Driving in Switzerland vs Vietnam: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road conduct is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Switzerland and Vietnam reveals significant contrasts, from speed limits to traffic signals and road etiquette. Navigating these variations will not only enhance your driving experience but also promote overall safety while on the road.
Lanes
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used in temporary traffic management. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
vietnam:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
vietnam:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
vietnam:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vietnam:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 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 | 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, drivers can be fined on the spot. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
switzerland:
30 km/h
vietnam:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
80 km/h
vietnam:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
80 km/h
vietnam:
50-70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
switzerland:
80 km/h
vietnam:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
120 km/h
vietnam:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
100 km/h
vietnam:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
switzerland:
80 km/h
vietnam:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
vietnam:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
vietnam:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
vietnam:
Common
Signals
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | 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 | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used | Vietnamese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
switzerland:
Prepare to go
vietnam:
Not used in Vietnam
Horn Usage: Allowed
switzerland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
vietnam:
Commonly used in urban areas
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
switzerland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
vietnam:
Limited restriction
Horn Usage: Penalties
switzerland:
Fines may apply for misuse
vietnam:
Fines in some areas for excessive use
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
switzerland:
Not to be used to signal other messages
vietnam:
Discouraged for signaling other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
vietnam:
Vietnamese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
vietnam:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it | Prohibited unless granted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by sign | Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
vietnam:
Prohibited unless granted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
vietnam:
Prohibited in central urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | An International Driving Permit is recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
vietnam:
An International Driving Permit is recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
vietnam:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
vietnam:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
switzerland:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Switzerland | 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
switzerland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
vietnam:
Common in heavy traffic to signal freedom of movement
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
switzerland:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
vietnam:
Expected in congested traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
switzerland:
Only in emergency situations
vietnam:
Common but limited by law in cities
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
vietnam:
Frequent use compared to Western countries
Pedestrians Priority
switzerland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
vietnam:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vietnam:
Pull over and stop, if possible
Alcohol
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; strict enforcement |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police conduct random breath tests | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; fines can be based on income | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
switzerland:
0.05%
vietnam:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
switzerland:
0.00%
vietnam:
0.02%; strict enforcement
Enforcement: Random Checks
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
vietnam:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
vietnam:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vietnam:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | No signaling normally required when entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for the first exit or straight | Use for first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
vietnam:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Right
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
vietnam:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 140 | Check with insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
switzerland:
112
vietnam:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
switzerland:
117
vietnam:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
switzerland:
140
vietnam:
Check with insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
switzerland:
Mandatory
vietnam:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Switzerland | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension | 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 | CHF 60 | VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | CHF 100 | VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be issued on the spot | Common for minor fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Typically around 10-15 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
vietnam:
Varies; VNÐ 500,000 to VNÐ 4,000,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
vietnam:
Heavy fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
switzerland:
CHF 60
vietnam:
VNÐ 100,000 to VNÐ 200,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
switzerland:
CHF 100
vietnam:
VNÐ 600,000 to VNÐ 1,000,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
vietnam:
VNÐ 300,000 to VNÐ 500,000
Payment: On The Spot
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
vietnam:
Common for minor fines
Payment: Deadline
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
vietnam:
Typically around 10-15 days