Driving in Iceland vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
Welcome to our comprehensive comparison of driving regulations in Iceland and Vietnam. While both countries prioritize road safety, you'll find notable contrasts in speed limits, lane usage, and signaling practices. Understanding these variations is essential for a secure driving experience abroad. Dive in to explore the distinct rules that govern the roads in these fascinating nations!
Lanes
| Iceland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
vietnam:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | 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 | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
iceland:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Iceland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | 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 | N/A | Fines in some areas for excessive use |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Discouraged for signaling other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
iceland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
iceland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
iceland:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
vietnam:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Iceland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | 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
iceland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
iceland:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
iceland:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
iceland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Iceland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
vietnam:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | 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 | Mandatory; fines apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days