Driving in Croatia vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Croatia and Vietnam, travelers will encounter distinct driving norms and regulations that greatly influence road safety. From varying speed limits and overtaking practices to differing alcohol limits for drivers, understanding these contrasts is essential for a secure journey. Prepare yourself for a successful driving experience abroad!
Lanes
| Croatia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
croatia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Croatia | 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 | 130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
croatia:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
croatia:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
croatia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
croatia:
130 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
croatia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
croatia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
croatia:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Croatia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Vietnam |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| 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 | Croatian; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
croatia:
Not used
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
croatia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
croatia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
croatia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
croatia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
croatia:
Triangle with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Croatia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | 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
croatia:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Croatia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens | 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 |
| 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
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
croatia:
Annual inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Croatia | 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
croatia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
croatia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
croatia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
croatia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
croatia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
croatia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Croatia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
croatia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Fines
croatia:
Can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Croatia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 92 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider | 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
croatia:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
croatia:
92
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
croatia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
croatia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Croatia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines possible | 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 enforced | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; stated at the time of fine | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
croatia:
Fines enforced
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
croatia:
Fines enforced
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
croatia:
Significant fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
croatia:
Yes, often
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days