Driving in Portugal vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the nuances of road regulations, Portugal and Vietnam present contrasting driving environments. Key distinctions include overtaking rules, speed limits, and horn usage. While Portugal maintains strict lane protocols and speed regulations, Vietnam embraces a more flexible approach. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and informed travel experience in both nations.
Lanes
| Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| 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 |
Overtaking: On Right
portugal:
Prohibited.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
portugal:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Portugal | 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 | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | Possible | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
portugal:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
portugal:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
portugal:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
portugal:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
portugal:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
portugal:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
portugal:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
portugal:
Possible
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Portugal | 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 | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
portugal:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
portugal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
portugal:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
portugal:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
portugal:
Prohibited
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Portugal | 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
portugal:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
portugal:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
portugal:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
portugal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during holidays | Common |
Limits: Professional Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
portugal:
0.02%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
vietnam:
Common
Emergency Services
| Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local authorities | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACP | 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
portugal:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
portugal:
Contact local authorities
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
portugal:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
portugal:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Portugal | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €60 to €2,500, 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 | €120 to €600 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €240 to €1,200 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €120 to €600 | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
portugal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
portugal:
€120 to €600
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
portugal:
€120 to €600
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
portugal:
Possible
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days