Improvised three-wheeled vehicles still common on Ho Chi Minh City streets

Recently, readers of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported that these vehicles are still commonly seen, especially in the city’s suburban areas.

Although the city's traffic police have implemented several campaigns to crack down on unauthorized three- and four-wheeled vehicles, the issue persists.

On Wednesday, many improvised cargo tricycles were seen transporting long, bulky goods—some over 10 meters in length—on streets such as Tran Dai Nghia, Nguyen Huu Tri, and Vo Van Van, creating a high risk of traffic accidents.

A traffic police officer in Ho Chi Minh City explained that many drivers reasoned that they used these vehicles due to their ability to access narrow alleys and low costs.

For these reasons, they are still frequently hired by residents and owners of building material stores.

The police officer added that most of these vehicles are old and fail to meet basic technical safety standards. 

Many consist of only a metal frame, lacking lights, horns, and even license plates.