Driving in Bahrain vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Bahrain and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. From lane markings to speed limits, the contrasts between these two nations highlight the importance of understanding local traffic norms to ensure a safe journey abroad. Discover how these diverse rules can affect your driving adventure.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
vietnam:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 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 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahrain:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Bahrain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | 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 in residential areas | Limited restriction |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines in some areas for excessive use |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Discouraged for signaling other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
bahrain:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
vietnam:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | 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 horn 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
bahrain:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bahrain:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
bahrain:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
bahrain:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
vietnam:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days