Driving in Colombia vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
Explore the unique driving landscapes of Colombia and Vietnam in our comprehensive comparison. With notable distinctions in speed limits, road etiquette, and alcohol regulations, understanding these variations is vital for ensuring safety on the roads. Whether navigating bustling city streets or serene rural paths, knowledge is key to a secure travel experience in both countries.
Lanes
| Colombia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 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 | 70-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
colombia:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Colombia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | 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
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
colombia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
colombia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
colombia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
colombia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Colombia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Colombia | 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; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | 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
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | 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 right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
colombia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
colombia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
colombia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
colombia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
colombia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Colombia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
colombia:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
vietnam:
Common
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | 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
colombia:
123
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
colombia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, 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 | $50 to $150, points on license | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
colombia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days