THE 1968 VIENNA CONVENTION ON ROAD TRAFFIC: A GATEWAY TO INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION FOR VIETNAMESE DRIVERS

1. Legal Framework and Vietnam's Participation

The Convention on Road Traffic was signed in Vienna on November 8, 1968. Its core objective is to promote road safety by standardizing traffic rules among member states.

In Vietnam, to concretize international commitments, the Ministry of Transport issued Circular No. 29/2015/TT-BGTVT dated July 6, 2015. This Circular specifically regulates the issuance and use of International Driving Permits (IDP), ensuring full compliance with the standards and formats prescribed in the Vienna Convention. The issuance of this circular is not only an obligation of a member state but also creates a transparent legal corridor for Vietnamese citizens going abroad and vice versa.

2. Core Traffic Rules and Regulations

The Convention establishes general rules that every member state, including Vietnam, must ensure are reflected in substance within their domestic legislation.

• Precedence of Signs and Signals: Road users must comply with instructions conveyed by road signs, traffic light signals, and road markings. Specifically, instructions from traffic lights take precedence over those from road signs regulating priority.

• Instructions from Authorized Officials: Directions given by authorized officials directing traffic (such as traffic police) have the highest priority, taking precedence over traffic lights, signs, and general traffic regulations.

• General Safety Behavior: Road users must avoid any behavior likely to endanger or obstruct traffic or cause damage to public or private property. Drivers must show extra care toward vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, children, the elderly, and the disabled.

• Speed Control: Drivers must always have their vehicles under control to exercise proper care and be able to stop within their range of forward vision and short of any foreseeable obstruction. Speed must be adjusted according to terrain, road conditions, weather, and traffic density.

3. International Driving Permit (IDP) - The Key to Integration

The most prominent benefit the Convention provides to individuals is the mutual recognition of driving permits.

• Uniform Model: An international permit must be a booklet in A6 format with a grey cover and white inside pages

• Language and Information: Entries must be printed in the national language and at least in French, with information repeated in English, Russian, and Spanish to ensure global usability.

• Vehicle Categories: The Convention defines standard vehicle categories from A to E (A: Motorcycles; B: Vehicles under 3,500kg; C: Goods vehicles; D: Passenger vehicles with more than 8 seats; E: Combination of vehicles).

Through Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT, the IDP issuance process in Vietnam has been simplified, allowing holders of a Vietnamese national driving permit to obtain an IDP to drive in other member states without retaking exams.

4. Technical Requirements for Vehicles

To be admitted into international traffic, every vehicle must meet strict technical conditions. These requirements include:

• Braking systems must perform three functions: service brake, secondary (emergency) brake, and parking brake.

• Lighting systems must include driving lamps, passing lamps, position lamps, direction indicators, and stop lamps.

• Other safety devices such as rear-view mirrors, audible warning devices, windscreen wipers, and safety belts are mandatory for the respective vehicle types.

5. Significance for Vietnam and Its People

Participating as the 85th member brings dual benefits:

1. For Vietnamese Citizens: It provides maximum convenience when traveling abroad for work, tourism, or study. Holding an IDP issued by the Ministry of Transport allows you to drive confidently in over 80 member countries.

2. For Foreigners in Vietnam: It attracts international tourists and investors as they can use their own driving permits to participate in traffic in Vietnam in accordance with the Convention's regulations.

3. Institutional Perfection: Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT demonstrates that Vietnamese law is approaching and harmonizing with the highest international standards for road safety and traffic management.

Conclusion

The 1968 Vienna Convention is a vital foundation for a world without borders in road traffic. With its status as the 85th member and the detailed guidance from Circular 29/2015/TT-BGTVT, Vietnam is increasingly asserting its proactivity in international integration.

To better understand your rights and obligations, we invite you to read the full text of the Convention and its attached annexes