Driving in Greece vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When venturing from Greece to Vietnam, understanding the nuances of road conduct is essential for a secure journey. This comparison reveals notable distinctions in speed regulations, documentation requirements, and traffic etiquette. For instance, urban speed limits differ significantly, with Greece enforcing 50 km/h, while Vietnam ranges between 40-60 km/h. Stay informed to drive safely abroad!
Lanes
| Greece | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
greece:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Greece | 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 | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued on the spot | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
greece:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
greece:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
greece:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
greece:
130 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
greece:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
greece:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
greece:
Not applicable
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
greece:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Greece | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Greece | Not used in Vietnam |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary | 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 | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
greece:
Not used in Greece
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
greece:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
greece:
Discouraged in urban areas unless necessary
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
greece:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
greece:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
greece:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
greece:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Greece | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
greece:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
greece:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Greece | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required | 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 | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
greece:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
greece:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
greece:
Yes, periodic vehicle inspections required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
greece:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Greece | 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
greece:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
greece:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
greece:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
greece:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
greece:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
greece:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Greece | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police may set up roadblocks | Common |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and potential penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
greece:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
greece:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
greece:
Common; police may set up roadblocks
vietnam:
Common
Test Refusal
greece:
Can result in license suspension and potential penalties
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Greece | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 10400 for ELPA assistance | 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
greece:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
greece:
100
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
greece:
10400 for ELPA assistance
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
greece:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
greece:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Greece | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €40 to €700, points on license | 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 | €350, points on license | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €350, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 10 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
greece:
Varies; €40 to €700, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
greece:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
greece:
€350, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
greece:
€100, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
greece:
€350, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
greece:
Yes; usually paid immediately or within a few days
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
greece:
Varies; typically 10 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days