Driving in Serbia vs. Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Serbia and Vietnam, drivers will encounter distinct rules and regulations that shape their travel experiences. Key contrasts include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol tolerance. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Serbia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Bus Lanes: Markings
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
serbia:
N/A
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Serbia | 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 | 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 | 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 | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
serbia:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
serbia:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
serbia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
70 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
serbia:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
serbia:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
serbia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
serbia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
serbia:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Serbia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Serbia | 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 | Serbian; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
serbia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
serbia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
serbia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Serbia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by city; check for signs | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Serbia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections | 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Serbia | 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
serbia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
serbia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
serbia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
serbia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
serbia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Serbia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police regularly perform checks | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial, varies by severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
serbia:
0.03%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
serbia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Serbia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 192 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 1987 | 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
serbia:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
serbia:
192
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
serbia:
1987
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
serbia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
serbia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Serbia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €20 to €40 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €30 to €50 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €30 to €50, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, possible for smaller fines | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 8 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
serbia:
€20 to €40
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
serbia:
€30 to €50
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days