Philippines vs Vietnam: Key Driving Differences Uncovered
As you prepare to navigate the roads of the Philippines and Vietnam, it's essential to understand their distinct traffic regulations and practices. This comparison highlights critical variations in lane usage, speed limits, and road etiquette, ensuring a safer journey in these vibrant nations. Discover how these differences can impact your driving experience and promote overall safety abroad.
Lanes
| Philippines | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
philippines:
Generally not allowed, except on one-way streets.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Reserved for buses and sometimes PUVs.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
philippines:
Labeled with signs; often separated by a bus lane barrier.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
philippines:
Shared with motorcycles or exclusive for bicycles.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
philippines:
Yes
vietnam:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
philippines:
Minimum two occupants
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Philippines | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 kph | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 kph | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Less common; fines are usually issued later | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
philippines:
40 kph
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
philippines:
20 kph
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
80 kph
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
philippines:
70 kph
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
50 kph
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
philippines:
100 kph
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
philippines:
80 kph
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
philippines:
80 kph
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Speed Units
philippines:
kph
vietnam:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
philippines:
Not commonly used
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
philippines:
Less common; fines are usually issued later
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Philippines | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | 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 Filipino; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
philippines:
Not used
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
philippines:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
philippines:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
philippines:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
philippines:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
philippines:
English and Filipino; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
philippines:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Philippines | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Common, check for signs indicating restrictions | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
philippines:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
philippines:
Common, check for signs indicating restrictions
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Philippines | 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 |
| Insurance | Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required for registration; certificate must be displayed | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
philippines:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Insurance
philippines:
Compulsory third-party liability insurance mandatory
vietnam:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
philippines:
Required for registration; certificate must be displayed
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
philippines:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
philippines:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
philippines:
Not mandatory, but recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Philippines | 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 in urban areas to alert other road users | 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
philippines:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
philippines:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
philippines:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
philippines:
Frequent use in urban areas to alert other road users
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
philippines:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
philippines:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Philippines | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe for violations, may include imprisonment | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
philippines:
0.05%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
philippines:
Common during checkpoints, especially on holidays
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
philippines:
Severe for violations, may include imprisonment
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Philippines | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AAA | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
philippines:
911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
philippines:
117
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
philippines:
Check with your insurance provider or AAA
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
philippines:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Philippines | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000 | 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 | PHP 300 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | PHP 1000 to PHP 5000 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | PHP 1000 | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
philippines:
Varies; typically ranges from PHP 1000 to PHP 2000
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
philippines:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
philippines:
PHP 300
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
philippines:
PHP 1000 to PHP 5000
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
philippines:
PHP 1000
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
philippines:
Less common; typically done through authorized payment centers
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
philippines:
Varies; usually within 15 days upon issuance
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days