Driving Differences: Israel vs. Vietnam Explained
When navigating the roads of Israel and Vietnam, understanding the unique regulations and practices is crucial for a safe journey. From overtaking rules and speed limits to the use of horns and emergency protocols, each nation has distinct customs. Discover how these driving norms can significantly impact your travel experience and enhance your road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Israel | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | 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 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: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
israel:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
israel:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
israel:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
israel:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Israel | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances 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 | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
israel:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
israel:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
israel:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Israel | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Israel | 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 inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
israel:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | 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 | Moderate 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
israel:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
israel:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
israel:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
israel:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Israel | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Israel | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
israel:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days