Driving in Kenya vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the roadways of Kenya and Vietnam reveals fascinating contrasts in motoring culture and regulations. From driving on opposite sides to unique speed limits and lane usages, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring safe travels. Embrace the journey with informed awareness to navigate these diverse terrains confidently.
Lanes
| Kenya | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
vietnam:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
kenya:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kenya:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Kenya | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | 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 | English and Kiswahili; 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
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
kenya:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
kenya:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
kenya:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Kenya | 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
kenya:
Not allowed.
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Kenya | 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 | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | 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
kenya:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
kenya:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
kenya:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
kenya:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Kenya | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
vietnam:
Common
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or adjacent exits | Use for first exit or straight |
Signaling: Exiting
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
vietnam:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | 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 | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days