Working on the mosaic this morning

Thu Thuy and film crew in Mosaic workshop and on the road filming installed mosaic (view below)

I mentioned the traffic in the first Hanoi blog, but it is really something - I read recently about new research suggesting that Britain’s heavily regulated traffic signage and regulation actually develop a sort of complacency or pedestrian blindness in drivers - who spend all their time looking at road signs, speed cameras and bumps. In tests (I think it was in Belgium) areas had road markings deliberately removed - here the lack of signage and funnelling of traffic appeared to encourage driving with more care and awareness for pedestrians and cyclists. Well in a way thats what its like here - drivers, pedestrians and cyclists have to be completely aware of whats going on around as most ignore one way lanes, stop signs and other regulated areas. I’m not suggesting that Hanoi is a model for safe driving - hospitals are full of victims of traffic accidents apparently - but there is a sort of serentity amongst the beeps swerves and narrow misses. Extraordinary how people miss each other - pedestrians just walk slowly out across dual carriageways and magically the bikes, buses lorries, cars and scooters seem to weave around them. It takes a little technique - the secret is to choose your moment and walk slowly but deliberately across the road - not running or changing direction suddenly.. same applies to crossing traffic on a push bike - head off as traffic eases a little and be aware but purposeful.. Anyway here is some of the traffic