On the road

The ten Commandments of driving in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos (and probably many other places, but I’m only pontificating about the ones I’ve spent a minute in):

1.     Do as you please (phone, text, phone and text, slow down, stop to have a pee or a smoke, change a tire…)

2.     Wherever you please (middle of the road is great)

3.     Never look before a move (changing lanes, entering a highway, leaving a parking spot)

4.     Honk a lot

5.     Disobey all traffic rules (red lights are for whimps)

6.     Never wear a seatbelt

7.     If you do wear a seatbelt, make sure your passengers don’t

8.     When in doubt, check your instincts, then do the opposite

9.     Special for motorcycles: carry a big load (i.e. your full family and friends or [and] a family-sized refrigerator)

10. Special for pedestrians: good luck

I have a somewhat illustrative movie, from the back of a motorcycle, in Hoi An, but I haven't been able to make it work. Sorry.