What are the rules of overtaking in traffic in Vietnam?

What shall be ensured when signaling to overtake a vehicle in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 14 of the Law on Road Traffic in 2008 stipulating regulations on overtaking:

- Before overtaking, a vehicle shall give a signal by means of light or horn; from 22.00 hrs to 05.00 hrs in urban centers and populous areas, only light signals can be used for this purpose.

- The overtaking vehicle may overtake only where there is no obstacle ahead, no oncoming vehicle in the road section intended for overtaking and the vehicle ahead has not given a signal to overtake another and has moved toward the right side.

- When there is a vehicle intending to overtake, if safety can be assured, the operator of the vehicle ahead shall slow down, move close to the right of the carriageway till the following vehicle has passed and may not cause obstructions to the overtaking vehicle.

- When overtaking, a vehicle shall do so on the left side, except for the following cases where it can overtake on the right side:

+ When the vehicle ahead has given a signal to turn left or is turning left;

+ When a tram is running in the middle of the road;

+ When a special-use vehicle is operating on the road, making overtaking on the left impossible.

- Overtaking is forbidden in the following cases:

+ The conditions prescribed in Clause 2 Article 14 of the Law on Road Traffic in 2008 are not met;

+ There is only a single line of vehicular traffic on a narrow bridge;

+ On a bend, at the crest of a slope and at a place with insufficient visibility;

+ At an intersection or a level crossing between a road and a railroad track;

+ When weather conditions or road conditions do not ensure safe overtaking;

+ A priority vehicle is emitting a priority signal.

What are the rules of overtaking in traffic in Vietnam? - image from internet

What are the rules of overtaking in traffic in Vietnam?

Based on Article 14 of the Law on Road Traffic in 2008 prescribed above, the rules of overtaking in traffic in Vietnam are stipulated as follows:

- Before overtaking, a vehicle shall give a signal by means of light or horn;

- The overtaking vehicle may overtake only where there is no obstacle ahead;

- When overtaking, a vehicle shall do so on the left side, except for the following cases where it can overtake on the right side;

- The vehicle intending to overtake must wait for the operator of the vehicle ahead to slow down before overtaking;

- The operator must not ovetake in forbidden cases.

What are the fines imposed on motocycle operators in Vietnam for not signaling before overtaking?

Pursuant to Clause 1 Article 6 of the Decree 100/2019/ND-CP (amended by Clause 34.e Article 2 of the Decree 123/2021/ND-CP) stipulating penalties imposed upon operators of mopeds and motorcycles (including electric motorcycles) and the like violating road traffic rules:

Penalties imposed upon operators of mopeds and motorcycles (including electric motorcycles) and the like violating road traffic rules

1. A fine ranging from VND 100,000 to VND 200,000 shall be imposed upon a vehicle operator who commits any of the following violations:

a) Failure to comply with road signs and road markings, except for violations specified in Points c, dd, e and h Clause 2; Point a, point d, point g, point i, point m Clause 3; Points a, b, c, d and e Clause 4; Clause 5; Point b Clause 6; Points a and b Clause 7; Point d Clause 8 of this Article;

b) No signaling before overtaking;

c) Failure to keep a safe distance that leads to a collision with the vehicle ahead; failure to keep a safe distance in accordance with the sign “Cự ly tối thiểu giữa hai xe” (Safe distance);

d) Turning without yielding to the pedestrians and wheelchairs of the disabled that cross the street at crosswalks or non-motorized vehicles running in the cycle lane;

dd) Turning without yielding to oncoming vehicles, the pedestrians and wheelchairs of the disabled that cross the street at other positions than crosswalks;

e) Reversing motor tricycles without observation or signaling;

g) Carrying a passenger who uses an umbrella;

h) Failure to comply with regulations on yielding at intersections, except for the violations specified in Points b and e Clause 2 of this Article;

i) Changing lanes where prohibited or without signaling;

k) Going three abreast or more;

l) Failure to turn on the lights from 7 pm to 5 am or in a foggy or bad weather when visibility is short;

...

A fine from ranging from VND 100,000 to VND 200,000 shall be imposed upon motocycle operators in Vietnam for not signaling before overtaking.

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