Driving in New Zealand vs Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
Embarking on a journey through New Zealand and Vietnam reveals fascinating contrasts in road regulations and driving customs. From lane usage—New Zealand’s left-side driving versus Vietnam’s right-side approach—to varied speed limits and traffic etiquette, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience behind the wheel in each unique locale.
Lanes
| New zealand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning 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: Usage | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | 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 | 100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| New zealand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Vietnam |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| 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; 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
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
new zealand:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
new zealand:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
new zealand:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| New zealand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| New zealand | 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | 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 marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
new zealand:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
new zealand:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
new zealand:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| New zealand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | 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 | $150, points may also apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days