As the year of the Snake starts, the Traffic decree 168 is an example of Vietnam year ahead
Vietnam’s newly issued Decree 168, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, enforces strict traffic regulations with harsh penalties. The law introduces severe fines of up to VND 20 million—equivalent to months or even years of disposable income—sparking fear and uncertainty among drivers.
The abrupt implementation has led to widespread panic, disbelief, and frustration, with many in the transportation sector considering quitting their jobs. The fear of financial ruin has disrupted daily commutes and stirred public outrage -most have sunk in the Bermuda triangle-.
As the situation unfolds, we take a comprehensive look at the facts about Vietnam’s traffic crisis, without venturing into predictions. As you can understand, this post belongs to what we previously called the “Bermuda Triangle of Information.” The precipitated decree captures how a single push for long-awaited road safety reforms can trigger unintended consequences, exposing deep flaws in execution and enforcement. We forecast more of such decrees coming up for 2025…
Decree 168: Enforcing Traffic Safety and regulations Now! Resulting in chaos in planning, decision, execution, communication, rectifying, follow-up… january 2025: Season #1
Confusion Peaks During Tet: Traffic Police Crackdown Raises Eyebrows
Just days into the joyous Tet celebrations, a traffic policeman—adorned with gold and a luxury watch—leads a PR campaign against drunk driving. While handing out hefty fines, he also rewards good drivers… with packs of beer?!
To better understand the decision ‘at street level’, we Mapminded the Vietnam Traffic decree 168 and its collateral damages
10 Lessons from the traffic decree 168 for managers-to-be
1. Plan your decision from the ground to the top: nto the other way round
Any traffic policeman knows if motorbikes can not turn right due to punishing fines, it is hundreds of bike riders stuck at the red light every 45 seconds. The national registration statistics shows 87% of the 100Mio Vietnamese drive a scooter daily. Let’s do a bit of Maths now, on traffic hours and vehicles to regulate: in Hochiminh City alone roughly 10,000,000 vehicles will circulate during the rush hours from 7-to-9am. A cross-road will have a flow 2 red lights x45 seconds ie.1.5 min divided by 120min (2 hours) that is 80 stop-go periods to entertain 125,000 at each stop all over the city. Obviously if we shrink the map to the 1-of-10 busiest nod of the road network, those have to maintain a flow for 1.250.000 mainly motorbikes. I let your imagination calculate the number of hours lost as the 1,250,000 motos actually stop at the red lights, no turning right allowed without signage.
2. Show authority and Decide Vs Make a decision…
More as the decree 168 collateral damages unravel… to be continued
In conclusion:
Most people replicate what they are comfortable with. Shifting your mindset to adapt the new reality is the most difficult challenge a human being can achieve over his lifetime. May the Year of the Snake inspire us to change skin gracefully.
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