Walking in Motorcycle-Dependent Cities: A Case Study of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Walking is recognized as a beneficial mode of commuting for its public health and environmental advantages. A modal shift towards walking and other active transport modes is key to achieving sustainable urban development. Most existing research on walking, active travel, and physical activity comes from car-dependent urban contexts rather than motorcycle-dominated cities. This paper examines walking behavior and perception in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (HCMC), an exemplary Asian megacity where daily commuting relies heavily on two-wheel vehicles. It discusses (1) Key characteristics of the walking environment that might be perceived as difficult or appealing by commuters in HCMC and (2) Reasons people opt for motorcycle riding over walking for short journeys. The paper presents preliminary results on the factors influencing walking in a motorcycle-dependent city based on a mixed-method research design spanning 740 surveys collected from site visits and online, along with 13 in-depth interviews with experts, urban planning authorities, and residents in HCMC. We identify a need to consider micro-scaled factors, including thermal comfort and sociocultural influences, to understand what affects walking perception and decisions to walk in developing Asian cities to achieve a more comprehensive walkability assessment.