Everything but the kitchen sink! Jaw-dropping photos show intrepid delivery drivers navigating Vietnam's streets on motorbikes overloaded with balloons, trees and live FISH
- These photos will leave even seasoned tourists wondering if there is anything these riders can't carry
- Photographer Ton Koene captured the amazing scenes as the delivery drivers made their daily rounds
- One motorbike was almost completely obscured by bundles of piping, while another is dwarfed by crates of beer
These
jaw-dropping scenes from the streets of Vietnam will leave even
seasoned tourists wondering if there is anything these motorcyclists
can’t balance on the back of a rusty old bike or scooter.
Photographer
Ton Koene captured the delivery drivers as they transported everything
from trees and bags filled with live fish to cases of bottled beer and
massive boxes.
The riders are often dwarfed by their cargo as they cruise through the streets of Hanoi and other cities.
An assortment of exotic fish are in bags and ready for sale, cleverly attached to this man's beaten-up motorbike
This man's motorbike was almost completely obscured by piping as he cruised along a street in Vietnam
Even seasoned tourists are left
wondering if there is anything these motorcyclists can’t balance on the
back of a rusty motorbike
There's seemingly no measure to what can be packed onto the back of a bike or scooter in southeast Asia
This rider looks like he could float away as he hauls a giant sack filled with inflated party balloons
The
amazing scenes play out on a daily basis in Vietnam, but they’re an
eye-opener for Western tourists who aren’t accustomed to seeing such
things.
Ton’s photos show the riders carrying almost everything imaginable on the backs of their small motorbikes.
One
image shows a man’s motorbike almost completely obscured by bundles of
piping, while another rider looks like he could float away as he hauls a
giant sack of inflated balloons.
Ton
said there are about 30 million two-wheeled motorised vehicles in
Vietnam and they make up more than 90 per cent of all the country's
vehicles.
Photographer Ton Koene captured the delivery drivers as they transported everything from trees and sacks filled with goods
Getting around on two wheels is a way
of life in Vietnam where there are more than 37 million motorbikes (and
only a few million cars)
Motorbikes are the cheapest mode of transport in Vietnam and very useful for navigating crowded and narrow streets
The riders have become quite clever and use every inch of space on their motorbikes to transport everyday goods or supplies
He
said: ‘There is really nothing in the world that Vietnamese can’t
transport with their scooters. Fat pigs, big sewage pipes, bamboo poles,
carton boxes or the entire family including the grandmother and the
dog.
‘With
the upcoming economy, owning a scooter is a symbol of freedom and
wealth, like it is for people in many other countries to have a car.’
‘Normal
city cars are too expensive and not very handy in the narrow streets of
the crowded city where parking a car is impossible.
‘Your motorbike, however, can be parked anywhere on the site-walk.’
This rider appears to be in an uncomfortable position while transporting giant sacks filled with goods
These scenes play out on a daily basis in Vietnam, but they’re an eye-opener for Western tourists
Ton Koene’s photos show the riders carrying almost everything imaginable on the backs of their small motorbikes
The riders are often dwarfed by their cargo as they cruise through the streets of Hanoi and other cities
It's not just local delivery drivers
who use motorbikes to get around; drivers for large companies such as
Coca-Cola also use them
With
so many motorbikes and scooters, pedestrian safety and the availability
of parking spaces are issues, in addition to air pollution, especially
in larger cities such as Hanoi.
When tourists climb onto a motorbike it can be an overwhelming and dangerous experience.
Ton
said: ‘Tourists love the motorbikes but are often inexperienced driving
on unpaved road in rural areas or in extremely chaotic and congested
traffic in the cities.
‘Every
day one can see youngsters from Europe, America and Australia walking
in the streets with serious wounds and injuries as a result of scooter
accidents.’
He
added: ‘After a day walking in the city, one can get mad by the never
ending loud engine and honking noise of the always surrounding scooters.
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