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Visitors to Vietnam can relate tales of horrendous traffic situation. Indeed, it is a challenge for pedestrians to cross the city streets, which are overwhelmed with bicycles and motorcycles - the main mode of transportation in this country with an estimated population of 86 million. With a per capital income of $832 (2007) and an inflation rate of 25% (mid-2008), it is beyond the means of most Vietnamese to maintain a vehicle, let alone own one.

A report says that at end-1999 there were some 20 million bicycles and 5.6 million motorbikes. Annual sales of bicycles and motobikes are estimated at 1 million and 1.5 million respectively.

In Hà Nội alone - a city of about 3.4 million people - there are some 1.4 million bikes registered as at end-2007 compared to 20,690 auto vehicles. (On 1 Aug 2008, the city's administrative border was expanded to include Ha Tay Province and parts of Hoa Binh and Ving Phuc. Her population is estimated at 6.3 million.)