Riding to Siem Reap
 

Hi,

I'm riding in Vietnam later this year and very interested in extending the trip through Cambodia and southern Laos.

I was recently advised by a conventional (non-riding) tourist that it is not permitted for independent travellers to reach Siem Reap. He went there on an organised tour and advised me that he met some other tourists who had tried unsuccessfully to get their independently, and eventually had to join commercial tours.

Can anybody confirm or deny this?

thanks
Colin

You can certainly ride to Siem Rea, once in Cambodia.

I suspect the issue you may have concerns about is getting your bike from Vietnam into Cambodia

I rode independently into Siem Reap last year. It was totally legal and smooth. Do you think there are police or army check points on every road around the city checking every vehicle if its independent or in a group?


Dont listen to all nonsence youre served!

Was in Siem Reap in January. Saw several 'independent' riders passing through. Don't know about Vietnam/Cambodia border issues, but I see that Thailand won't allow Cambodian registered bikes over the border.

Poipet border crossing, Thailand into Cambodia
 

Colin,
I am certain there are 100 ways to do it, here is my 2 cents; I just crossed this week (May 2016) on my bike from Thailand into Cambodia (and returned). Had it not been for my diplomatic passport, my thai drivers license, and my get out of jail free pass from the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) I would not have been allowed to do so. The only reason I was allowed to pass customs in Poipet was due to diplomatic status (duty free import privileges). Cambodia does not allow foreign tagged vehicles to simply cross over - they must be temporarily imported and you need an agent to do so and it can be expensive (read bribes). Motorcycles were supposed to be the exception but that is not the case when you are in the customs office at the border. You need the proper paper work - but it can be done.

Another option - (one of) the quickest way I've seen is to simply buy and sell cheap scooters at each border crossing - sell the one you're on, cross over and buy another - they are cheap enough that in many ways it makes sense but that obviously does not apply to most readers here - but buying a cheap ride can easily cost less than a few weeks worth of taxi hacks and broken down bus scams in some of these places!

Keeping in mind what another poster mentioned, the border is very porous, it is very easy to cross countries in Asia when not on the highway, but you are at risk of being apprehended (i.e. Locked up Abroad, waiting on a Consular Officer visit from your embassy). Best to do the required paperwork and import the bike for your time in country.

Siem Reap was a great ride, I highly recommend Prassat Beng Mealea as a must see, it was so quiet it was spooky, and of course the 3 day temple pass ($40USD) did not apply up there but tickets were only $5USD ea.
we can take this off line if you'd like more/recent info
cheers
Mike

I finished a 6000km trip all around Vietnam end of Last year, currently living in Hanoi and heading though Laos, Cambodia and back up Vietnam end of the month. Will you be bringing a bike in or buying in SE asia? From speaking to people who have been through the countries the best option is to have a Vietnamese plated bike. All bikes are registered in the original owners name. Do some research on the boarder posts you would like to cross, there are some where no traveler can cross by bike, others where you will be bribed and the ones where you will have no issues. Check this useful link out Crossing The Border With A Motorbike In Southeast Asia - NOMADasaurus
If you need any advice for your trip feel free to ask

That seems quite strange. What kind of paperwork is it thats needed to cross the cambodian border?
I crossed into Cambodia from Thailands Surin province - just a 2-3 hours ride down to Siem Reap february 2015 and I asked the staff at the custom office on the border what to do, temporary import or other but their shook their heads and said no need for that. I asked if I would get any trouble when exiting and they said no again. Which was right. I exited at Koh Khong - Hat Lek and had no trouble with that. And thats the same story I have heard from heaps of other riders. Both on thai plated bikes and on foreign plated bikes.

It could of course ne that there are new rules put into use but I doubt it....

Colin, as mentioned in the other post I did just that in the last two months (Vietnamese Minsk from Hanoi to Singapore). Whoever told you about individual travel in Cambodia / Siem Reap being impossible has no clue, I'm sorry. There are hundreds of independent travellers. Getting a Vietnamese plated bike from Vietnam to Laos or from Vietnam to Cambodia is also as easy as pie. They don't even ask for any motorcycle papers.

However, beware: it's not possible to get from Laos to Cambodia with a Vietnamese bike. I (and others I met) tried so at the border next to 4000 islands / Don Det. They will smile and won't care.

Also: getting a bike with Vietnamese plates to Thailand is tricky and takes time, but worked for me at the second attempt. If you need info on that, let me know.