• Maintain direction no matter what it is because traffic in Vietnam is chaotic. Traffic accidents occur frequently and the most common victims are motorbike riders and pedestrians.

• Traffic moves on the right hand side of the road, although drivers frequently cross to the left to pass or turn, and motorcycles and bicycles often travel (illegally) against the flow of traffic.

• Horns are used constantly, often for no apparent reason. Streets in major cities are choked with motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians and cyclos.

• Traffic lights only count as having turned red when you can no longer force your way through the traffic crossing your path. The orange lights on either side of your vehicle are for decorative purposes only. They serve no practical function.

• Motorcyclists and bicyclists are strongly urged to wear helmets. Passengers in cars or taxis should use seatbelts when available, but should be aware that Vietnamese vehicles often are not equipped with working seatbelts. A law mandating the use of motorcycle helmets on all roads went into effect on December 15, 2007, and is strictly enforced Child car seats are not available in Vietnam.

• The urban speed limit ranges from 30 to 40 km/h. The rural speed limit ranges from 40 to 60 km/h. Remember the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

• International driving permits and U.S. drivers’ licenses are not valid in Vietnam. Foreigners renting vehicles risk prosecution or imprisonment for driving without a Vietnamese license endorsed for the appropriate vehicle. U.S. citizens who wish to drive in Vietnam should contact any office of the Provincial Public transportation Service of the Vietnamese Department of Communications and transport to obtain a Vietnamese driver’s license.

• Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or causing an accident resulting in injury or death can include fines, confiscation of driving permits or imprisonment. U.S. citizens involved in traffic accidents have been barred from leaving Vietnam before paying compensation for property damage or injuries.

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