Driving in Hong Kong vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that greatly influence their travel experience. Key differences include driving on the left in Hong Kong, while Vietnam adheres to right-side traffic. Understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking should be done on the 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: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hong kong:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 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 | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hong kong:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Hong kong | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | 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 | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
hong kong:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
hong kong:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
hong kong:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Hong kong | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | 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 | Required annually | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | 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
hong kong:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
hong kong:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
hong kong:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
hong kong:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, 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 | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
hong kong:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days