Brunei vs Vietnam: Key Driving Differences Explained
When comparing driving in Brunei and Vietnam, notable distinctions arise in regulations and road etiquette. From the left-hand drive in Brunei to Vietnam's right-hand traffic, these variations play a crucial role in ensuring road safety abroad. Understanding these contrasts can enhance your driving experience and promote a safer journey while exploring these diverse countries.
Lanes
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Driving Side | Left | Right |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
Overtaking: On Right | Allowed 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: 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
brunei:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brunei:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
brunei:
Allowed 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
brunei:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brunei:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
brunei:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brunei:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brunei:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brunei:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brunei | 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 | Malay; English used for important signs | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brunei:
Not used in Brunei
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
brunei:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
brunei:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
brunei:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
brunei:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
brunei:
Malay; English used for important signs
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brunei:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | 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
brunei:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brunei:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not used | Displayed on the windshield |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brunei:
Annually required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brunei:
Not used
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
Brunei | 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
brunei:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
brunei:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
brunei:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brunei:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
brunei:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brunei:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brunei:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
brunei:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
vietnam:
Common
Roundabouts
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brunei:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 991 | 113 |
Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 113 |
Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
brunei:
991
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
brunei:
993
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brunei:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
Brunei | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license | 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 | B$150 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
Common Fines: Phone Use | B$300 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | B$250 | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common for minor fines |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brunei:
Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
brunei:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brunei:
B$150
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
brunei:
B$300
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brunei:
B$250
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
brunei:
Yes
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
brunei:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days