Rain

Like most of Southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) experiences two main seasons: dry and monsoon. The latter lasts from May through November, and is characterized by frequent showers throughout the day, sometimes leading to thunderstorms. Since mopeds lack the coverage of cars, you can get soaked in the rain if you did not come prepared. Other hazards associated with riding mopeds in the rain are:

• Flooded motorcycle engine: Due to inadequate infrastructure, some regions of the city are not prepared for the rain and gets flooded, leading to water getting into the moped engines. In this case, the only solution is to walk your moped to the nearest mechanics. To prevent this from happening, make note of some streets which are more prone to flooding than others, such as Nguyen Huu Canh street, Hong Bang street, etc.

• Slippery road: As you can imagine, rain can make the roads around the city quite unsafe to ride on as mopeds lose traction, making typical maneuverings, like turning and breaking, more difficult. In addition, rain can reduce horizontal visibility, making driving all the more dangerous. When the rain becomes too heavy, it is advisable to skip moped-ing altogether, especially if you are new to the activity. However, if you decide to ride on, remember to drive at a slower speed than normal, and give yourself more room to turn and brake.

Wind

Strong wind typically comes before rain, and has its own set of associated hazards. At best, it can make you cold and uncomfortable, which can be resolved by layering up. At worst, heavy wind can knock out trees on the sides of the road, either causing accidents or blocking traffic. To avoid this, plan your trips so that you do not take heavily treed roads when the wind is strong. Some examples are Truong Chinh street (the picture below was taken there), Le Duan street, etc.

Wind can also hinder your visibility as there are many construction sites around HCMC and wind might blow the sand/dust/debris around. A solution to this is wearing sunglasses or protective non-shaded glasses. The former will also be useful for when the weather is very sunny (see below).

Heat

HCMC can get quite hot, especially during the summer months. When the temperature gets to about 40 degrees Celsius and humidity is in the high 80s, you might not want to even leave your air-conditioned room, let alone riding your moped! Some concerns that might arise with heat, besides discomfort, include heat stroke and heat rash if you do not have the right gear. To ensure your moped trip is safe and fun, remember to drink plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing. A good example is this image below. As you can see, the driver has a jacket made of breathable cotton material and a protective face mask, as well as sunglasses to shield her eyes from the burning sunlight. However, note that such heavy protective wear might hinder your visibility. Thus, you might want to consider a jacket with less full-body coverage.

Image Credits:

https://www.oxii.vn/xe/5-buoc-tu-xu-ly-xe-chet-may-do-ngap-nuoc-troi-mua-bao-274.html

http://www.doisongphapluat.com/tin-tuc/tin-trong-nuoc/mua-lon-cay-do-la-liet-de-trung-2-nguoi-di-duong-a151312.html

https://kienthuc.net.vn/dinh-duong-thuoc/quan-ao-bang-vai-gi-giup-chong-nang-hieu-qua-484438.html