With no apparent traffic lights or stop signs; pedestrians, vehicles of all types, public transportation and even horse and buggies crossing any which way, willy nilly, certainly reminds of Saigon in the 60's.
Anyone who had the "pleasure" (good and bad) of knowing that Pearl of the Orient back then would appreciate of what I relate.
EXTREMELY overcrowded, narrow streets for the most part, NO traffic lights or stop signs, with every imaginable mode of transport fighting for the right of way, it made driving in Chicago, Tijuana, NYC, or even LA, seem like a walk in the park.
I spent 18 months there (66-67) and drove every day; mostly a jeep, but at times a big ford station wagon, a small Honda Motorcycle and my own private transport, a moped.
That I managed to avoid any major accidents (one minor one with a horse drawn cart) is either due to my driving skills which weren't bad (although I doubt they alone were sufficient, especially after visiting a few local watering holes) or due more to having "several" guardian angels watching over me. lol
The "right of way" was secured in order of the size of vehicles, beginning of course, with Deuce & Half's and Semi's and working down to the bicyclists.
If there were two equal size vehicles, it was the one who looked (or blinked) which "lost."
If you didn't have "one" you soon grew a pretty fair size "pair" or you soon found yourself continually crowded out or sitting and waiting for someone to let you thru, which NEVER happened.
Traffic Jams? No one who did not experience the joy of driving there can even begin to imagine what they were like in their frequency and duration.
Ive seen times (and no exaggeration) where I'd park my jeep, lock it (with chain and padlock to steering wheel) and walk to closest outdoor cafe and sit for an hour or 2 until the madness somehow sorted itself out.
I witnessed at least 2 or 3 accidents every day; most with injuries and many fatalities; more than I saw in my occasional forays out in the field.
I could go on and on, but will close with my favorite Vietnamese practice which they adopted from (who else) the Frogs (French)
At night, most drove with either only parking lights on or none at all. When they met another vehicle, they would turn their lights on which often times, were on High Beam and usually just before the vehicles met each other.
Just think about driving in the dark and all of a sudden out of nowhere, someone turns on the lights. Sort of "disconcerting" to say the least. lol. But you got used to it and learned to drive as crazily and maniacal as did the natives.
It was an experience not soon to be forgotten and there should have been some citation awarded for anyone who drove in Saigon for a year or more and was not injured or ran over anyone.
That was very interesting post! My guess is that in addition to your driving skills and sizable pair you probably have at least a couple of skilled and sizable guardian angels! LOL
You might laugh, but I'll bet your being here has more to do with guardian angels than your great driving skills at that young age...
Your description of Saigon traffic sure brought back memories.
MACV(before its move to Tan Son Nhut) had a small compound in downtown Saigon and daily travel on my Honda motorcycle encountered all that you described.
The most memorable experience was broadsiding a vietnamese fella’s motorcycle during one of the monsoons. Have always wondered what he was screaming at me as he righted his cycle.
From what I’ve seen since, things haven’t changed much traffic wise.
Drivers in rural Mexico have the same habit, they drive with their headlights off. The theory is that without headlights you can more easily see the lights of an approcahing car, especially before it crests the top of an on comming hill. It doesn't make a lot of sense, does it? But, of course, remember that you have to be insane to drive in the Mexican courtyside at night anyway.