Driving in the Netherlands vs. Vietnam: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of the Netherlands and Vietnam, you'll encounter notable distinctions in traffic regulations and driving practices. Key variations include speed limits, lane markings, and the use of horns. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Netherlands | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Bus Lanes: Markings
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Netherlands | 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 | 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 | 100-130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
netherlands:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
netherlands:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
netherlands:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
netherlands:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
netherlands:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Netherlands | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Netherlands | 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 | Dutch; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
netherlands:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
netherlands:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
netherlands:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
netherlands:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Netherlands | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Netherlands | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic technical inspection required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
netherlands:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
netherlands:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Netherlands | 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
netherlands:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
netherlands:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
netherlands:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
netherlands:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Netherlands | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
netherlands:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
netherlands:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Netherlands | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | No signal required unless exiting immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Netherlands | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 112 for police assistance | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
netherlands:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
netherlands:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
netherlands:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Netherlands | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant, points on license | 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 apply, points on license | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; payment within specified period required | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
netherlands:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days