Kids on bikes

So since we've been living in Vietnam we've been amazed at the way people transport their children.  To my knowledge if you are a child up to the age of 14 you do not have to wear a helmet, although there are moves to encourage this into the future including presentations at schools etc.  In the meantime I thought you may like to see this collection of photos by my sister in law, Dianne Mc Lay from her recent visit to Vietnam.

                                      
For little ones, there are special little cane or stainless steel chairs that fit on the front of the bikes that the babies can sit on between the legs of the driver and even special cushions to attach to the handle bars.  This is so that when the bike takes off they don't bump their head, also handy if they need to go to sleep while on the bike, which I've seen on a few occassions.

And below is how they cover the babies heads, with a mesh style scarf, so I guess nothing flies in their eyes.  I have also seen babies on Mums lap on the back with a towel covering then like when you breast feed and pinned at the back.  There is no helmet for the babies though.

 

                       This little one is in the cane chair with her pillow on the handle bars....in the rain!

     This is how people sometimes keep dry when the rain starts...just hiding under Dad's raincoat.

                                                                          Sleepy....

                                            The one on the back is keeping out of the sun.

                                                                          A bike full!

Baby on board!

                                           Dropping off his rubbish to the bin, what a good boy.

                                                               With all the shopping.

Bigger ones tend to lean/stand up.

                                   

                                                              And below on bicycles......
A reminder it is around 30 degrees Celsius but these girls are keeping out of the sun, jackets, hats, socks on their feet, gloves on their hands and face masks.  It is not good to be dark, there are lots of products for whitening.  You look poorer and not as beautiful if you are dark like a farm worker.

Clearly the boys don't care as much :)

Safety glasses below...and a helmet!

This is a link to a presentation done recently on children wearing helmets in Vietnam and Cambodia...interesting, they are working on it.
http://www.grspasia.org/download13/Nguyen_Nuong_Child_helmet_wearing_in_Cambodia_and_Vietnam.pdf