Driving Differences: Australia vs. Vietnam
Exploring the diverse road rules between Australia and Vietnam reveals significant contrasts in driving practices. From lane usage to speed regulations, each country upholds unique standards aimed at enhancing road safety. Understanding these variations is crucial for travelers to navigate confidently and responsibly in unfamiliar environments.
Lanes
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Vietnam |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Limited restriction |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Fines in some areas for excessive use |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Discouraged for signaling other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
australia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
australia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
australia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Expected in congested traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Common but limited by law in cities |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to Western countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
australia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
australia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
australia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
australia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
vietnam:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
australia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days