Transportation
Q: How do most teachers get to school - - by taxi, motorbike, or bicycle?
A: A mixture of all three! Some teachers walk as well. You can walk from Quang An to UNIS in 30-45 minutes.
Q: Do most people end up getting some form of transportation to get around?
A: Many of us get motorbikes, some get electric scooters, and some only take taxis, which are quite reasonably priced. A brand new motorbike costs up to $1500, or $600/yr renting a used one. You can also find used ones through the UNIS Want Ads or the Facebook Market.
Grab, which is similar to Uber, is an app-based taxi hailing service for cars and motorbikes. Xe oms (riding on the back of a local's motorbike) are even cheaper, but bring your own helmet.
Some people also bicycle to UNIS and around Tay Ho and Ciputra.
We will have a session on getting around during orientation, where we will discuss some of the ins and outs of driving in Hanoi, purchasing a motorbike, cycling, etc. If you have not driven a motorbike, there is a group on Facebook called Chicks and Bikes that provides lessons.
Q: Would you recommend bringing bicycles (not motorcycles) to Hanoi?
A: Many people have a mountain bike, hybrid, or road bike for commuting, for exercise, or just to ride around Hanoi. We would recommend bringing a good quality cycling helmet with you, as they’re harder to find in Hanoi. Some people ship their bikes; some buy them here, though it's hard to find big-framed bikes, and they can be quite expensive due to import charges. It is worthwhile having a look on the Decathlon website as this is now a go-to shop for reasonably priced, good quality sport and leisure equipment. Bikes are also available through Ridebikes.cc which can special order higher end brands.
Q: I have found nothing on buying a car or truck on the web site. Is this because no one buys cars or are there restrictions for foreigners?
A: Most teachers do not own a car here. Traffic in Hanoi is quite crazy, and streets tend to be narrow, making two way traffic in cars challenging. Also, most people live only a few minutes away from school, so having a motorbike or bike is much more convenient. You will occasionally find people selling cars at the end of the school year before leaving for another country, but these cars are mostly diplomatic and you'll have to pay around 100% plus tax on the car. There are drivers with private cars that you can hire for longer trips if you would like.