Driving in Ireland vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of Ireland and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their journey. From driving on the left in Ireland to the right in Vietnam, understanding these crucial variations in traffic rules, speed limits, and road etiquette is essential for a safe and enjoyable experience abroad.
Lanes
| Ireland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtake on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, standard overtaking side. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
ireland:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ireland:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ireland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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 | 80-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
ireland:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ireland:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ireland:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ireland:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ireland:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ireland:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ireland:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Ireland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to turn green. | Not used in Vietnam |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. | 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 | Triangles with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
vietnam:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
ireland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
ireland:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
ireland:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Ireland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ireland:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Ireland | 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 | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ireland | 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
ireland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
ireland:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
ireland:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ireland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
ireland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Ireland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Random breath testing is common. | Common |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ireland:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
vietnam:
Common
Emergency Services
| Ireland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 or 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ireland:
112 or 999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
ireland:
112 or 999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ireland:
Required
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ireland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €80 to €120, and 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 | €60 fine and two penalty points | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €60 fine and three penalty points | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €80 and three penalty points | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days