Hanoi - Post Report Question and Answers
Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes, narrow stairs, limited and broken sidewalks, small elevators/lifts. - Aug 2021
Yes, as sidewalks are few and far between, traffic is chaotic, and the sharing of space between pedestrians, bikes, motorbikes, and cars is challenging to say the least. - Dec 2019
Yes, no accessibility here. - Jul 2019
It depends on the disability. Walking down the street can be a nightmare, especially with small kids. Cars and motorbikes are everywhere. The pavement is uneven and cracked. You can’t walk straight; you need to weave in and out and up and down and watch your head. - Apr 2018
Yes. Vietnamese streets are chaotic. Many sidewalks are poorly maintained and have potholes. Officially, the Vietnamese government is very supportive of disabled persons organizations and policies related to disabilities (in part to show support for its populace disabled as a legacy of the Vietnam War), but in reality has spent little money on physical infrastructure. There also remains a societal stigma among Vietnamese families about physical and intellectual disabilities. This is gradually improving societally though. - Dec 2017
Able bodied individuals risk life or limb daily in Hanoi. I can't imagine navigating this city with a physical disability. There are no sidewalks. Rarely elevators. Houses have multiple, narrow stairs. - May 2016
It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. There is no accommodation made. I have a hard time walking by myself or with my kids in a stroller - I can't imagine doing it if you had a physical disability. - Aug 2015
In Hanoi people in wheelchairs use the street. Sidewalks are unpassable for all but the most agile walkers. People with disabilities are rarely seen. - Aug 2014
A lot of difficulties. There is no infrastructure to cater for disabled persons. Sidewalks -– when they exist -– are used to drive on, park on, display one’s shop’s content on, eat or drink, chat, but not to walk on. That would be too trivial! Apartments are often set on two floors with a set of stairs. - Dec 2011
Many obstacles exist everywhere! It would be tough. - Aug 2011
Mucho. The city was not designed for people with handicaps. - May 2010
Nothing is wheelchair accessible. - Dec 2009
No handicap facilities of any kind. - Feb 2009
Yes; there are no provisions for those with physical limitations. Due to the small space and high density population most residences are narrow units with several sets of stairs. Sidewalks are uneven, broken, or nonexistant. Crossing walks are not clearly marked and not heeded. - Sep 2008
Many, the sidewalks are used as parking lots for motorbikes and street vendors are numerous, all of which minimizes the use of the sidewalk for its intended purpose of walking, much less someone having to use crutches or a wheelchair. - May 2008
