Though not all drivers in Ho Chi Minh City are traffic rule abiders, a large number of them strictly observe the rules to ensure their own and others’ safety.

Like most major cities in Vietnam, traffic in HCMC is quite complicated and may scare off many foreigners when they first arrive.

Many still commit violations including running red lights, driving on the opposite direction, overspeeding, and scrambling during traffic jams.

At a year-end meeting in late December last year, Nguyen The Thao, chair of Hanoi People’s Committee, expressed his hope that “drivers in Hanoi would be as compliant of traffic rules as those in HCMC.”

Tuoi Tre News offer readers several photos depicting how drivers in the southern metropolis abide by traffic rules.

The photos were taken at normal points of time during the day in the absence of local traffic policemen.

A photo taken around 6g35 on the 2015 New Year Day shows drivers compliantly stopping their bikes and cars behind the zebra crossings at the Nguyen Van Troi-Truong Quoc Dung intersection in Ho Chi Minh City’s Phu Nhuan District. No drivers showed sign of starting off their vehicles at the last seconds of the red lights. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

A snapshot taken at 10.34pm on January 25, 2015 captures a male motorcyclist compliantly stopping at the red lights on Mai Chi Tho Avenue in District 2, though the street was all clear and the weather was cold. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

A motorcyclist is pictured trespassing the zebra crossing at 9.51 pm on January 25, 2015 while waiting at the red lights at District 3’s Huynh Van Banh- Tran Huy Lieu intersection. None of his fellow drivers followed suit. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

A photo taken around 9am on January 5, 2015 shows slow-speed motorcyclists  were in the inner section of Phan Dang Luu street in front Ba Chieu Market in Binh Thanh District, while those driving at greater speed were riding in the outer part but were not trespassing on the lane intended for cars. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

At 8.40am on January 5, 2015, bikes and buses are pictured stopping behind the zebra crossings at Hang Xanh Roundabout in Binh Thanh District, with ample space ahead for other vehicles. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

In the absence of security guards’ or traffic policemen’s intervention, customers at a newly opened shopping mall on Hai Ba Trung street compliantly parked their bikes on or right next to the sidewalk to avoid traffic congestion around 9pm on January 18, 2015. Photo: Tuoi Tre.

A common sight in HCMC streets unfolds as a young woman’s bike fell over on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia street during rush hour, at 7.50 on January 5, 2015. Her bike was immediately taken to the sidewalk and she was surrounded by some caring passengers. Photo: Tuoi Tre.