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Returning to Vietnam 15 Years After Top Gear: A Foreign Auto Journalist’s Astonishment at the Country’s Fascinating and Rare Car Culture

"The perception of Vietnam as a nation of motorbikes persists for many foreigners, with the country's portrayal in the 2008 Top Gear special sticking in their minds. However, fast forward 15 years, and Lewin Day's arrival in Vietnam presented a different picture. He discovered a treasure trove of 'fascinating vehicles', a diverse array that went beyond the ubiquitous motorbike."

Administrator

27 May, 2024

Lewin Day, a veteran of the automotive industry, has turned his hand to writing for the automotive publication, The Autopian. In a recent article, he shares his observations about the fascinating car culture he encountered during his time in Vietnam.

According to Day, Vietnam has enthusiastically embraced automobiles over the past 15 years. The car ownership rate has climbed to approximately 55 cars per 1,000 people, a significant increase from 23 cars per 1,000 people in 2018. In comparison to the US, which has 908 cars per 1,000 people, Vietnam, with its population of nearly 100 million, presents a highly prospective market for the automotive industry.

Day’s firsthand experience in Vietnam offered him a different perspective from the statistics he had read in the media. He visited the country in 2016 and returned in 2023, seven years later. During his recent trip, he discovered that the Vietnamese have a unique approach to their vehicles and their car culture.