Driving in Ghana vs Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Ghana and Vietnam, notable distinctions emerge that impact safety on their highways. Key factors include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol tolerance. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience while navigating the vibrant landscapes of both countries.
Lanes
| Ghana | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not advised. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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 |
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
ghana:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ghana:
N/A
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ghana:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ghana:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 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 |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
ghana:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ghana:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ghana:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ghana:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Ghana | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | 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 | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
ghana:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ghana:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
ghana:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
ghana:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Ghana | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Ghana | 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 | Mandatory | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ghana:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | 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 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
ghana:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
ghana:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
ghana:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
ghana:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Ghana | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
ghana:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ghana:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | 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 | Moderate fines | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
ghana:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
ghana:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days