Driving Differences: Guatemala vs. Vietnam Uncovered
As you prepare for your journey through Guatemala and Vietnam, understanding the distinct road regulations and practices in each country is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience. Key variations include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol limits, which significantly influence the safety and dynamics of navigating these vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Guatemala | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
No
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
guatemala:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
guatemala:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
vietnam:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Guatemala | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | 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 | 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
guatemala:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
guatemala:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
guatemala:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
guatemala:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Guatemala | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Guatemala | 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; proof may be required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | 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
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | 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 | More 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
guatemala:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
guatemala:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
guatemala:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
guatemala:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 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
guatemala:
122
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | 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 imposed | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days