Canada vs Vietnam: Driving Differences You Need to Know
Driving in Canada and Vietnam presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should understand. While Canada emphasizes structured road etiquette and strict adherence to speed limits, Vietnam's dynamic traffic patterns and varying enforcement can surprise newcomers. This comparison highlights essential aspects of road rules, from lane usage to penalties, ensuring a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Canada | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
vietnam:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 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 | 80-100 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but varies by province | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
canada:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
canada:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Canada | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | 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 | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); 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
canada:
Not used in Canada
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
canada:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
canada:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
canada:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
canada:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
canada:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Canada | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | 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 |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | 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
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
vietnam:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Canada | 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
canada:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
canada:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
canada:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
canada:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
canada:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Canada | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
canada:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
canada:
0.04%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Canada | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | 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: General Emergency
canada:
911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | 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; often upwards of $200 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
canada:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
canada:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days