Driving in Saudi Arabia vs. Vietnam: Key Differences
When comparing road regulations in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, distinct contrasts emerge that impact travelers significantly. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and penalties, these countries showcase unique approaches to vehicular safety. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Saudi arabia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
saudi arabia:
N/A
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
saudi arabia:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
saudi arabia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Saudi arabia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120-140 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
saudi arabia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Saudi arabia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Saudi Arabia | 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 | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
saudi arabia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
saudi arabia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
saudi arabia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Saudi arabia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Saudi arabia | 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 | Mandatory periodic inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Saudi arabia | 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 for communication on the road | 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
saudi arabia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
saudi arabia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
saudi arabia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
saudi arabia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Saudi arabia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, random checkpoints are used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; possible imprisonment | Varies; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Frequent for offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
saudi arabia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
vietnam:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Saudi arabia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
saudi arabia:
999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
saudi arabia:
993
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Saudi arabia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days