Driving in Turkey vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts between driving regulations in Turkey and Vietnam. From lane usage and speed limits to road etiquette and alcohol policies, each country presents unique rules that shape the driving experience. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey while navigating foreign roads.
Lanes
| Turkey | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Markings
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
turkey:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
turkey:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Turkey | 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 | 90 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 | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
turkey:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
turkey:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
turkey:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
turkey:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
turkey:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
turkey:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
turkey:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
turkey:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
turkey:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Turkey | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used in Turkey | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 | 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 | Turkish; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
turkey:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
turkey:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
turkey:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Turkey | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Turkey | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield after inspection | 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
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
turkey:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
turkey:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Turkey | 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 | More 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
turkey:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
turkey:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
turkey:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
turkey:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Turkey | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are frequent | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
turkey:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Turkey | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 155 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services | 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
turkey:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
turkey:
155
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
turkey:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
turkey:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Turkey | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Approximately TL 160, points may apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for holding a phone while driving | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines vary, penalty points apply | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days