Driving in Bulgaria vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts between driving regulations in Bulgaria and Vietnam. Key takeaways reveal varying speed limits, lane usage, and road etiquette that significantly impact traveler safety. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey in each country's unique driving environment.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bulgaria:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bulgaria:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Bulgaria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | 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 | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
bulgaria:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bulgaria:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
bulgaria:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bulgaria:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bulgaria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | 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
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | 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
bulgaria:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
bulgaria:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
bulgaria:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bulgaria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
bulgaria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bulgaria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | 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
bulgaria:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, 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 | Up to €50 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
bulgaria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days