Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC), like most Asian cities such as Bangkok, Jakarta, Taipei, is called motorcycle dependent city. In these cities, transport system is dominated by motorcycle. According to General Statistics Office of Vietnam (2013), the approximate population approximate of HCMC is 7.750.900. HCMC has a total administrative area of 2.095 km2. The average population density is about 3.699 in habitants per square km. HCMC population projected to reach ten million by 2020 (HOUTRANS, 2004). Besides, Statistics of the HCMC Road Traffic Police Department shown that, by the end of March 2013, the total number of motored vehicles in HCMC surpassed six million units, including nearly 5.519 million motorcycles. The number of motored vehicles in HCMC increased from 1.7 million units in early 2000 to 4.8 million unit in early 2010 (Nguyen, 2012, p.11). The increase in population and economic growth caused the increase of motored …show more content…
The details of vehicle statistics in HCMC are shown in figure 2 below, according to General Statistics Office of Vietnam (2013).
Figure 2: The details of vehicle statistics The number of motorcycles in Vietnam increased steadily in the 90s and shot up in 2000. During this period, in addition to rising incomes, the government reduced import tax and China started exporting motorcycles in Vietnam at low price. In the end of 2007, the city had 3.4 million motorbikes. So, when there are too many vehicles using very limited road space, it leads to the fail to cope to traffic jam and transport problems.
Moreover, according to Buis (2009), if the city builds more and more road constructions, it might increase the demand from rapid motorization, resulting in a vicious circle as depicted in figure 3.
Figure 3: Vicious Circle of Car-Oriented Transport Development. (Buis,