Driving in Bhutan vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Bhutan and Vietnam. From driving habits—left-side versus right-side navigation—to speed limits and overtaking rules, each country presents unique challenges for travelers. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Bhutan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | 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 | 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
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
bhutan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
bhutan:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bhutan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | 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 vehicle inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | 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 | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | 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
bhutan:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bhutan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
bhutan:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
bhutan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days