Driving Safety: Tanzania vs. Vietnam – Key Differences
Tanzania and Vietnam present striking contrasts in their road rules and regulations. From the side of the road on which drivers navigate to differing speed limits and lane usage, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safe travel. Explore the unique driving norms that define each country, enhancing your awareness and preparedness for the road ahead.
Lanes
| Tanzania | 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 | Yes | 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: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
tanzania:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
tanzania:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
tanzania:
Yes
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Tanzania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
tanzania:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
tanzania:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
tanzania:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
tanzania:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
tanzania:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
tanzania:
80 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
tanzania:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
tanzania:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Tanzania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Tanzania | 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 and Swahili; 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
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
tanzania:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
tanzania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
tanzania:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
tanzania:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Tanzania | 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
tanzania:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Tanzania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually | 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 | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
tanzania:
Required annually
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
tanzania:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
tanzania:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Tanzania | 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 | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
tanzania:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
tanzania:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
tanzania:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Tanzania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Fines | Significant fines apply | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
tanzania:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
tanzania:
0.05%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
tanzania:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Fines
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Tanzania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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 | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
tanzania:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
tanzania:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
tanzania:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
tanzania:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Tanzania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties can be severe | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Penalties enforced | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
tanzania:
Fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
tanzania:
Fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
tanzania:
Common
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days