Driving in Japan vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing driving contrasts between Japan and Vietnam, where distinct regulations shape the road experience. Key differences include Japan's left-side driving and strict overtaking rules versus Vietnam's right-side approach and more relaxed lane usage. Understanding these unique practices is essential for ensuring a secure journey in each country.
Lanes
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | 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 | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
japan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
japan:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
japan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | 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
japan:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | 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 | Generally used sparingly | 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
japan:
To warn of hazards
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
japan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
japan:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
japan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days