Driving Differences: Cambodia vs. Vietnam for Travelers
When navigating the roads of Cambodia and Vietnam, drivers encounter notable distinctions that impact their travel experience. From speed limits and lane usage to traffic signals and legal regulations, understanding these variances is essential for ensuring safe journeys. Explore how these Southeast Asian nations differ in their approach to road etiquette and safety measures.
Lanes
| Cambodia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cambodia:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cambodia:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cambodia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cambodia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cambodia:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Cambodia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | 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 | Khmer and 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
cambodia:
N/A
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
cambodia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cambodia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
cambodia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
cambodia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cambodia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cambodia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit 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 | Mandatory; proof may be required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | 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 as means of communication | 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
cambodia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
cambodia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
cambodia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
cambodia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | 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 | Varies; penalties applied | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days