Driving in the United Arab Emirates vs. Vietnam: A Guide
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the nuances of road regulations between the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam is crucial. From speed limits to lane usage, each country has distinct rules that impact motorists’ safety. Uncover the key contrasts that can enhance your driving experience and ensure a secure adventure abroad.
Lanes
| United arab emirates | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 6 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
vietnam:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Presence
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
vietnam:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
vietnam:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
united arab emirates:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| United arab emirates | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-40 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-140 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Less common; fines can be issued electronically | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
united arab emirates:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| United arab emirates | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in UAE | 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; especially in residential areas | 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 | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
united arab emirates:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
united arab emirates:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
united arab emirates:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| United arab emirates | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| United arab emirates | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years | 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 | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
united arab emirates:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| United arab emirates | 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 use, not excessively | 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
united arab emirates:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
united arab emirates:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
united arab emirates:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
united arab emirates:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
united arab emirates:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| United arab emirates | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.0% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.0% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
united arab emirates:
0.0%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
united arab emirates:
0.0%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
vietnam:
Common
Emergency Services
| United arab emirates | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
united arab emirates:
999
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
united arab emirates:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
united arab emirates:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| United arab emirates | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AED 400, 4 black points | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AED 800, 4 black points | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AED 1000, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days