Driving in Belgium vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Belgium and Vietnam, understanding the distinct driving regulations is essential for ensuring a safe journey. Key contrasts include lane markings, speed limits, and traffic light signals. While Belgium features variable speed limits and specific lane restrictions, Vietnam adopts a more flexible approach, emphasizing local customs and practices. Stay informed to drive confidently and safely in both countries.
Lanes
| Belgium | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Belgium | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | 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 | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
belgium:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
belgium:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
belgium:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Belgium | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or 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
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | 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 | 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
belgium:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
belgium:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
belgium:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
belgium:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Belgium | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | 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
belgium:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | 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 | Fine of around 50 EUR | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days