Driving in Bolivia vs Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Bolivia and Vietnam, distinct nuances in regulations and practices emerge. From varying speed limits to unique lane usage and enforcement measures, understanding these contrasts is vital for fostering safety while traveling. Explore how driving etiquette and requirements differ in these two fascinating countries to ensure a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bolivia | 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
bolivia:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | 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 | 80-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Bolivia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | 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 | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
bolivia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bolivia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bolivia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | 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 | International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | 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 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 side and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
bolivia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bolivia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
bolivia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
bolivia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | 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
bolivia:
911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bolivia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | 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 may apply, varies by location | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
bolivia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days