Driving Differences: South Korea vs. Vietnam Explained
When comparing road regulations in South Korea and Vietnam, drivers encounter notable variations that significantly impact their travel experiences. From lane markings to speed limits and the use of horns, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring safe and responsible navigation in each country. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge before hitting the road!
Lanes
| South korea | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during specified hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
south korea:
Yes
vietnam:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| South korea | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
south korea:
60 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
south korea:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
south korea:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
south korea:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
south korea:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
south korea:
100-110 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
south korea:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| South korea | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in South Korea | 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 | Korean; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
south korea:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
south korea:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
south korea:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
south korea:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| South korea | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | 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
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| South korea | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof 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 | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south korea:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| South korea | 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
south korea:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
south korea:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
south korea:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
south korea:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| South korea | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used | Common |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
vietnam:
Common
Test Refusal
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| South korea | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; often part of the general emergency network | 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
south korea:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
south korea:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| South korea | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines and license points given | 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 | Fines and license points given | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and license points given | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and license points given | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
south korea:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
south korea:
Fines and license points given
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
south korea:
Fines and license points given
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
south korea:
Fines and license points given
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
south korea:
Yes
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days