Driving in Brazil vs Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
Explore the distinct driving landscapes of Brazil and Vietnam as we delve into crucial variations that impact road safety and navigation. From overtaking practices to speed limits and traffic signaling, understanding these essential contrasts can enhance your travel experience and ensure safer journeys in both nations.
Lanes
| Brazil | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Brazil | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | 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 | Portuguese; 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
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
brazil:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
brazil:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
brazil:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
brazil:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Brazil | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | 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
brazil:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
brazil:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
brazil:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
brazil:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Brazil | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days