Driving Differences: Slovakia vs. Vietnam Explained
Driving in Slovakia and Vietnam presents notable contrasts that every traveler should understand. From speed limits and lane regulations to alcohol tolerance and emergency protocols, these differences impact road safety significantly. This comparison will equip you with essential knowledge to navigate the unique driving landscapes of both countries effectively.
Lanes
| Slovakia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
slovakia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Slovakia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 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 | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
slovakia:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
slovakia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
slovakia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
slovakia:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
slovakia:
130 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
slovakia:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
slovakia:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
slovakia:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
slovakia:
Yes
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Slovakia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Slovakia | 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 | Slovak; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
slovakia:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
slovakia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
slovakia:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
slovakia:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Slovakia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
slovakia:
Not allowed
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Slovakia | 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 | International Driving Permit required along with local license | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory and regular inspections required | 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
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
slovakia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
slovakia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Slovakia | 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
slovakia:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
slovakia:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
slovakia:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
slovakia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
slovakia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
slovakia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Slovakia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 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; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
slovakia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
slovakia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
slovakia:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
slovakia:
Can be substantial
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Slovakia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 158 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service | 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
slovakia:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
slovakia:
158
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
slovakia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
slovakia:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Slovakia | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible | 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 | €50 to €150, points in some regions | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100 to €200, points in some regions | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €100 to €250, points on license possible | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
slovakia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
slovakia:
Common
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days