If you want to cross the street in Hanoi city just go, don’t hesitate, just go. People will drive around you, even the ones that are texting on their mobile phones while driving and not really following what’s in front of them. Street crossing rules don’t apply here.
Vietnam is changing fast and Hanoi, with its vibrant population, is massive contributor of that change. You can see a lot of the old world clashing with the new. There’s growing economic disparity, where communism clashes with capitalism. Confucianism mixes with Catholicism and Buddhism. These competing and somehow complementary ideologies are beautiful and everywhere.
Older Hanoians are very quick to point out that Hanoi is different now. Lifestyles are more modern and buildings are getting taller. I heard that all the young people from small villages are abandoning farm life and moving to the cities because they’re after a more dynamic lifestyle.
