Driving Safety: Spain vs Vietnam - Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Spain and Vietnam, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journeys. Key variations include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signals. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring safe travel and compliance with local laws, making it vital for travelers to familiarize themselves with each country's driving customs.
Lanes
| Spain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. | 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' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
vietnam:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
vietnam:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
spain:
Yes
vietnam:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
vietnam:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Spain | 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 | 80-90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 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 | Yes, commonly used | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
spain:
50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
spain:
20-30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
90 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
spain:
80-90 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
70-80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
spain:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
spain:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
spain:
90 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
spain:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
spain:
Yes, commonly used
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Spain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Spain | 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 | Spanish; symbols are standard | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with white background and red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
spain:
Not used in Spain
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
spain:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
spain:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
spain:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
spain:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Spain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Spain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must carry license. | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required. | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield in some areas. | 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
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
spain:
Mandatory.
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory.
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Spain | 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 | Used more frequently in urgent situations | 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
spain:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
spain:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
spain:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
spain:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
spain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Spain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe penalties, including high fines | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Spain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check with local authorities | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or RACE | 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
spain:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
spain:
Check with local authorities
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
spain:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
spain:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Spain | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license | Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines and potential imprisonment | Heavy fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €200, mandatory use | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €200, points on license | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €200, points on license | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; discount if paid promptly. | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
spain:
€200, mandatory use
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
spain:
€200, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
spain:
€200, points on license
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
spain:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days