Driving in India vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of India and Vietnam, understanding key distinctions in traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. From lane usage and speed limits to signaling and penalties, each nation showcases unique practices that every traveler should be aware of. Explore the major contrasts to enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | 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 | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
Driving Side
india:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
vietnam:
Yes
Speeds Limits
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive 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 |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
india:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
india:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
india:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
vietnam:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
vietnam:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| India | 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 | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Common but limited by law in cities |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Frequent use compared to Western countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
india:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
india:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| India | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, 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 | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days