Driving in Malta vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Uncovered
Discover the unique road customs of Malta and Vietnam in our comprehensive comparison. While Malta drives on the left side with distinct lane markings and speed limits, Vietnam operates on the right with varying regulations. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring safe travels and navigating each country's roads effectively.
Lanes
| Malta | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | 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 emergency vehicles. | 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: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | 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 | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
malta:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Malta | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malta | 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 Maltese; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
vietnam:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
malta:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
malta:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
malta:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Malta | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Malta | 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 license plate or windshield. | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | 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
malta:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
malta:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
malta:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
malta:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
malta:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Malta | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
malta:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Typically around €50, points may apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days