Frogger

Thought I would take a moment to describe how to cross the road in these parts. In Hanoi, and to a lesser degree in Ho Chi Minh, there are actually some proper crossings with green men for pedestrians to go. On the whole the traffic stops so these make life easy (actually the police have a reputation for being strict here so people tend to obey the traffic laws). However anywhere else it's a different story, whether there is a crossing marked on the road or not. Here you have to compete for the road with countless motorbikes, cyclists, cyclos, people pushing carts and a few cars, buses and trucks. You soon learn that the way to cross a seemingly endless stream of traffic is to pick a time when the road is marginally less packed and set off. Walk at a slow even pace and the motorbikes will get around you. First time you try it it fries the nerves but after a while you resign yourself to your fate and just cross.

Of course with crutches you have no choice but to move slowly. I wish I had a video of one crossing Tracy made ahead of me... it appeared that she just disappeared in a solid mass of moving traffic without she or the traffic missing a beat. Maybe it is the Buddhist influence but after a while just relaxing and going with the flow seems to be the best policy.