Hanoi to Pai, south through Cambodia and back up Vietnam
 

I was daydreaming a trip across south east asia today, as can be seen in the following photo.

https://imgur.com/a/kskBnl5

The route is loose but my main questions are the following. I have a bike registered in Vietnam (have the original paperwork). What paperwork do I need to....

1. Cross myself and the bike from Vietnam to Laos, preferably in the Northern section (although I hear crossing certain locations is not allowed for foreigners.

2. Cross myself and the bike from Laos to Northeastern Thailand

3. Cross myself and the bike from Thailand to Cambodia

4. Cross myself and the bike from Cambodia back into Vietnam.

I've seen lots of websites with varying fees, paperwork needs, border stations that are open/closed/super corrupt etc. Looking for some up to date info and want to do everything legal and clean (tea money available if needed I suppose).

Also, anyone who has done something similar, would love to know some reccomendations on locations to see along this general route. I especially want to spend time in the northern section of this loop as I love mountain roads. Cheers! beer:scooter:

I'm pretty certain Vietnamese bikes aren't allowed into Thailand (nor are Thai bikes allowed into VN).

I crossed from VN into Laos a couple of days ago at Na Meo (WSW of Hanoi). All very straightforward, with a VN blue card not even in my name. Of course I had a Laos visa. The Vietnamese customs matie asked for 200.000 dong (8 USD) to issue the bike temporary export document. I asked him to show me where it said I should pay said fee. He then let me pass without paying anything. Ain't Google Translate a great thing :)

Heading south to Cambodia and will then re-enter VN and ride north from HCMC back to Hanoi and the far north.

As Chris writes above here - vietnamese plated bikes into Thailand is not allowed unless youre accompanied by a travel agency with correct licensing etc etc.

Laos and Cambodia should be no problem on a vietnamese plated bike. You must have the blue card or whatever its called and that should be it.

As Chris also mentiones - he had a Lao visa before he got to the border as very few if any of the Laos-Vietnam landbordercrossings have visa on arrival on the Lao side.

My trip experience from 2017
 

Yes a little dated but I'm sure much of this stuff still applies

Laos- I crossed into Laos on the "Na Phao International Bordergate" successfully. Earlier in the day I tried a different crossing but they wouldnt let me through for whatever reason. If one boarder crossing fails then try another. Remember you will need your blue plate / card

Thailand- Very unlikely you will be able to cross, there are lots of rules and regulations stopping you from crossing. the only way I herd a biker crossed is by having a local transport it across the boarder in his truck

Cambodia- Same as Laos, you should be able to cross, again if one boarder crossing wont allow you then try a different one. Remember you will need your blue plate / card