Vietnamese have taken to helmet use....

Simon over at the Saigon Today blog published a photo today of a Vietnamese fisherman at the beach wearing his motorbike helmet while fishing.

Simon opined that the fisherman was wearing the helmet rather than risk theft of it off his motorbike.

In remote locations, there may be reason for that, but in most city locations, theft of helmets stored on motorbikes does not seem to be a problem (at least yet).  But I do notice people wearing them in places where they are in transit between locations and need to keep their helmet in hand.  For example, if you are going to take a bus trip, you probably need to take your helmet with you so you are prepared for the inevitable motorbike rides at your destination.  Rather than carry the helmets, many people deem it easier just to wear them.

I am always anxious to get the helmet off as soon as we stop the bike, since they are hot and uncomfortable without the wind going by when on the road.  Many Vietnamese seem to have adapted to helmet use quite well, however, and maybe even forget to take them off.

Most Vietnamese (both male and female) have always worn hats when outside to provide a little protection from the sun.  Now that helmet use is mandated, one doesn't carry around both a hat and a helmet, so one is left with the helmet to wear out in the sun rather than a more traditional hat.  I carry around a crushable hat in my pack to cover this situation.

Comments

[SaigonNezumi (Kevin)]

You know, back in September when I started to wear my helmet, I used to take it off immediately when I got to where I needed to go. After Dec. 15th, I normally keep my helmet on and forget to put it inside my motorbike. I just got used to it :)

[exciteable eddie]

gung hay fatso lo! or merry buddhist day!

so you went to Ban Me A Thuot? Up the road a piece is Phu Nhon and then over to the left and up some is Plei Me right by the Ia Drang and then on top of that is the Catecka Tea Plantation and the Chu Pong Massif where the commies came out of and on the way to runnin over Ban Me A Thuot...

I'd like to see you on your motorbike with that tinfoil hat!

Where are the naked women?

[D]

I read in the paper that motobike parking lots are charging about 50% of the parking fee just to watch over the helmet, so folks are likely wearing them to save some coin.

And to expand on your reflection about regular hats and such, the big hat chain in Vietnam, Non Son, was lamenting to the press that their business was down a significant percentage once the helmets came into popular usage.

[Tu Cong Van]

Helmet is good, isn't it. Chuc mung nam moi