Driving in Sri Lanka vs Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Sri Lanka and Vietnam, travelers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly influence their driving experience. From varying lane usage to differing speed limits, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring road safety abroad. Dive into our comprehensive comparison to navigate these driving landscapes with confidence.
Lanes
| Sri lanka | 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 Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed when safe. | 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. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. | N/A |
Driving Side
sri lanka:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
sri lanka:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
sri lanka:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
sri lanka:
N/A
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
sri lanka:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Sri lanka | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
sri lanka:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
sri lanka:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
70 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
60 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
60 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
sri lanka:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
sri lanka:
80 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
sri lanka:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
sri lanka:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Sri lanka | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Sri Lanka | 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 |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used more frequently in rural areas | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
sri lanka:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
sri lanka:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
sri lanka:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
vietnam:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Sri lanka | 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
sri lanka:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Sri lanka | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Sri lanka | 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 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
sri lanka:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
sri lanka:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
sri lanka:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
sri lanka:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Sri lanka | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
sri lanka:
0.06%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
sri lanka:
0.04%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Sri lanka | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Sri lanka | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 119 or contact local police | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
sri lanka:
119
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Sri lanka | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; expect substantial fines | 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 applied; amount may vary | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applied; amount may vary | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied; amount may vary | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days