Driving in Latvia vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the driving experiences in Latvia and Vietnam, notable distinctions emerge that can impact travelers' safety and navigation. Latvia emphasizes strict adherence to speed limits and traffic regulations, while Vietnam exhibits a more flexible approach to overtaking and horn usage. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a smooth and secure journey in each country.
Lanes
| Latvia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
latvia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Latvia | 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 | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines are often issued immediately | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
latvia:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
latvia:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
latvia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
latvia:
100 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
latvia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
latvia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
latvia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Latvia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Latvia | 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 | 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 | Latvian; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
vietnam:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
latvia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
latvia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
latvia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
latvia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Latvia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Latvia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on 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
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
latvia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
latvia:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Latvia | 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 zebra crossings | 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
latvia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
latvia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
latvia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
latvia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Latvia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially on weekends | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies based on BAC | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
latvia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Latvia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
latvia:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
latvia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
latvia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Latvia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40, fines vary | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €10 to €30, fines vary | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €70, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can often be settled at the time | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days