Nigeria vs Vietnam: Key Driving Differences Uncovered
Explore the unique driving landscapes of Nigeria and Vietnam, where diverse road regulations shape the journey. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and traffic signals, with Nigeria relying heavily on manual enforcement and Vietnam embracing stricter penalties. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring your well-being while navigating foreign streets.
Lanes
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used as a divider on major roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; overtaking may be allowed on overtaking lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only where permitted and safe. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane where applicable. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved mainly for BRT buses in certain cities. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled 'BRT' or demarcated with other markers; signs often indicate lanes. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles and motorbikes often share roads with cars. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nigeria:
Used as a divider on major roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
nigeria:
Not commonly used; overtaking may be allowed on overtaking lanes.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
nigeria:
Only where permitted and safe.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nigeria:
Use rightmost lane where applicable.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
nigeria:
Reserved mainly for BRT buses in certain cities.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nigeria:
May be labeled 'BRT' or demarcated with other markers; signs often indicate lanes.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nigeria:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nigeria:
Bicycles and motorbikes often share roads with cars.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nigeria:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nigeria:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nigeria:
Not commonly used
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare, mostly manual enforcement | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
nigeria:
30-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nigeria:
20-30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nigeria:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nigeria:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nigeria:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nigeria:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nigeria:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nigeria:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nigeria:
Not commonly used
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nigeria:
Rare, mostly manual enforcement
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nigeria:
Yes, common practice
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to other road users | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Often used to signal presence or warning | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged at night in residential areas | Limited restriction |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Rare but can apply for misuse | Fines in some areas for excessive use |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To indicate overtaking or to warn other drivers | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not for other messages | Discouraged for signaling other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common in certain areas | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols can vary | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
nigeria:
Proceed with caution, yield to other road users
vietnam:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nigeria:
Not commonly used
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
nigeria:
Often used to signal presence or warning
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
nigeria:
Discouraged at night in residential areas
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
nigeria:
Rare but can apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Usage
nigeria:
To indicate overtaking or to warn other drivers
vietnam:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
nigeria:
Not for other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
nigeria:
More common in certain areas
vietnam:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
nigeria:
English; symbols can vary
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nigeria:
Triangular with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed unless indicated | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
| Special Turn Lanes | Rarely marked | Yes, marked with arrows |
Right Turn On Red
nigeria:
Generally not allowed unless indicated
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
nigeria:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Special Turn Lanes
nigeria:
Rarely marked
vietnam:
Yes, marked with arrows
Documentation
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Insurance | Third party insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nigeria:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nigeria:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Insurance
nigeria:
Third party insurance mandatory
vietnam:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nigeria:
Yes, annual vehicle inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nigeria:
Displayed on the vehicle
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nigeria:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement |
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Sometimes observed, depending on traffic and location | Expected in congested traffic |
| Lane Courtesy: Blocking | Discouraged and can lead to fines | Discouraged and may be penalized |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used, but officially for emergencies | Common but limited by law in cities |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, similar to some other countries | Frequent use compared to Western countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but may not be strictly enforced | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
nigeria:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Flashing Lights: Misuse
nigeria:
Discouraged
vietnam:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
nigeria:
Sometimes observed, depending on traffic and location
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Lane Courtesy: Blocking
nigeria:
Discouraged and can lead to fines
vietnam:
Discouraged and may be penalized
Use Of Horn: Limited
nigeria:
Commonly used, but officially for emergencies
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nigeria:
Frequent use, similar to some other countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
nigeria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but may not be strictly enforced
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nigeria:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasional roadblocks | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Fines vary across states | Varies; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for repeated or severe offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Likely to result in arrest or fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
nigeria:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nigeria:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
nigeria:
Occasional roadblocks
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
nigeria:
Fines vary across states
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
nigeria:
Possible for repeated or severe offenses
vietnam:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
nigeria:
Likely to result in arrest or fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Priority: Inside | Maintain lane, avoid abrupt lane changes | Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly |
| Signaling: Entering | Signal appropriately when entering if turning | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Priority: Inside
nigeria:
Maintain lane, avoid abrupt lane changes
vietnam:
Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly
Signaling: Entering
nigeria:
Signal appropriately when entering if turning
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
nigeria:
Signal when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nigeria:
Use for subsequent exits
vietnam:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 199 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region; check local contact | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nigeria:
112 or 199
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
nigeria:
Varies by region; check local contact
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nigeria:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
nigeria:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nigeria:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nigeria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be heavy fine, often on-the-spot | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; fines and potential jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine for not wearing; enforcement varies | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; hands-free concept encouraged | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines imposed; traffic light cameras in some areas | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually with cash | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies by offense | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
nigeria:
Varies; can be heavy fine, often on-the-spot
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
nigeria:
Varies; fines and potential jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nigeria:
Fine for not wearing; enforcement varies
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
nigeria:
Fines apply; hands-free concept encouraged
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nigeria:
Fines imposed; traffic light cameras in some areas
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
nigeria:
Common; usually with cash
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
nigeria:
Varies by offense
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days