Winter in Hanoi means mostly cloudy skies and cool temperatures. The cold feels more severe because most people don't travel by car and many public buildings are not heated. We discovered recently that pre-schools and elementary schools (including the one beside us) are suspended if the temperature is expected to drop below 10 C. It dipped to 8 last week. The equivalent of snow days in Canada and the USA. Smile you cold weather Canadians!
The most common mode of travel in Hanoi (my estimate) is by motor bike, 2nd by bus, 3rd by car, 4th by taxi and 5th by bicycle. Many roads are clogged with traffic as motor bikes and cars become more common. Recently, in an attempt to alleviate the traffic congestion, the city government has banned all taxi traffic from several major streets during both morning and evening rush hours.
This means for us that our most direct route downtown is not available and that we walk for 2 blocks to catch a taxi rather than our normal 1/2 a block. It means that getting a taxi going in the right direction has become more complicated.
We know that as wealth increases and more cars are purchased, the infra-stucture is being overwhelmed. Something needs to be done. Selfishly, since we always travel by taxi, we hope this one month trial taxi ban is not the permanent solution. However I suppose the extra exercise is good for us.
The most common mode of travel in Hanoi (my estimate) is by motor bike, 2nd by bus, 3rd by car, 4th by taxi and 5th by bicycle. Many roads are clogged with traffic as motor bikes and cars become more common. Recently, in an attempt to alleviate the traffic congestion, the city government has banned all taxi traffic from several major streets during both morning and evening rush hours.
This means for us that our most direct route downtown is not available and that we walk for 2 blocks to catch a taxi rather than our normal 1/2 a block. It means that getting a taxi going in the right direction has become more complicated.
We know that as wealth increases and more cars are purchased, the infra-stucture is being overwhelmed. Something needs to be done. Selfishly, since we always travel by taxi, we hope this one month trial taxi ban is not the permanent solution. However I suppose the extra exercise is good for us.
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