Do funeral vehicle processions have the priority right to go before other vehicles in Vietnam?

Do funeral vehicle processions have the priority right to go before other vehicles in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clauses 1 and 2, Article 22 of the Law on Road Traffic 2008, regulations regarding the priority rights of certain vehicles are as follows:

1. The following vehicles are granted priority to pass before other vehicles when approaching intersections from any direction in the following order:

a) Firefighting vehicles on duty;

b) Military vehicles, police vehicles on emergency duties, convoy with police leading vehicles;

c) Ambulances on emergency missions;

d) Dike protection vehicles, vehicles on duty to overcome natural disaster effects, epidemic prevention or vehicles on emergency duties as prescribed by law;

dd) funeral vehicle processions.

2. Vehicles stipulated at Points a, b, c, and d of Clause 1 of this Article while on duty must have the signal horn, flag, and lights as prescribed; are not restricted by speed limits; are allowed to go in the opposite direction, on other possible routes, even when the traffic light is red and only need to follow the guidance of traffic controllers.

The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam specifically prescribes the signals of priority vehicles.

3. When there is a signal from a priority vehicle, road users must quickly reduce speed, avoid or stop at the right side of the road to give way. No obstruction to priority vehicles is permitted.

Thus, according to the above regulations, funeral vehicle processions only have the priority right to go before other vehicles when approaching intersections from any direction in the specified order and must still comply with traffic lights, not allowed to go in the opposite direction.

When are funeral vehicle processions not allowed to overtake other vehicles in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 5, Article 14 which specifies the circumstances under which funeral vehicle processions are not allowed to overtake other vehicles as follows:

5. Overtaking is not allowed when one of the following conditions is met:

a) The conditions stipulated in Clause 2 of this Article are not ensured;

b) On narrow bridges with a single lane;

c) On curved roads, hilltops, and places with limited visibility;

d) At intersections, railway crossings at the same level;

dd) When weather conditions or the road does not ensure safety for overtaking;

e) Emergency vehicles are emitting priority signals while on duty.

Sincerely!