulations that you had to adapt to?

A- There are the written laws and the rule of the road. Generally speaking the bigger vehicle has the right of way. This means a truck will just push a car out of the way and a car will push a motorcycle and a motorcycle will push out scooters and scooters will zip around pedestrians. Pedestrians are always at the bottom. When on the road whoever is in front has the right of way. Its not uncommon for a motorbike to zip past you and only be 2 inches in front of you and then harshly turn completley cutting you off requiring you to slam on breaks. If your going down a straight road the person ahead turning right into your lane has the right of way. Stay as far away from busses as you can.

Q- Are the roads safe and well-maintained?

A- Actually the roads arent bad. Compared to the rest of southeast asia I would say the infrastructure and roads are quite good even in the country.

Q- Are there specific times of day, weather conditions, or seasons that make driving more dangerous?

A- Rain obviously makes it more dangerous.

Q- If you have children, do you feel comfortable letting them travel alone on local roads, whether on foot, by bike, or motorbike?

A- No kids yet but I wont feel safe on a motorbike. Ill be getting a grab or xanh.

Q- What are your tips or advice to stay safe on the roads in Vietnam?

A- Highly advise getting advice from a local. Ask them to ride with you and teach you the rules of the road.

@Cheryl

Just some things to adhere to when riding a motorbike. Always wear a helmet. Even when going through a green traffic light always look left and right as riders don't always abide by rules. Always beep if going round a corner unseen as Vietnamese tend to cut corners. Also in traffic, beep if necessary to let people including pedestrians know where you are. When riding along a main road ride at least one metre away from the edge, as people pull out unexpectedly. The golden rule is don't speed as their are too many variables.

When crossing a busy road of never ending bikes I always keep walking, no stopping or hesitation, the bikes will mostly go around you. Just dont stop

There isn't enough traffic police to enforce traffic rules. They will pop up once in a while like DUI check points in the states. There are less people running the red lights these days but there's always one or 2 that would risk getting caught and run it anyways due to lack of police presence although I have not seen a car run a red light since the new year due to the stiff fine if caught. Still lots of people ride without helmets and on wrong side of the street.

This may sound crazy, but I believe that if you know how to play basketball, you'll find it easier to instinctively go with the flow in Vietnam traffic. Vietnamese drivers tend to establish themselves in their "lane", and they expect the same out of you. I'm not talking about a lane defined by white lines on pavement. I'm saying that they usually have a clear vision of their lane and they expect us to understand it and respect it.

Pay attention to 0 alcohol tolerance. That means, even a single can of beer or even a Listerine gargle may trigger a positive breathalyzer test (okay, this one maybe exaggerating, but who knows? before posting I googled it and found results)