Southeast Asia - How to Identify

Note: Don’t confuse them with similar-looking stop signs in Laos, which use Lao script.

Note: Look for two main characters on Lao stop signs, compared with three in Thailand.

Malaysia’s distinctive BERHENTI stop signs are a useful clue for identifying the country. Look for the word “BERHENTI”, meaning “stop” in Malay, on a red octagonal sign.

Chevron signs usually have a red arrow on a white background, while in Vietnam the colors are reversed: a white arrow on a red background.

Malaysian give way signs are distinctive for the phrase BERI LALUAN displayed below the triangular sign. It means "give way" in Malay.

Note: Similar poles can also be found in Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Look for other clues before making a guess.

Note: The only other Asian country where poles with holes are common is Sri Lanka, where the holes are significantly larger.

Note: They can also occasionally be found in Bangladesh and some parts of Malaysia.

Note: These poles can be confused with those in Vietnam. The key difference is that the holes in Cambodian poles do not go all the way through.

Note: Poles in Taiwan also have the same holes near the top, but they always have striped wrapping around the lower section.

Their appearance can vary, but the key feature is two poles positioned close together.

Note: Similar meters can also be found in Mexico and some other Latin American countries.

Sometimes, red-and-white or red-and-blue stripes can also be seen below them.

Note: These stickers are most commonly found in Peninsular Malaysia.

They usually display a three-letter abbreviation for the municipality.

Note: Other types of bollards can also be found in Laos.

Cambodia uses various types of bollards. Two of the most common are:

• White concrete bollards with a red upper section, usually featuring a reflector in the red section.
• Concrete bollards with alternating red and white stripes.

Note: Similar red-and-white bollards can be found in Bangladesh, but they are always round.

Malaysian bollards come in various designs. The two most common types are:

• Black-and-white striped bollards with a reflector.
• White bollards with two or three rectangular reflectors.

Note: The red section at the top is much larger on Cambodian bollards.

Note: Other bollard designs can also be found in the country; we have shown the distinctive ones.

Cambodia has two types of concrete milestones:

• Milestones with a triangular cross-section and a red top.
• Milestones with a rounded red top. Note: This shape is not unique to Cambodia and can also be found in Laos, Vietnam and, less commonly, Thailand.

They display abbreviated names of three cities or towns, with the largest settlement listed in the upper recess.

Note: This milestone is similar to those found in the Philippines, it is also yellow, but has a different shape.

Note: Similar milestones can also be found in Cambodia and Thailand, so pay attention to the language and other clues at the location.

Rectangular posts with red tops are very common along Vietnam’s roads. These distance markers resemble Vietnamese roadside bollards.

Note: The letter H stands for hectometre, not a road number. The digit beside it indicates the hundred-metre segment within a kilometre. For example, H2 marks a point 200 metres past the main kilometre marker.

Malaysian kilometre markers come in various shapes, but always feature a distinctive blue-and-white colour scheme.

Their information faces perpendicular to the road.

Note: Newer vehicles in Indonesia may also have white license plates.

Note: Indonesian plates can also be black, but typically show three white sections.

Note: Centre lines can be yellow or white. Combined yellow-and-white centre lines are also common and are not characteristic of other East Asian countries.

A red version of these stripes can sometimes be seen.

Note: Similar markings can occasionally be seen in the UK and Hong Kong.

Note: Concrete roads can also be found in other Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand and Indonesia.

Note: Similar streetlights can occasionally be found in Laos, but they are very rare.

Note: Garuda is a mythical creature with a human body and eagle-like features. It is an official symbol of the Thai state, royal authority, and the monarch.

Yellow hexagonal route shields on direction signs are a distinctive feature unique to Malaysia.

Note: The arrows sometimes point at unusual angles.

Note: The reverse side is often yellow and black. Yellow-and-black chevrons are not unique to Vietnam and can be found in many countries.

Note: Similar, though not identical, designs can be found in some Malaysian cities.

Note: Similar curbs can also be found in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, but their sheer abundance is particularly characteristic of Singapore.

Note: Words are generally written without spaces between them, making sentences look like a continuous pattern.

Thai script has a distinctive appearance, with many characters featuring vertical lines and small loops.

Note: Thai script generally looks more angular and elongated than Lao script, which tends to have rounder shapes and smoother curves. However, the font can affect this impression.

Vietnamese uses a modified Latin alphabet with far more diacritics than other alphabets commonly seen in Street View. Written text typically consists of short, single-syllable units separated by spaces.

Note: English signs can also be found in Singapore and Malaysia, but they are less common there.

Cigarette ads are common throughout Indonesia, often displaying prices of around Rp 18,000. Look for Rp, the currency abbreviation, and PERINGATAN, meaning “warning”, on advertising banners.

Two different car types can be found in Cambodia’s Generation 3 coverage:

• A white car with stripes and no antenna: a white stripe on the left and a yellow stripe on the right. The stripes can be difficult to see.
• A car with a short antenna with three coils.

Note: A similar car with a yellow stripe can be found in Bangladesh, so be careful!

• A white car with a visible black roof.
• A gray car similar to the one seen in Bhutan.

This silver car can be seen in all cities in Laos except the capital, Vientiane. It has a roof rack with two metal crossbars, black side mirrors, and a blue cable on its left side, which distinguishes it from similar car metas.

Note: A similar car can be found in Guatemala, so check other clues before making a guess.

You can recognise it by the blur, which is usually narrower than in car coverage. Sometimes, the rider’s helmet is also visible.

Important: Motorcycle coverage is available in both Gen 4 and Gen 3. In addition to Vietnam, motorcycle coverage can also be found in the Philippines.

Most people in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos are Buddhist, so Buddhist temples and other religious buildings are a common sight. These structures often share similar architectural features across all three countries.

Note: Stilt houses can also be found in Thailand, but they are less common there.