Driving Differences: Panama vs Vietnam for Safe Travels
Discover the unique road regulations and driving practices in Panama and Vietnam. From speed limits to lane usage, this comparison highlights significant variances, including lower alcohol limits in Vietnam and diverse vehicle inspection requirements. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious, understanding these distinctions can enhance your travel experience and ensure a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Panama | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
vietnam:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
vietnam:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Signals
| Panama | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | 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, especially in urban areas | 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 | Spanish; 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
panama:
Not used in Panama
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
panama:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
panama:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
panama:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Panama | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Panama | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | 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 | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | 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 | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | 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
panama:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
panama:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
panama:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
panama:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Panama | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
vietnam:
Common
Emergency Services
| Panama | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | 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
panama:
911
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, 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 | $25 to $75 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days