Driving in Myanmar vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Myanmar and Vietnam, drivers encounter notable variances that influence their travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to road etiquette and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure journey. Discover the key contrasts that shape driving practices in these two dynamic Southeast Asian nations.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | 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 | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
myanmar:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Myanmar | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | 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 | Burmese; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
myanmar:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
myanmar:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
myanmar:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
myanmar:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Myanmar | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | 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, more common in cities | 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 | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
myanmar:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
myanmar:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
myanmar:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
myanmar:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | 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
myanmar:
199
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
myanmar:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | 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 | Fine enforced; mandatory use | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
myanmar:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days