Driving Differences: Denmark vs. Vietnam Explained
Exploring the nuances of road regulations is crucial for safe travel. This comparison between Denmark and Vietnam reveals distinct driving practices, from speed limits to lane usage. While Denmark emphasizes strict adherence to regulations, Vietnam showcases a more flexible approach, highlighting the diverse challenges faced by international drivers. Stay informed to navigate these differences effectively.
Lanes
| Denmark | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used temporarily in construction zones. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
denmark:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Denmark | 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 | 80 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 | 110-130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for minor offenses. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
denmark:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
denmark:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
denmark:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
110-130 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Denmark | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green. | 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 | Danish; 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
denmark:
Used before green.
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
denmark:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
denmark:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
denmark:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
denmark:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
denmark:
Triangular with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Denmark | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
denmark:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
Left Turn: General
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
vietnam:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Denmark | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
denmark:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Denmark | 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
denmark:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
denmark:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
denmark:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
denmark:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
denmark:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
denmark:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Denmark | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; carried out by the police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
denmark:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
denmark:
Can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Denmark | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking any exit other than first | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Denmark | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
denmark:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
denmark:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Denmark | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free required | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and possible license points | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days