Driving Differences: Ivory Coast vs Vietnam Explained
The driving experience in Ivory Coast and Vietnam presents intriguing contrasts that are essential for travelers. With varied speed limits, traffic regulations, and lane usage, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring road safety abroad. Discover how bus lanes, alcohol limits, and horn usage differ significantly between these two vibrant countries.
Lanes
| Ivory coast | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
ivory coast:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Ivory coast | 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 | 90 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 | 110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for some infractions. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
ivory coast:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ivory coast:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ivory coast:
110 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
ivory coast:
110 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ivory coast:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
ivory coast:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Ivory coast | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ivory Coast | 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: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Discouraged for signaling other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; 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
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
ivory coast:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
ivory coast:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
ivory coast:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
vietnam:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
ivory coast:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Ivory coast | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Ivory coast | 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 vehicle inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ivory coast | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | 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 | More 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 side and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
ivory coast:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
ivory coast:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
ivory coast:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Ivory coast | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
ivory coast:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
ivory coast:
0.04%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
vietnam:
Common
Emergency Services
| Ivory coast | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 170 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 171 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
ivory coast:
170
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
ivory coast:
171
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Ivory coast | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines may apply, 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 | Varies, points may apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, points may apply | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines may apply, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for some infractions | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically stipulated | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
ivory coast:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days