Driving Differences: Argentina vs. Vietnam Explained
When navigating the roads of Argentina and Vietnam, understanding the unique regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison highlights significant variations in speed limits, road etiquette, and emergency protocols, providing essential insights for travelers seeking to drive safely in these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
argentina:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
argentina:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
argentina:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
argentina:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated 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
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | 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
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal 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 | Frequent use in some areas | 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
argentina:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
argentina:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
argentina:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
argentina:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | 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
argentina:
911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | 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 apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
argentina:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days