Kuwait vs. Vietnam: Key Driving Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Kuwait and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations and norms that shape their experiences behind the wheel. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Discover the essential contrasts between these two countries to drive safely and confidently.
Lanes
| Kuwait | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kuwait:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kuwait:
N/A
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kuwait:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kuwait:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kuwait | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 45-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 45 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kuwait:
45 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kuwait:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kuwait:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kuwait:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kuwait:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Kuwait | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | 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 | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kuwait:
Not used
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
kuwait:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kuwait:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
kuwait:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
kuwait:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Kuwait | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless signs allow | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Kuwait | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Kuwait | 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
kuwait:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
kuwait:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
kuwait:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
kuwait:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Kuwait | 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 | Less common | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines and legal consequences | Varies; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving | Possible for severe offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kuwait:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
kuwait:
Less common
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
vietnam:
Possible for severe offenses
Emergency Services
| Kuwait | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
kuwait:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
kuwait:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Kuwait | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may include points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Very severe penalties for any alcohol | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kuwait:
Fines applicable
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
kuwait:
Fines applicable
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
kuwait:
Yes, possible
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days