Driving Differences: El Salvador vs. Vietnam Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the contrasts in road regulations is essential for safe travel. This comparison between El Salvador and Vietnam reveals significant variations in speed limits, signaling practices, and penalties. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions can help ensure a smoother and more secure driving experience in both countries.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 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 |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| El salvador | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
el salvador:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
el salvador:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
el salvador:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| El salvador | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | 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
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 annual inspection | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | 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 in some areas to communicate | 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 | Yield and make way | Pull over and stop, if possible |
Flashing Lights: Usage
el salvador:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
el salvador:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
el salvador:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
el salvador:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| El salvador | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | 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 | $20 to $50 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
el salvador:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days