From Laos to Vietnam with own bike. Possible problem at the border...
 

Hi all,

I am going to try to get to Vietnam from Laos (possibly this week) with my own bike (few people have been able to do it http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...crossing-59059).

My question is: What happens if I am denied to enter Vietnam with my own bike and need to return to Laos? This Laos border crossing does not issue Visa on Arrival.
People who have tried this and been turned back from Vietnam border, did you need new visa to enter Laos, or was earlier visa still valid?

-Hemuli

If that border does not issue a new visa on the Laos side, then dont attempt it, you are just asking for trouble

Hi TravellingStrom,
This is exactly the case with the border crossing what is mentioned in the link I attached to my original post...
So, in worst case I am stuck to "no mans land"...

I am just wondering how guys have managed this who have tried to enter Vietnam and have been turned back...

Well, I have not and will not attempt to enter VN on my big bike, because there are size issues over 175cc

So for me it is a no brainer

But, If I was going to attempt it, I would make sure I had a back up visa so I could re enter Laos, simple really

If I could not get a visa, I would not enter that border, I would go somewhere else which does have visa on arrival

I was turned back at a border in Cambodia, before I entered with my bike, but AFTER I was stamped out of Thailand. They cancelled the Thai side exit stamps and I had to go to a different exit point which would allow me to enter with the bike.

You have obviously done your homework, you know you may have troubles, why bother going ahead without full back up

Cheers and good luck
TravellingStrom
also currently in Phnom Penh

I was once in a group of 8 falangs riding 115cc scooters (or “chicken chasers”!) with Thai plates, and we tried to get into VN from 3 international borders in Cambodia, and one in Laos. In the end, the result was negative (under 175=OK was just a rumour), but on that final crossing attempt, me and one other guy had already been stamped out of Laos, before our bikes caused us to be turned around. The exit stamps were neatly cancelled with some kind of “special stamp”, so we had no problems to get back to Laos. Can´t remember the name of the border, but it´s the one directly east from Savannakhet. We actually got very close to succeeding there (as well as the Bavet/Moc Bai crossing in Cambodia, on the main road to HCMC)... I think if we had been a smaller group, then we might have made it. It´s sorta hard to “fly under the radar” when there´s eight big, ugly hairy falangs riding scooters...!!

But that was over 6 years ago. And I cannot quarantee, how it would go, if you ended up in the same situation, I just mentioned about my own experience. If you can arrange a back-up visa then yes, it might be a good idea. For one thing, the language barrier was massive – unless you´ve learnt it, I can guarantee, that you won´t understand a word of Vietnamese.. and you´ll be lucky, if the border officials speak three words of English (though there was one exception, on our total of five times trying at the borders!) So if you do get stuck in no-mans land, yeah it could be a tough situation to resolve, and you could run out of money before bribing your way out. Cambodian & Lao officials seemed to appreciate some “tea money”, but I would not want to try the Vietnamese, they appeared generally quite humourless.

I think there may be some sort of easing or change in their vehicle regulations lately, but exact info in English might be very hard to get. Also how legally your bike would be in the country, is a whole other thing. If you have an accident while in VN, then you could be in deep trouble. But if I had my bike there right now, I think I would give it a go. (Sorta cheap bike though, so it would not hurt me bad, if it got confiscated!)

I got Laos Visa from Phnom Penh.
I also got Visa on Arrival from Laos border, but only for few minutes...
Seems like it is impossible to have 2 Laos visas at the same time...
I spent 45 minutes at the border talking to the officials trying to explain why I need 2 visas. Several discussions and few phone calls later they decided to cancel my Visa on Arrival.

I have not given up yet, plan is to ride to Vietnam border and have a discussion with Laos border officials before stamping out from Laos. Maybe they allow me to return to Laos if Vietnam does not let me in...

brothers,
i just come back ride from hanoi north vietnam entre at tay trang with group of 15 bike we need a guide..so 8 days in hamoi/sapa yenbai/hanoi and out at vinh...
but if u ride alone no need guide..my friend entre at hiten and out at borec:scooter::thumbup1:

Vietnam possible with big bike
 

I just spent two weeks in Vietnam with my 1200 Adventure. I had to go through a tour company to get all the permits in order but then I had the choice of either the full, escorted tour or someone would meet me at the borders (in and out) to do the paperwork. Not cheap though less expensive than China.

I was really happy with the company, Voyage Vietnam, so can really recommend them: Motorcycle (Motorbike) & Offroad adventure Tours update in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia & China

Nice try, I have toured from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min on a rented XL250. My Chinese friends really eager to ride our own bike bikes to Vietnam. The vietnam company seems flexible. Gonna have to do it someday, any idea of the cost of the paper works for the bikes?

Yes, it was $U.S. 1,125 per bike and the the costs for the person to meet you at the entry and exit points. For us that would have been another $565.