Kevin and Tamar Riding in the Countryside (with helmets)

If watching a typical rush hour scene in a major Vietnamese city such as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City is like looking over a sea of motorbikes then it can now be described as a sea of helmets as well. As of just last week on December 15^th a new national law went into effect whereby it is now mandatory for all people riding a motorbike to wear a helmet!

Although there have been several campaigns in recent years promoting motorcycle safety, especially helmets, only now has this become a reality and a truly “overnight” revolution as well. Our friends, Bente and Carl, told us that December 14^th was just like any other day in Vietnam where most Vietnamese drove around without any helmet. Knowing that the law would require it the next day many of them had already purchased a new helmet and had it sitting at home waiting for them. Suddenly, as the calendar advanced and the threat of a $10 fine (enough to buy a helmet) for riding without a helmet arrived, EVERYONE could be seen wearing their helmet the very next day.

Starting with the taxi ride from the Hanoi airport to the hotel I immediately began looking to see if people were really wearing a helmet. I was shocked when I couldn’t find a single person without one. I’m now relieved that wearing my helmet while riding is now one less thing that makes me stick out like a tourist. I may be wearing only a cheap rental-bike helmet and not a cool designer one (or a particularly protective one, for that matter) but it’s better than nothing and with millions of motorbikes moving in the cities nobody drives very quickly anyway. For now, traffic lights, one way signs and the law regarding the use of headlights after 6pm seem to remain more of suggestions but I helmets are now the norm then anything is possible in Vietnam.

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