To many Vietnamese residents, a motorcycle is more than a means of transportation. These two-wheelers are an omnipresent feature of Việt Nam’s urban landscape on which millions of people rely for commuting to workplaces, fetching their children from school, or carrying daily groceries from the market.

In the country’s often underestimated but crucial gig economy, a motorcycle’s flexibility and its compact design—an essential adaptation to navigate among Vietnamese alleyways and its packed streets—are also perceived as a productive asset for ride-hailing operators, delivery drivers, and small traders to make their living.