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14 Jan 2012
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Scottish Borders
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Motorbiking in SE Asia
Plan to fly to Bangkok beginning of May and bike around SE Asia for a 2 months going from bangkok north through laos, into vietnam down the coast into cambodia and back to Bangkok to leave beginning of July.
Was wondering if i could get some advice on travel. I am only 18 and have a limited budget so am hoping to buy a bike while i'm out there. as long as it can go i'm happy! a lot of people go here to party but i'm there for more than that.
-Is it better to hire or to buy?
-Which bike would be best, Minsk or Honda etc?
-How much can i expect to pay?
-Any problems to be expected at border?
-Places that are MUST see
all advice is really appreciated i can't wait to go and want to make the most of it hence the questions! thanks in advance to anyone who replies.
Fred
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14 Jan 2012
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Wessex, UK
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For a two month trip I would recommend renting and getting the bus or train between towns. You cannot take a foreign bike in Vietnam but can hire one there although it is apparently illegal, take advice from other travellers who know the current situation.
The best bike will be the Honda wave 125, great machine, any Japanese bike will do and avoid Chinese, Minsk will probably not be available to rent and only a few left in Vietnam to buy, a bit unreliable on a two month trip.
If taking public transport there are no problems at borders, I think Vietnam is the only place you must get a visa in advance in Laos or BKK, others might know different.
Don't miss the usual tourist spots, Luang Prabang in Laos, Halong bay and Hue in Vietnam, Angkor wat in Cambodia, all full of tourists but worth a visit all the same.
I have forgotten how much bike hire is, about 5 quid a day from what I remember. Take your own helmet, summer gloves and a well ventilated, lightweight jacket.
Remember ordinary travel insurance only covers you up to 125cc so don't be tempted to hire bigger unless you are covered.
International driving licence might be useful.
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15 Jan 2012
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Personally i would check the weather if you love the rain come that time of year! rainy season starts end April in Thailand until the end September.
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17 Jan 2012
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i know it's gonna be rainy but i live in scotland so guess i'm born for this kinda stuff! no way of going earlier as i leave for South America in a week for the next 3 months. will the rain affect my route at all?
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17 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fredleeming
i know it's gonna be rainy but i live in scotland so guess i'm born for this kinda stuff! no way of going earlier as i leave for South America in a week for the next 3 months. will the rain affect my route at all?
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Just thought i should let you know about the Rain if its anything like last year buy a submarine.
I will be in Lockerbie in Feb for one week preparing my XT660Z for the ride back to Thailand in July, shame would have been good to catch up, may see you in Thailand i am on the border with Laos.
Eric
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30 Jan 2012
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Riding the world on Multiple bikes
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fredleeming
Plan to fly to Bangkok beginning of May and bike around SE Asia for a 2 months going from bangkok north through laos, into vietnam down the coast into cambodia and back to Bangkok to leave beginning of July.
Was wondering if i could get some advice on travel. I am only 18 and have a limited budget so am hoping to buy a bike while i'm out there. as long as it can go i'm happy! a lot of people go here to party but i'm there for more than that.
-Is it better to hire or to buy?
-Which bike would be best, Minsk or Honda etc?
-How much can i expect to pay?
-Any problems to be expected at border?
-Places that are MUST see
all advice is really appreciated i can't wait to go and want to make the most of it hence the questions! thanks in advance to anyone who replies.
Fred
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if buying, buy in Vietnam, honda about $300US in Ho Chi Min City.
With Vietnam bike no issues at borders, except Thailand if you go to a land border you will only get a 15day visa, at bkk you will get 30. Just get the visa at Phom Phen. 2 months is a bit quick, it took me 6 months
Riding the world
I recommend go to less used borders as the guard are just happy to be surprised seeing a foreigy. It's a blast enjoy your ride
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6 Feb 2012
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Well a friend of mine is doing a trip just like yours. He couldn't get his Honda C90 into Vietnam so he bought one there for just under £200 and sold it for just over £100 so it ended up cheaper to do this than rent. He's pretty much the expert on these bikes and he reckons the Honda Wave is the way to go and here, in Bangkok they're everywhere so from the point of view of parts availability and simplicity he's on the money.
I'm just setting up a business here in Bangkok and I'm going to do bike rental. I might be able to help you out on that score so mail me if you need a hand.
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9 Feb 2012
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Warrington UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fredleeming
Plan to fly to Bangkok beginning of May and bike around SE Asia for a 2 months going from bangkok north through laos, into vietnam down the coast into cambodia and back to Bangkok to leave beginning of July.
Was wondering if i could get some advice on travel. I am only 18 and have a limited budget so am hoping to buy a bike while i'm out there. as long as it can go i'm happy! a lot of people go here to party but i'm there for more than that.
-Is it better to hire or to buy?
-Which bike would be best, Minsk or Honda etc?
-How much can i expect to pay?
-Any problems to be expected at border?
-Places that are MUST see
all advice is really appreciated i can't wait to go and want to make the most of it hence the questions! thanks in advance to anyone who replies.
Fred
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.
Renting is the best option for that short period.
In Siagon or Hanoi, Honda 100cc can be hired for $45 for the month.
I guess a bit of bargaining, and you could have the 2 months for $80.
We hired in Hanoi, and had a month in Vietnam, then simply put the bikes on the train, back to Hanoi, the train was $25 per bike.
vette
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11 Feb 2012
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Virginia, United States
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Vietnamese Bikes
Is it possible to purchase a bike in Vietnam as a foreigner, register it, plate it, and then take it through customs and ride through Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, etc?
I would prefer to purchase a bike in Korea (ride it there), ship to Japan (and ride), and then ship to Vietnam. It seems like luck of the draw to bring a foreign bike into Vietnam.
OR
How about about S.Korea to Japan to the Philippines and then to Cambodia/Laos/Thai?
__________________
West Virginia University 2006
Beta Theta Pi - Beta Psi
Ride Report: TAT...and Beyond
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23 Mar 2012
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Phnom Penh
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I can only speak with any experience of biking in Cambodia. I knew a guy who bought one of those crappy old Russian bikes, Minsk, in Vietnam and had no problems riding it into Cambodia. He drove it around here for a year or so on Vietnamese plates and was able to sell it onto a local bike shop, Dara's up on Pochentong Boulevard. It's still sat outside now!
You can buy dirt bikes in PP relatively inexpensively. There was an electric start Suzuki DR350 up for $900 a few weeks ago. Piece of junk though. Mate of mine was interested in it but only prepared to pay significantly lower. Older kick start bikes like the Suzuki DR250 should be less than $1k. Honda XRs are more popular and probably somewhere north of $1500 or over $2k if newer.
If you're into sports bikes, or newer stuff, try the likes of Flying Bikes on St 110 in PP. They've got a couple of Triumph Bonnevilles, a 600cc Ducati (can't remember which model) and lots of large Japanese cruiser bikes. Pricey though. Lots of other places with machines around. Just gotta look when here.
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17 Jun 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uk_vette
.
Renting is the best option for that short period.
In Siagon or Hanoi, Honda 100cc can be hired for $45 for the month.
I guess a bit of bargaining, and you could have the 2 months for $80.
We hired in Hanoi, and had a month in Vietnam, then simply put the bikes on the train, back to Hanoi, the train was $25 per bike.
vette
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I'm heading to Vietnam for three weeks in october, goal is to ride 2-up on a rented or purchased bike from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, or Hanoi to HCMC.
Vette (or anyone else) can you tell me more about who you rented from, and how you 'put the bikes on the train'?
Also, I've heard that its easier and cheaper to buy in HCMC. Any thoughts on whether to start in Hanoi or HCMC?
Thanks!
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