Driving in Albania vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Albania and Vietnam. From lane usage to speed limits and alcohol tolerance, each nation showcases unique practices. Notably, Vietnam offers dedicated bus lanes, while Albania maintains stricter speed enforcement. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a safe journey in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
albania:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
albania:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
albania:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
albania:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be paid at the scene. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
albania:
40 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
albania:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
albania:
70 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
albania:
110 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
albania:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
albania:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
albania:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
albania:
Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Albania | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Limited restriction |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Fines in some areas for excessive use |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Discouraged for signaling other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
albania:
Not used in Albania
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
albania:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
albania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
albania:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
albania:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
albania:
Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Turns
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
albania:
Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
albania:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
albania:
Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
albania:
Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
albania:
Mandatory; proof required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
albania:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake | Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Expected in congested traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Common but limited by law in cities |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to Western countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
albania:
To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
albania:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
albania:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
albania:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
albania:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
albania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for violations | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
albania:
0.01%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
albania:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
albania:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
albania:
Common, especially during holidays
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
albania:
Substantial fines for violations
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 129 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
albania:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
albania:
129
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
albania:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
albania:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
albania:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Albania | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines over 1,000 ALL | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; potential fines and penalties | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines over 5,000 ALL | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
albania:
Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
albania:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
albania:
Fines over 1,000 ALL
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
albania:
Varies; potential fines and penalties
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
albania:
Fines over 5,000 ALL
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
albania:
Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
albania:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days