Driving in South Africa vs. Vietnam: Key Differences
When comparing the driving experiences in South Africa and Vietnam, intriguing contrasts emerge. South Africa drives on the left, while Vietnam favors the right. Speed limits and lane regulations diverge significantly, highlighting the importance of understanding local rules for a secure journey. Explore these distinctions to enhance your travel safety abroad.
Lanes
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless turning. | 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; marked with road signs and lane markings. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
south africa:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
south africa:
Allowed
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80-100 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common in South Africa | Common |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south africa:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
south africa:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south africa:
100-120 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Africa | 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 | Triangular shape with a red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
south africa:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
south africa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
south africa:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
south africa:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
south africa:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not applicable | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south africa:
Not applicable
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south africa:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| South africa | 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 crosswalks | 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
south africa:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
south africa:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
south africa:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
south africa:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadblocks are used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; varies based on offense | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and additional fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
south africa:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
south africa:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 10111 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call general emergency number | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
south africa:
112 or 10111
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
south africa:
Call general emergency number
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south africa:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South africa | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed | 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 | Common fine; mandatory use | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common with road checkpoints | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south africa:
Fines applicable
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days