Transportation

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Vietnam, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Traffic accident injuries are the leading cause of death, severe injury, and emergency evacuation of foreigners in Vietnam. Traffic accidents, including those involving a pedestrian and a motorized vehicle, are the single greatest health and safety risk you will face in Vietnam. Traffic in Vietnam is chaotic, and traffic accidents occur frequently. The most common victims are motorbike riders and pedestrians. At least 30 people die each day from transportation-related injuries and many more are injured, often with traumatic head injuries. The information below concerning Vietnam is provided for general reference only, as conditions will vary depending on location and particular circumstances.

Emergency roadside help is available nationwide by dialing 113 for police, 114 for fire brigade, and 115 for an ambulance. The efficiency of these services is well below U.S. standards, and public telephones are generally not available. Passers-by at an accident may contact police or offer transport to health facilities by private vehicle. Trauma care is not widely available and of generally low quality, particularly outside major cities.

Traffic moves on the right, although drivers frequently cross to the left to pass or turn, and motorcycles and bicycles often travel (illegally) against the flow of traffic. Streets in major cities are choked with motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians, and cyclos (pedicabs). Outside the cities, livestock compete with vehicles for road space. Sudden stops and merges by vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles make driving particularly hazardous. Nationwide, drivers do not follow basic traffic principles, vehicles do not yield right of way, and there is little adherence to traffic laws or enforcement by traffic police. The number of traffic lights in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is increasing, but the existing traffic signals are often not obeyed. Most Vietnamese ride motorcycles; often an entire family rides on one motorcycle. The urban speed limit ranges from 30 to 40 km/h (or 19-25 miles/h). The rural speed limit ranges from 40 to 60 km/h (or 25 – 37 miles/h). Both speed limits are routinely ignored.

Be careful when you are walking, as sidewalks are extremely uneven and congested, and drivers of bicycles, motorcycles and other vehicles routinely ignore traffic signals and traffic flows, drive on sidewalks for shortcuts, and pass on both the right and left of vehicles. For safety, you should always look carefully in both directions before crossing streets, even when using a marked crosswalk with a green "walk" light illuminated. When you are boarding or disembarking any type of vehicle you should be extremely careful to always look both ways because motorcycles and other vehicles routinely quickly pass stationary vehicles on the left and on the right.

Road conditions are poor nationwide. Numerous accidents occur due to poor road conditions. U.S. citizen have been killed in vehicle accidents while traveling in northern provinces during the rainy season due to landslides. You should exercise extra caution in the countryside, as road conditions are particularly poor in rural areas.

Driving at night is especially dangerous, and you should exercise extreme caution. Roads are poorly lit, and there are few road signs. Buses and trucks often travel at high speed with bright lights that they rarely dim. Some motor vehicles do not use any lights, and vehicles of all types often stop in areas of the road that have no illumination. Livestock are often in the road.

A law mandating the use of motorcycle helmets on all roads is strictly enforced, at least for adult riders. We strongly urge you to wear a U.S. DOT standard helmet when you ride a motorcycle or a bicycle. Vietnamese vehicles often are not equipped with working seatbelts; however, when a seatbelt is available, you should always use it, including in taxis. Child car seats are rarely available in Vietnam.

Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or causing an accident resulting in injury or death can include fines, confiscation of driving permits, and imprisonment. U.S. citizens involved in traffic accidents have been barred from leaving Vietnam until they have paid compensation (often determined arbitrarily) for property damage or injuries.

International driving permits and U.S. drivers' licenses are not valid in Vietnam. Foreigners renting vehicles risk fines, prosecution, and/or imprisonment for driving without a Vietnamese license endorsed for the appropriate vehicle. If you wish to drive in Vietnam, contact the Provincial Public Transportation Service of the Vietnamese Department of Communications and Transport to obtain a Vietnamese driver's license. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City cannot assist you in obtaining Vietnamese driver's permits or notarize U.S. drivers' licenses for use in Vietnam.

Most Vietnamese travel within Vietnam by long-distance bus or train. Both are slow, and safety conditions fall below U.S. standards. Local buses and taxis are available in some areas, particularly in the larger cities. Safety standards vary widely depending on the individual company operating the service, but are generally much lower than what you would find in the United States.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Also, we suggest that you visit the website of the country’s national tourist office.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Vietnam, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Vietnam’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.