I am 79 years old and currently living in Switzerland. In the past, I spent six years studying and living in Japan. After reading about Vietnam's new traffic penalties and the public's reaction to stricter fines, I want to share my thoughts.
No country within Asia rivals Vietnam in terms of the talent and ambition of its people. Yet Vietnam could play a much greater role in the local and global marketplace if it could solve one major problem - an inability to pronounce English correctly.
The introduction of Decree 168, which raises fines for traffic violations, has compelled me—and many others in Ho Chi Minh City—to rethink our driving habits.
Since the implementation of Decree 168 on Jan. 1, 2025, which significantly increases fines for traffic violations, I've noticed a remarkable improvement in traffic behavior across Ho Chi Minh City.
On the way to the Nguyen Van Binh Book Street's coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City I grabbed an old novel off the table that was given to me a few years ago.
The signage phrase "For Ben Thanh" may feel less familiar than "To Ben Thanh," but it is grammatically correct and adds a touch of charm to the HCMC's Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien metro stations.
As a daily car driver, I try to stay responsible and adhere to traffic rules. Yet, being a rule-abiding driver often makes me feel out of place amid the chaos on Vietnam's roads.
As a parent, I've invested in both school and private English lessons for my children. But their English skills remain below my expectations, and their performance in other subjects, like math, is average due to limited study time.
On a recent Friday, my colleague and I both had plans at 6 p.m. I rushed to pick up my child from daycare, while my colleague headed to a yacht club to sail to an island for a weekend of fishing and clam hunting.
I grew up in a poor farming family, where we struggled to make ends meet year-round. Determined to escape poverty, I left my rural village and moved to Ho Chi Minh City in search of a better life.
When I boarded the train on Ho Chi Minh City's first metro line, I was struck by the number of people already inside, carrying backpacks and briefcases. It was clear that this was not just a novelty but a vital part of the city's daily life.
I took the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line to work on Monday, one day after it was launched, and the 18-km journey that used to take me at least 40 minutes was a smooth 26-minute ride.
One of my friends, despite owning assets worth nearly half a million dollars, has firmly decided against buying a car. Instead, he relies on a motorbike for short distances and ride-hailing cars for longer trips.
Traffic congestion in Vietnam is not caused by motorbikes themselves; it’s the result of rapid urban growth outpacing the development of infrastructure.
