Driving Differences: Nepal vs. Vietnam Safety Guide
Discover the unique road experiences in Nepal and Vietnam, where driving customs and regulations vary significantly. From left-side versus right-side travel to distinct speed limits, this comparison highlights crucial variations that can impact your journey. Stay informed for a safer driving adventure in these fascinating countries.
Lanes
| Nepal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | 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 | 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 |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nepal:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nepal:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Nepal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | 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 | Nepali and English | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
vietnam:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
nepal:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
nepal:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
nepal:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Turns
| Nepal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
nepal:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Nepal | 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 | Mandatory; proof 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
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | 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 | 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
nepal:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
nepal:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
nepal:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
nepal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Nepal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
vietnam:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nepal:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | 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 | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days