Driving in Finland vs. Vietnam: A Safety Comparison
When navigating the roads of Finland and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations and customs that shape their experiences. From variable speed limits to unique traffic signal protocols, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring safe travels. Explore the essential distinctions that define the driving landscape in each nation, allowing for a more secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Finland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 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: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 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
finland:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
finland:
30-40 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
finland:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
finland:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Finland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | 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 | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
finland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
finland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
finland:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
finland:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Finland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally 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
finland:
Not generally allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
finland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Finland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | 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
finland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
finland:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
finland:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
finland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
finland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Finland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
finland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Finland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | 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, typically €85 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
finland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
finland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days