Driving in Azerbaijan vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Azerbaijan and Vietnam, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. Key differences in lane markings, speed limits, and signaling protocols reveal the unique driving cultures of each nation, underscoring the importance of understanding these variations for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Azerbaijan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the center on undivided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | In some cases, such as if the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Often designated for buses and public transport. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
azerbaijan:
Marks the center on undivided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
azerbaijan:
In some cases, such as if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Reserved primarily for buses and sometimes other public transport vehicles.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked by road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
azerbaijan:
Mainly in major cities and occasionally shared with bus lanes.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
azerbaijan:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
azerbaijan:
Limited
vietnam:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
azerbaijan:
Often designated for buses and public transport.
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
azerbaijan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Azerbaijan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 110 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 practice; fines can also be mailed. | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
azerbaijan:
20 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
90 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
azerbaijan:
110 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
azerbaijan:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
azerbaijan:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
azerbaijan:
Common practice; fines can also be mailed.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Azerbaijan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Azerbaijan | Not used in Vietnam |
| 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 | Azerbaijani; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
azerbaijan:
Not used in Azerbaijan
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
azerbaijan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
azerbaijan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
azerbaijan:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
azerbaijan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
azerbaijan:
Azerbaijani; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
azerbaijan:
Triangle-shaped with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Azerbaijan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
azerbaijan:
Generally not allowed, unless a green arrow is shown
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
azerbaijan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Azerbaijan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual technical inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided upon successful inspection | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
azerbaijan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
azerbaijan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
azerbaijan:
Annual technical inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
azerbaijan:
Provided upon successful inspection
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Azerbaijan | 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 | Moderate 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
azerbaijan:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
azerbaijan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
azerbaijan:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
azerbaijan:
Moderate use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
azerbaijan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
azerbaijan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Azerbaijan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasional; fines and penalties apply | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.03%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
azerbaijan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
azerbaijan:
Occasional; fines and penalties apply
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
azerbaijan:
Can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Azerbaijan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 102 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or local service | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
azerbaijan:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
azerbaijan:
102
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
azerbaijan:
Call your insurance provider or local service
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
azerbaijan:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Azerbaijan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed | 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 | Significant fines | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Significant fines, possible license points | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
azerbaijan:
Varies; can be significant depending on excess speed
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
azerbaijan:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
azerbaijan:
Significant fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, possible license points
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
azerbaijan:
Significant fines, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
azerbaijan:
Possible; and fines can also be paid online or by mail
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
azerbaijan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days