Driving in Estonia vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Estonia and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations that shape their experiences. With Estonia's strict variable speed limits and mandatory emergency equipment, contrasted with Vietnam's more flexible rules, understanding these key variances is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Explore how these countries prioritize motorist safety differently!
Lanes
Estonia | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
Estonia | 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 | 90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100-120 km/h |
Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 90-100 km/h |
Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 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 | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
estonia:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
Estonia | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | 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 | Estonian; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
vietnam:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
estonia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
estonia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
estonia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
estonia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
Estonia | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated 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
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
Estonia | 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 | Required every year; proof must be carried | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
Estonia | 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
estonia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
estonia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
estonia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
estonia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
Estonia | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
vietnam:
Common
Emergency Services
Estonia | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 113 |
Contact: Roadside Assistance | 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
estonia:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
Estonia | Vietnam | |
---|---|---|
Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | 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 apply, points on license | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common for minor fines |
Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days