Carnet de voyage

Le roi de la rue !

Almos, que nous venons de rencontrer, est hongrois et exerçait en tant que maître de conférence en sociologie en Australie avant de venir s'installer à Hanoï. En 6 mois, il y a déjà fait son trou, notamment en travaillant avec des lycéens sur un projet d'édition sur le thème de la ville de Hanoï et dont voici un extrait qui nous a particulièrement plu. Son auteur, Ngô Minh Phuong a 17 ans et habite Hanoï :

"Are you asking me ? Do I ride a motorbike ? Yes, of course I ride one. This one here. Not very different to the others in the parking lot. But the machine is not important. It's the way you ride. And I ride with style - real style !"

The motorbike has become a distinctive feature of the life of Hanoï. It is used to carry passengers, deliver goods, take a cage full of chickens to the market. Fashionable ladies in full make-up remain firmly on the seat to do their shopping for fish, vegetables, and a piece of pickled pork. And what is a beautiful girl - or a handsome young man - without a beautiful, handsome motorbike to ride on ? Only the ragman goes his rounds on a pushbike nowadays.

It sounds so good. This is the genuine, all-purpose vehicle. However motorbikes have also created many problems and one of the most serious is motorbike racing in the streets. It is a danger to the rider and to other road users as well. It is illegal, of course. But a law cannot stop such a thing. Not even the King's command, or the plea of the Queen for greater safety.

So why do they do it, these guys who rev up their bikes and rocket down the street pursuing each other ?

You're asking me ? Why do I do it ? It's the thrill of speed. And the skill. balance, timing, judgement. It's better than a computer game. And if I win, I am King.

King of the Road !"