Driving in Italy vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
Explore the fascinating contrasts between driving regulations in Italy and Vietnam. From speed limits and lane markings to traffic signals and enforcement practices, this comparison reveals significant variations that impact road safety. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for navigating the roads of either country with confidence and awareness.
Lanes
| Italy | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | 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 | 70 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Italy | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | 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 | Italian; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
italy:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
italy:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
italy:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Turns
| Italy | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | 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
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Italy | 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 with International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | 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
italy:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
italy:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
italy:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
italy:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Italy | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Italy | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | 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
italy:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
italy:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | 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 | Varies; fines apply | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
italy:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days