Driving in Thailand vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
Explore the contrasting driving landscapes of Thailand and Vietnam, where unique regulations and practices shape the road experience. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and diverse traffic etiquette. Understanding these differences is essential for ensuring a secure journey while navigating these vibrant countries.
Lanes
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
thailand:
Left
vietnam:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
thailand:
Prohibited
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
thailand:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
thailand:
50-60 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
thailand:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
thailand:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
thailand:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
thailand:
90-120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
thailand:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
thailand:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
thailand:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
thailand:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Thailand | 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 | Thai; some signs include English | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Warning signs are triangular | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
thailand:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
thailand:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
thailand:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
thailand:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for registration renewal | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Thailand | 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 to alert other drivers | 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 side and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
thailand:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
thailand:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
thailand:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
thailand:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
vietnam:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 1193 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
thailand:
191
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
thailand:
1193
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Thailand | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from ฿500 | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines up to ฿500 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines up to ฿500 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines start from ฿500 | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be paid at the scene | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days