Driving in Kazakhstan vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
Embarking on a journey through Kazakhstan or Vietnam? Understanding the distinct rules and practices on the roads of these two nations is crucial for your well-being. From speed limits to lane usage, travelers will discover significant contrasts in regulations and customs that shape the driving experience. Stay informed to navigate safely and confidently!
Lanes
| Kazakhstan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Varies by region | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles where present. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Bus Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Reserved for buses.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Labeled with specific signs and road markings.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kazakhstan:
Varies by region
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Kazakhstan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kazakhstan:
20 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
110 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kazakhstan:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Kazakhstan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kazakhstan | 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 | Kazakh and Russian; 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
kazakhstan:
Not used in Kazakhstan
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
kazakhstan:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kazakhstan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
kazakhstan:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
kazakhstan:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
kazakhstan:
Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kazakhstan:
Triangular with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Kazakhstan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | 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
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Kazakhstan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kazakhstan:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kazakhstan | 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 | 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
kazakhstan:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
kazakhstan:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
kazakhstan:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kazakhstan:
Moderate use
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
kazakhstan:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kazakhstan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Kazakhstan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
kazakhstan:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
vietnam:
Common
Emergency Services
| Kazakhstan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 102 | 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
kazakhstan:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
kazakhstan:
Call 102
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kazakhstan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kazakhstan:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kazakhstan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for handheld use while driving | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for non-use
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for handheld use while driving
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
kazakhstan:
Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
kazakhstan:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days