The Very Busy Road

Probably the biggest problem we have here in Vietnam is getting from point a to point b. We live 15kms out Nha Trang on a farm that doesn't have a whole lot - it has internet and sattelite tv. So if you want to do something, you gotta go somewhere, and that involves driving. And like most people in Vietnam, that means driving and riding a 125cc motorbike.
I love these 'smaller' (by Canadian standards) bikes. I drove one for 2 years in Taiwan. But the traffic in Vietnam is something fierce, so for the safety of my marriage, I've chosen not to drive here. I leave that up to my wife. She grew up in this traffic, but after being away for almost 6 years, she is also having trouble with it.
Problem 1 - Road quality. In the countryside, roads are max a lane and a half wide - or smaller. Sometimes they are no better than a dirt trail. Even the 'paved' roads are full of potholes. This means you can never go more than 30km/h (for your own safety). This makes getting somewhere slow... We went to a beautiful riverside area today, 10km/h from our village - took at least 30 mins to get there. Now, I have noticed increased quality in the roads. The road to Dalat was in very good shape. The main highway is in much better shape, on the stretch from the farm to Nha Trang doesn't have any potholes anymore. 6 years ago, there were potholes on that road that could swallow a car (in particular there was one at a major intersection into Nha Trang). Some of the major highway is 4 lane, but not all of it.
Problem 2 - Anything can happen on the road. Its rice harvesting time now, people need a flat, dry surface to dry their rice. Hey - a road fits that description! Nevermind if its the road to get into your community or the most important road in the entire country, people need a place to dry their rice. This same major highway is also home to most of the country (it appears). So people have their home/business opened to anyone, nevermind the big trucks, buses, cars, motorbikes and oxen carts that are also using the road. Need to get into a business or your friend's house (perhaps they're conveniently the same place) - no problem. And these business range in everything from local coffee shops to motorbike/car dealerships to metal fabrication facilities.
Problem 3 - Volume. On the main highway, it just kinda gets ridiculous. You're sharing the road with so many different types of vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Sure, the majority are motorbikes, but there are still an awful lot of trucks and buses too. In the city it gets worse because, its a city. There are just more people.
Problem 4 - No Rules. There really doesn't appear to be much in the way of driving rules. A left hand turn is taken whenever you feel like it. Right-of-way goes to the fastest. Passing? Whenever you feel like it. Traffic accidents are very common. I've noticed that people are wearing helmets now and that the police are getting stricter to keeping a max of two adults on each bike. But the few times I have seen police on the roads is at the scene of an accident. When I lived here 5 years ago, I saw a few fatalities. Hopefully I'm not here long enough to see another.
Problem 5- Idiots. We have them in Canada of course, and with the speeds we drive in Canada, they can be  more dangerous. So of course they're guys and gals who zip past you, weaving their bike through traffic like no one else exists. But drinking and driving is common, especially among truck drivers. My brother in law is a truck driver and he says its scary what gets behind the wheel of bus or truck.
So with all these issues, we don't like driving much. But we have to do it to get anywhere. We leave kid2 behind most of the time now though. She doesn't like riding on the bike. Kid1 is alright, but we took the bus to get into Nha Trang the other day and that worked just as well as a bike. But the bus only runs until 6pm though and the bus doesn't go everywhere. The key though is to keep it slow, keep it cautious and keep your head screwed on. If you see the idiots then get out of their way. Slow down and move to the right as much as possible to let the big vehicles pass. And wear a helmet.