Road signs in Vietnam

Vietnamese pedestrian crossing sign

Road signs in Vietnam follow Chinese and French road signs. Some signs are written in both Vietnamese and English. The signs are prescribed by the Vietnam Ministry of Transport with the 2019 standardization being the up-to-date regulations.

Vietnam acceded to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals on August 20, 2014. ^[1]

Prohibition signs

• 
  P.101: All vehicles prohibited
• 
  P.102: Wrong way
• 
  P.103: No motor vehicles
• 
  P.103b: No right turn for motor vehicles
• 
  P.103c: No left turn for motor vehicles
• 
  P.104: No motorcycles
• 
  P.105: No motorcycles and motor vehicles
• 
  P.106a: No commercial vehicles
• 
  P.106b: No commercial vehicles above designated weight
• 
  P.106c: No commercial vehicles carrying dangerous loads
• 
  P.107: No buses or trucks
• 
  P.107a: No buses
• 
  P.107b: No taxis
• 
  P.108: No vehicles with trailers
• 
  P.108a: No semi-trailers
• 
  P.109: No tractors
• 
  P.110a: No bicycles
• 
  P.110b: No cargo bicycles
• 
  P.111a: No mopeds
• 
  P.111b: No auto rickshaws
• 
  P.111c: No motorcycles with side-cars
• 
  P.111d: No pedal tricycles
• 
  P.112: No pedestrians
• 
  P.113: No handcarts
• 
  P.114: No animal-drawn carts
• 
  P.115: Gross vehicle weight limit
• 
  P.116: Weight limit per axle
• 
  P.117: Height limit
• 
  P.118: Width limit
• 
  P.119: Length limit for commercial vehicles
• 
  P.120: Length limit for vehicles with trailers
• 
  P.121: Minimum distance between each vehicle
• 
  P.122: Stop
• 
  P.123a: No left turn
• 
  P.123b: No right turn
• 
  P.124a1: No left U-turns
• 
  P.124a2: No right U-turns
• 
  P.124b1: No left U-turns for motor vehicles
• 
  P.124b2: No right U-turns for motor vehicles
• 
  P.124c: No left turn and U-turn
• 
  P.124d: No right turn and U-turn
• 
  P.124e: No left turn or U-turn for motor vehicles
• 
  P.124f: No right turn and U-turn for motor vehicles
• 
  P.125: No overtaking
• 
  P.126: No overtaking for commercial vehicles
• 
  P.127: Maximum speed limit
• 
  P.127a: Night-time speed limit
• 
  P.127b: Speed limits per lane
• 
  P.127c: Speed limits and vehicle classes allowed per lane
• 
  DP.127d: End of different speed limits per lane
• 
  DP.127e: End of different speed limits and vehicle classes allowed per lane
• 
  P.128: No honking
• 
  P.129: Checkpoint
• 
  P.130: No stopping and parking
• 
  P.131a: No parking
• 
  P.131b: No parking on odd-numbered days
• 
  P.131c: No parking on even-numbered days
• 
  P.132: Give way to oncoming traffic on narrow roads
• 
  DP.133: End of the overtaking prohibition
• 
  DP.134: End of the previously signed speed limit
• 
  DP.135: End of all previously signed prohibitions
• 
  P.136: No straight ahead
• 
  P.137: No left and right turn
• 
  P.138: No proceeding straight ahead and left turn
• 
  P.139: No proceeding straight ahead and right turn
• 
  P.140: No agricultural or similar vehicles

Warning signs

• 
  W.201a: Bend to left
• 
  W.201b: Bend to right
• 
  W.201c: Bend to the left with a danger of vehicle rollover
• 
  W.201d: Bend to the right with a danger of vehicle rollover
• 
  W.202a: Double bend first to left
• 
  W.202b: Double bend first to right
• 
  W.203a: Road narrows ahead on both sides
• 
  W.203b: Road narrows ahead on the left side
• 
  W.203c: Road narrows ahead on the right side
• 
  W.204: Two-way traffic
• 
  W.205a: Crossroad
• 
  W.205b: Side road junction on the right
• 
  W.205c: Side road junction on the left
• 
  W.205d: T-junction
• 
  W.205e:Y-junction
• 
  W.206: Roundabout ahead
• 
  W.207a: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207b: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207c: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207d: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207e: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207f: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207g: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207h: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207i: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207j: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207k: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207l: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.207m: Road junction with priority
• 
  W.208: Give way
• 
  W.209: Traffic signals ahead
• 
  W.210: Railway crossing with gates ahead
• 
  W.211a: Railway crossing without gates ahead
• 
  W.211b: Tramway
• 
  W.212: Narrow bridge
• 
  W.213: Temporary bridge
• 
  W.214: Drawbridge
• 
  W.215a: Unprotected quayside of riverbank
• 
  W.215b: Embankment along the right side of the road
• 
  W.215c: Embankment along the left side of the road
• 
  W.216a: Ford
• 
  W.216b: Ford susceptible to flash flooding
• 
  W.217: Ferry
• 
  W.218: Underpass
• 
  W.219: Steep descent
• 
  W.220: Steep ascent
• 
  W.221a: Uneven road
• 
  W.221b: Road bump
• 
  W.222a: Slippery road
• 
  W.222b: Dangerous shoulder
• 
  W.223a: Dangerous cliff on the right
• 
  W.223b: Dangerous cliff on the left
• 
  W.224: Pedestrian crossing ahead
• 
  W.225: Children area
• 
  W.226a: Cycle crossing
• 
  W.227: Construction site ahead
• 
  W.228a: Risk of landslides from the left
• 
  W.228b: Risk of landslides from the right
• 
  W.228c: Loose stones
• 
  W.228d: Weak road
• 
  W.229: Low-flying aircraft
• 
  W.230: Farm animals
• 
  W.231: Wild animals
• 
  W.232: Crosswinds
• 
  W.233: Other danger
• 
  W.234: Two-way traffic
• 
  W.235: Beginning of dual carriageway / median strip
• 
  W.236: End of dual carriageway / median strip
• 
  W.237: Hump bridge
• 
  W.238: Expressway ahead
• 
  W.239a: Overhead electrical cables
• 
  W.239b: Clearance height
• 
  W.240: Tunnel ahead
• 
  W.241: Traffic queues
• 
  W.242a: Single track railway crossing
• 
  W.242b: Multitrack railway crossing
• 
  W.243a: Countdown beacon of the distance to a railroad crossing ahead (50m)
• 
  W.243b: Countdown beacon of the distance to a railroad crossing ahead (100m)
• 
  W.243c: Countdown beacon of the distance to a railroad crossing ahead (150m)
• 
  W.244: Accident-prone area
• 
  W.245a: Slow down
• 
  W.245b: Slow down (with English sign)
• 
  W.246a: Median strip ahead - pass on either side
• 
  W.246b: Median strip ahead - pass on left side
• 
  W.246c: Median strip ahead - pass on right side
• 
  W.247: Attention to the parked car

Mandatory signs

• 
  R.301a: Go straight ahead
• 
  R.301b: Turn right
• 
  R.301c: Turn left
• 
  R.301i: Turn left or right only
• 
  R.302a: Keep right
• 
  R.302b: Keep left
• 
  R.302c: Pass on either side
• 
  R.306: Minimum speed limit
• 
  R.307: End of the minimum speed limit
• 
  R.308a: Overpass route
• 
  R.308b: Overpass route
• 
  R.309: Use horn
• 
  R.310a: Vehicles carrying dangerous load can only turn left
• 
  R.310b: Vehicles carrying dangerous load can only go straight
• 
  R.310c: Vehicles carrying dangerous load can only turn right
• 
  R.403a: Road for motor vehicles
• 
  R.403b: Road for motor vehicles and motorcycles
• 
  R.403c: Road for motorcycles
• 
  R.404d: Vehicle classes allowed per lane

RE signs

• 
  RE.11a: Start of tunnel
• 
  RE.11b: End of tunnel

Information signs

• 
  I.401: Main road
• 
  I.402: End of the main road
• 
  I.403a: Dead end street on the right
• 
  I.403b: Dead end street on the left
• 
  I.404c: Dead end
• 
  I.405: Priority over oncoming traffic
• 
  I.406: One way street
• 
  I.407a: One way street
• 
  I.407b: One way street
• 
  I.408: Parking
• 
  I.408a: Parking sign with a diagram of how to position your vehicle
• 
  I.409: U-turn permitted
• 
  I.410: Turning area
• 
  I.413a: One way street with a contraflow lane for buses
• 
  I.413b: One way street with a contraflow lane for buses
• 
  I.413c: One way street with a contraflow lane for buses
• 
  I.415: Arrows indicate direction
• 
  I.416: Bypasses
• 
  I.418: Alternative route where a turn is prohibited
• 
  I.419a: Boundary sign
• 
  I.419b: Boundary sign (with English)
• 
  I.420: Start of residential area
• 
  I.421: End of residential area
• 
  I.422a: Historical site
• 
  I.422b: Historical site (with English)
• 
  I.423a: Pedestrian crossing
• 
  I.423b: Pedestrian crossing
• 
  I.423c: Start of pedestrian path
• 
  I.426: Medical station
• 
  I.424a: Repair shop
• 
  I.424b: Vehicle load check station
• 
  I.424c: Car wash
• 
  I.424d: Telephone
• 
  I.434e: Bus stop / station
• 
  I.434f: Truck stop / station
• 
  I.435g: Tram stop / station
• 
  I.436h: Traffic police station
• 
  I.437: Bridge information
• 
  I.438: Section of road ahead is under construction
• 
  I.439a: Distance to a construction site ahead (500m)
• 
  I.439b: Distance to a construction site ahead (100m)
• 
  I.439c: Distance to a construction site ahead (50m)
• 
  I.440: Market
• 
  I.440a: This sign is placed on vehicles pulling a trailer
• 
  I.441: Handicap
• 
  I.442: Escape lane
• 
  I.443: Asian Highway Shield
• 
  I.444: Metro station
• 
  444a: Gasoline station
• 
  I.444b: Parking lot

Information signs on the expressway

• 
  450a: Indicate the distance to the intersection with the entrance path to the expressway
• 
  450b: Diagram directions to the highway access road
• 
  451a: Distance indication to expressway entrance
• 
  451b: Expressway entrance directions.
• 
  452 : Speed limit on Expressway
• 
  453a: Distance indication to the end of expressway
• 
  453b: Expressway end point indication
• 
  464b: Directions to exit
• 
  465: Indication of location and distance
• 
  466: Show one-way exit diagrams at all intersections on the road expressway
• 
  471: Instructions for keeping a safe driving distance
• 
  472a:Indication of the distance to the toll booth
• 
  472b: Indication of the distance to the toll booth
• 
  472c: Electronic toll collection
• 
  472d: Take card
• 
  472e: Pay toll
• 
  473: Slow down
• 
  474: Exit

Supplementary signs

• 
  501 : Distance of signaling object
• 
  502 : Distance to signaling object
• 
  503: Right turns
• 
  503a: Left and right turns
• 
  503b: Left turns
• 
  504 : Road lane
• 
  505a : Vehicle
• 
  505b : Vehicle weight
• 
  505c : Axial load
• 
  506: Priority direction
• 
  507a : Chevrons
• 
  507b: Chevrons to the left
• 
  507c: Chevrons to the right
• 
  508: Time
• 
  509a: No parking
• 
  509b: Safety height limit
• 
  510: Slippery road (snow)

Other signs

• 
  Asian Highway route shield
• 
  Expressway route shield
• 
  National road route shield
• 
  Provincial road route shield

Historical

• 
  Stop (South Vietnam)

References

The 2019 National Technical Regulation on Traffic Signs and Signals

1. "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 2023-11-24.