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.
LEFT
Driving Side
The driving side in bhutan is the Left Side of the road
64
Driving Safety Score
The driving Driving Safety Score in bhutan is 64
0.758 $
Gas Price in USD
The driving Driving Safety Score for bhutan is 0.758 US Dollars
While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.
Lanes
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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.
Alcohol
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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