Driving in Monaco vs. Vietnam: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Monaco and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their experience. From lane markings and speed limitations to traffic signals and road etiquette, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each country. Explore the contrasts that define motoring in these unique destinations.
Lanes
| Monaco | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
vietnam:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
vietnam:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
monaco:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | 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 | N/A | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
monaco:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
monaco:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Monaco | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | 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 | French; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
vietnam:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
monaco:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
monaco:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
monaco:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
monaco:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Monaco | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Monaco | 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | 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
monaco:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
monaco:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
monaco:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
monaco:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
monaco:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
monaco:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Monaco | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
monaco:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Monaco | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | 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 | Fine applies if not used | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
monaco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days