Driving Differences: Cuba vs Vietnam Explained
Discover the unique contrasts in vehicular regulations between Cuba and Vietnam, essential for ensuring safe travels. While both nations impose specific speed limits and lane usages, Cuba lacks dedicated bus lanes and cycle paths, unlike Vietnam. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions will enhance your driving experience abroad and promote road safety.
Lanes
| Cuba | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cuba:
List length: 4
vietnam:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
vietnam:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 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 | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Cuba | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | 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 | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
cuba:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
cuba:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
cuba:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
cuba:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Cuba | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
cuba:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Cuba | 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 | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | 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 | More frequent use than in 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
cuba:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
cuba:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
cuba:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
cuba:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Cuba | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
vietnam:
Common
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | 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 | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days