Vehicle priority in traffic

Therefore, when there is a signal from a priority vehicle, traffic participants need to proactively stop or give way.

Priority vehicles

When participating in traffic, drivers will encounter certain types of vehicles that are given priority to move according to regulations.

There are 5 types of priority vehicles in Vietnam as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 22 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law, including:

Vehicles for emergency firefighting missions

Ambulance on emergency rescue mission

Military and police vehicles on emergency missions and convoys led by police cars

Vehicles on duty to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, epidemics or vehicles on emergency missions as prescribed by law

Funeral procession

The order of priority vehicles according to the law from high to low

Among the 5 types of priority vehicles above, there will be vehicles that have the right of way before other vehicles when crossing intersections from any direction.

Because these are vehicles with very important missions and need to be given top priority, specifically the priority vehicles in order:

Firefighting vehicle

Military and police vehicles on duty and convoys led by police cars

Emergency ambulance

Vehicles on duty to overcome the consequences of natural disasters, epidemics or vehicles on emergency missions as prescribed by law

Funeral procession

Drivers of vehicles participating in traffic are required to fully comply with traffic laws and regulations on priority vehicles in Vietnam. In case of non-compliance with regulations, they will be subject to different levels of fines.

Penalties for motorbikes not giving way or obstructing priority vehicles

According to Article 6 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP, a motorcyclist who fails to yield or obstructs a priority vehicle that is signaling priority will be fined from VND 200,000 to VND 300,000 if he/she commits one of the following violations:

Drivers who do not give way to vehicles requesting to overtake when conditions permit, do not give way to vehicles on priority roads or main roads coming from any direction at intersections...

Vehicles not entitled to priority shall install or use signaling devices of vehicles entitled to priority.

In addition to administrative fines, violators may also have their driving license revoked for 1-3 months. In case of causing a traffic accident, their driving license will be revoked for 2-4 months.

Penalties for cars not giving way or obstructing priority vehicles

For cars, the fine will be applied from 3,000,000 VND - 5,000,000 VND to drivers who commit the offense of not proactively giving way or obstructing priority vehicles that are signaling priority.

In addition to administrative fines, vehicle owners may also have their driving licenses revoked for 1 to 3 months. In case of causing a traffic accident, the license revocation period can be up to 2 to 4 months.

When encountering a STOP sign, priority vehicles must still stop.

According to regulations, when encountering a red sign with the word STOP, priority vehicle drivers must still stop according to regulations.

The sign is mandatory for motor vehicles, rudimentary vehicles, including vehicles with priority according to state regulations, must stop before the sign or before the crosswalk. Vehicles can only continue moving when there is a traffic light signal or a signal from the traffic controller there.