Driving Differences: Singapore vs. Vietnam Explained
When navigating the roads of Singapore and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their travel experience. Key disparities include driving on the left in Singapore versus the right in Vietnam, varying speed limits, and differing road etiquette. Understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Singapore | 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 | Not allowed. | 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 peak hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
singapore:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
singapore:
Not allowed.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
singapore:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Singapore | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
singapore:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
70-90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
singapore:
70-90 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
70-90 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
singapore:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
singapore:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
singapore:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
singapore:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Singapore | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Singapore | 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; 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
singapore:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
singapore:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
singapore:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
singapore:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Singapore | 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
singapore:
Not allowed.
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Singapore | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Display not required | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
singapore:
Display not required
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Singapore | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown | 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 crosswalks and pedestrian zones | 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
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
singapore:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
singapore:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
singapore:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Singapore | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
singapore:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Singapore | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 995 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
singapore:
995
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
singapore:
999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Singapore | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, demerit points | 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 | $120, demerit points for non-compliance | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $200 to $500, demerit points | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days