Been there end of 2009.

I bought a bike in Vietnam and rode it in Laos. No problem.
You can buy a new Honda 100 for around 600USD, the older model, not the one on buebos post.

If I can suggest something it is enter Laos coming from Dien Bien Phu. Small border in a mountain pass (Tay Trang Border), middle in the jungle. Exit Vietnam 15min, enter Laos 15min. All with Vietnam registered bikes. 15$/bike.

The road is awesome, with several river crossings and small branch-made and hanging bridges. After 100kms middle of nowhere you arrive to Muang Khua. From there you could head to northern Thailand or to the center of Laos riding or putting your motorbike in a boat down to Luang Prabang (8h).

You could start in Hanoi, then NW to Sa Pa, to Dien Bien Phu, to Muang Khua etc.

That's what we did.

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"Cosas que escapan a los que sueñan solo de noche..."

OK, here's the update:

Thai Border is a breeze. I showed up with my laotian import papers totally destroyed by rain and still went out and into Thailand without any hassle at all.

And if you can, though I doubt that, you can try to get a document stating that you bought the bike of XY with a copy of his passport. Of course only if the guy is the one with his name in the papers, than it would even be completly official to enter thailand. As far as I was told by expats here the same goes for Malaysia, but then you'll need a carnet de passage cause Indonesia would be the end, doesn't matter though as you do't wanna o further.

Last month my partner and i hired a bike in Hanoi. Read about it here... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eam-real-49945

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Cheers.
Ross Moorhouse.

Ride reports from my trip to Vietnam....

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eam-real-49945

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eam-real-49945

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-vietnam-49956

Timae, can you tell me what Thai border you went through? Everyone tells me its impossible to bring a motorbike (Honda wave in this case) back into Thailand, but I don't believe it. I have the little laminated card and copy of the contract from when I bought the bike in Saigon but am hoping I wont even need to show this to anyone. When I crossed from Ha Tien at the Xa Xia border nobody cared about the bike (although I did park it before the border, get the stamp, go back and get the bike and walk it through) and when I got to the Cambodian side the guards even helped me park it in the right spot while I waited the two minutes for the entry stamp. I am in Siem Reap now and would like to get to Bangkok via the Poipet crossing. Is this where you went through?

Thanks!

Right, sorry for delay my GF just cam back from 8 month tour of Aisa,
she did the Ho che tour on the back of a bike $75 per day!
she told me she met a few ppl en route who all had brought a minsk
bike and it would appear there reliability is doubtful.

The tour guide even told her my GF the ppl sell the bikes to the ppl & they know the bikes will break down.

I would suggest get a honda or simler but stay away from the minsk

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We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.

I entered Thailand from Laos. But I took the big Vientiane Nong Khai Border, so I think there shouldn't be any difference down in Cambodia. If there is, Nong Khai works, should only be a 8 day drive or so

And Selous: 75$ a day?! WTF, she got soo ripped of. You can get the Easy Riders in Dalat down to way less than that for a whole North South Tour. As to the Minsk, of course they"re unreliable, that's why we love them!

What paperwork is involved in buying in Vietnam?

Is an address reqd?

Does having/not having the correct paperwork affect selling the bike at the end of the trip? I'm thinking price/time.

Cheers

Adam

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ShortWayRound - OTR RTW since 2006

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UNLESS you are only going to spend your time in capital ciries, a small 100-150cc is a BIG mistake. The ideal bike size is a 250 -400cc, here is hwy...

a) You can double-up (and even if ur travelling alone you're going to want to at times... especially if ur a guy ) and allow for luggage and still hit good touring speeds.

b) If you get a DRZ 400, KLX or XR you have a bike light enough to tackle hill climbs, river crossing, jungle trails etc... tha a big BMW tourer or a 650 can't handle.

c) MOST parts are interchangeable and accessible

d) It's still a big enough bike to attract alot of interest and cultural interaction when you get into the countryside, take a couple of rice farmers or kids for a spin and see if you will be allowed to leave before you've attended half a dozens weddings, birthday paries etc...

e) Not ideal but still a small enough bike to commute the big cities on.

I prefer the 400cc range (XR, DRZ as the ideal size).

ALSO, as a jump off point Cambodia is the ideal. because:

1) Business Visa on entry (just write businessman and tick the Business Visa Box when you arrive) means registering a bike legally in your name with photo ID costs you $26, and you just use a guest house receptionist to do the footwork for you... NO HASSLES whatsoever. You can then enter Thailand, Laos and Vietnam with a legal bike with photo ID.

2) Bikes are about 30% cheaper than Thailand, Thailand has 100% tax, Cams has standard $500 for over 250 cc, $250 for 250cc so they imported more cheaply), Vietnam simply has hardly any bikes available so your up for $2500 for a 20 year old Baja or DR 250.

3) There are a plethora of DRZ, XR 400-650s, KLX XR DR 250s, WR/CRF450, TransAlp400s for sale because its almost all an expat market...

Most bikes are sold via notices but you can try Jobs and Classified Ads in Cambodia - Bong Thom Dot Com for bikes or Khmer440 forum to confirm how bloody easy and cheap it is to get legal!!!