Driving in Fiji vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
When planning a journey through Fiji or Vietnam, understanding the distinctive road rules and regulations is crucial for safe navigation. From the contrast between left-side driving in Fiji and right-side driving in Vietnam to varying speed limits and unique lane designs, each country presents its own set of challenges and protocols. Stay informed to ensure a secure driving experience abroad!
Lanes
| Fiji | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
vietnam:
km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Fiji | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | 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; fines can 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
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
fiji:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
fiji:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
fiji:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
fiji:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Fiji | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Fiji | 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 inspections are mandatory | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | 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 | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | 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
fiji:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
fiji:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
fiji:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
fiji:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Fiji | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
fiji:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
fiji:
0.05%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
fiji:
911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days