Buying a bike in Vietnam
 

We would like to head to Vietnam in January and buy a small bike to ride. Can this be done and ridden through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia? Then either back into Vietnam or down through Thailand and Malaysia?

Today Thailand NO.
Malaysia? not sure
January 2018 who knows

If you want buy small bike contact with me.bier

Traveld SEA for several months about 3 years ago. Its easy to buy and sell bikes in Vietnam. Bought a Honda Bonus 125cc for 150$.

About border crossings you hear a lot of rumors. But its difficult for sure, when you don't have the paper work. What is most likely the case if you buy the bike in Vietnam.

Anyway I met some guys who managed to take the bike from Vietnam to Laos. Also met a guy who managed to take the bike a bike from Cambodia to Laos.

Most guys who tried didn't have success. I guess its very dependend on the border crossing and the guards mood. Officaly you're not allowed to take a bike outside Vietnam as a foreigner.

Anyway bike rental in those countries is cheap. Maybe its a better idea to buy a bike for Vietnam sell it afterwards and just rent a bike the other countries.

Baying motorcycle in Vietnam is easy as foreigner and as long as you get blue card ~ownership card~ with bike you can cross border of Laos and Cambodia with no problem at all as I did it purchasing Minsk 125 for 500 US and traveled all three country's last year from December to February this year putting 5000 km
on that two stoke Belorussian motorcycle,so I sold my Minsk in Luang Prabang,Laos and traveled by air to Chiang Mai and rented Honda CRF250L for 18 US per day to finish my Indochina tour.

Safe ride

Check out YouTube name..... Indigo Traveller

Some great videos about buying and riding motorbikes in Vietnam.

There is a fb group, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand backpackers or something of that order.

There are always, always new Honda Wins for sale on a daily basis. ++

I bumped into a young VN guy in Laos a few months back, he was mocking the young guys, traveling 2 up on their Wins' he says that they are worth about $100, but the price I see is about $250-$300, i think thats like a market value rather than the actual cost.

There are lots of posts about, engine rebuilds, upgraded suspension, parts list and claims of regular oil changes, and i think to myself, is it worth it? a bike that has probably had dozens of owners since 2000 who have all rebuilt the engine.

He says he is better off on his Honda Wave 125cc, which i don't doubt.

A met a guy in my city, he bought a Minsk from here, http://cuongs-motorbike-adventure.com/ didnt seem a bad bike for the money. It also had decent Chinese canvas panniers. If you check the fb group you will see pick of big backpacks wrapped in plastic being strapped like panniers which is cool, but i have also seen a few people posting pleas after loosing their backpacks on the road. I think pack less and bring some enduristan or mosko panniers

I would love to own a Minsk here in Thailand, just to work on and look at, but I fear thats getting a distant dream.

IMHO i would suggest that if you want to buy a small bike for VN, Cambodia and Laos then try one of these, Wins' or Minsk's - it looks like you won't have any issues selling it during high season, there are as many 'wants' as 'for sales' .. Then come to Thailand, where you can buy a bike with a little bit of legwork or just rent one - that bike is no good to enter VN, which is why I say do it that way.

Im unsure that a VN reg'd bike is allowed in to Thailand after recent changes to the Thai system, and if you wanted to ride a Malaysian bike in from the south then the custom rules have changed recently, something about 30 days max, with no extension and restricted tot 60 days per calendar year .. i forget, theres so many complications at the moment. However, if you have a Thai reg'd bike its a little easier to travel Malaysia, and Malaysia although a great place doesnt seem to attract lots of long staying guests.

There isn't a one-stop 'best place' to buy a small bike in SE Asia, infact it's getting worse everyday.

++ ETS: Not new, obviously - old ones, but different to the day before,

Travelling with bike is exciting experience :scooter:.
But be careful to ride bike in VN. The traffic is so bad/complicated and more dangerous than other country in SE Asia. Traveller should have reference of traffic signs/annoucements and follow the speed requirement on the street.

The vlog of IndigoTravel is great ! I like it. :clap:

i have just found an article of VN traffic sign here. Please have a reference.

Have a good trip with great experience, sir.

Bike
 

I was in Vietnam last month so my info are pretty fresh.
1) easy to buy a motorcycle or scooter but don t anything over 125 cc or yu will need way more paperwork.
2) ask and check the blue card (paper of the bike, number on frame and motor) the paper of the bike will be at the name of the previous owner.
3) most of the Honda are copies, they run great and are cheap don t pay more than $300 for 125cc moto or scooter .
4 )no insurance needed but a international license maybe asked ...
5)border with Laos took us for 2 motorcycle 20 minutes to go in .
6) Border Vietnam to Cambodia is OK too but a bit longer. I heard that laos to Cambodia was a bit of a scam. Make sur you keep all the custom paperwork.
7 Police in Vientianne stopped us and try to get money from us but after 20 mn of argument we were back on the road ( don't give them your passeport just tell them its at the hotel and use a copy instead.

Ask your hotel in HCMC to help you for that OR head to some bike shop in HCMC!

Me and my girlfriend are planning on going to Vietnam in December and buying bikes to tour the country, so this has given us some helpful info.:thumbup1:

vietnamcoracle.com for info and especially routes tigitmotorbikes.com for more or if you want to 'own' without having to muck around looking and selling at the end.

I’d recommend riding a motorbike instead of a scooter.
 

I’d recommend riding a motorbike instead of a scooter. I think they are more comfortable, better suited for longer journeys. The Honda Win which is the most popular motorbike for backpackers to do this trip on. You can find mechanics selling them for around $300 to $350 and through backpackers from $250 to $350. Make sure you also get the blue registration card for your bike.

An update on my post.

Anyone from US in Vietnam or Cambodia without the respective countries Drivers Licence is considered driving illegal. If you are in an accident you can get up to 10 years in jail. If you are using health/accident insurance (World Nomads) it is invalid as you are doing an illegal activity.

You can get a Drivers License though.
Cambodia, on a one year visa.
Vietnam, a 90 day visa.

I attempted to get my Vietnamese drivers license as I has a 90 day, multi-entry Visa. I was turned down as they just seemed not to like my current US driver's licence or International drivers license.

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