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Planning a 2 month trip to SE Asia - best way to cross borders? Planning a 2 month trip to SE Asia - best way to cross borders?
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  #16  
Old 10 Feb 2018
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Originally Posted by ColinD View Post
Many travellers have previously posted that Vietnam does not allow foreign registered bikes to be brought in. That would seem to be a showstopper for your plans?

I can confirm that you can take a rented Vietnamese bike into Cambodia and Laos. No idea about Thailand.

If you rent, you will have to pay a substantial deposit, probably the whole value of the bike. That's because you need to take the original registration card, which would open the door for you to sell the bike.

cheers
Colin (Sydney)
Yes, I have read the same so I never planned to enter Vietnam with a bike from another country. It looks like you can rent in Vietnam and visit Laos and Cambodia on the bike with no problems. Ill likely do that after I visit Thailand, renting there and staying in the country if it becomes too difficult to cross the border with Malaysia. I was planning on just a day or 2 visit to Myanmar and Singapore off the bike in any case.
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  #17  
Old 10 Feb 2018
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Originally Posted by Nuff Said View Post
Rent in Chiang Mai ????
Most CM rental shop will not allow their bikes to leave Thailand?
Now TALK to Brain from.....Chiang Rai Big Bike Rentals | Reserve your Chiang Rai Transportation

Based in Chaing Rai which is very close to the best and most easy border crossing to get over to Laos (Chiang Khong)
He will rent you a motorbike with all the correct paperwork to allow you and the bike into Laos.
Also can sort out the correct paperwork for you to ride in ALL the other places on your list,?
But need to talk to Brain for details and cost.?
Thanks Nuff - good to know. As it stands, Im thinking that renting in Vietnam and Thailand will allow me to see most, if not all of the places I want to see by bike. Also, Singapore would be just a quick visit without the bike, and likely just a border crossing for the day to Myanmar in the north, again without the bike.
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  #18  
Old 10 Feb 2018
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Sounds like a good plan.

Best wishes and good luck.

Mae Sai is the border town at the very top of Thailand which you can cross over into Burma OK.

But IMO don't waste your time, Tachileik is just a border market town with stuff costing more in Burma then Thailand?.

Can only stay within the town, but some of the border roads which run along the border between Thailand/Burma are a must?

If you just like a stamp in your Passport to say "BEEN HERE" ok.

And check first with Thail Immigration if you can leave Thailand which will depend on what Visa you arrive in Thailand with?

The so-called "VISA RUNS" are a no-no in Thailand now.

But you can obtain a VIP PASS from Thailand to allow you to entry Bruma for the day without your Passport leaving Thailand.
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  #19  
Old 10 Feb 2018
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Originally Posted by Nuff Said View Post
Yes.... but it comes down to numbers..... not C.C. ok
1 to 3 bikes yes ok.
4 to 5 you need a tour guild?
6 or more need a tour guild and police escort.
I said most CM rental will not allow you to take the bike into Laos by your self.

Best if you ask "POPS RENTAL" whois the biggest rental shop in CM.
Will he rent you a bike to ride into Laos by yourself.?

You need the green book which is the ownership book for the bike?
A big risk for a rental shop to allow you to leave Thailand with the BIKE AND GREEN BOOK.?

A few years ok ????

I am posting this from CR Thailand, and this year have been over to Laos 2 times on my motorbike.

Its about CC too nowadays, and 250 cc is the least the bike has to be. Butyoiee correct about numbers of bikes too but since TS seems to do this alone I didnt find it relevant to mention it.

Im not sure if for example Lonerider had the Greenbook with him but anyway C&P rental in CM will normally let you ride into Laos. But you need to ask first of course and price will be higher.
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  #20  
Old 10 Feb 2018
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link....Thailand Laos Border Crossing Problems - Rumour or Real

Dated 29 Oct 2017

Re: Thailand Laos Border Crossing Problems - Rumour or Real

Update Huay Kon-Muang Ngeun border crossing for motorcycles.

You can cross with a motorbike (small or big) but you need to have a permit - Cost 1400 Baht for one bike including Lao motor insurance, plus 400 Baht extra if you have a pillion, no escort, no cc limitation. When 4 bikes or more, you need a guide and with 6 or more bikes you need to have a police escort.

Contact Lao travel agent contact: Phouvanna Tour or Phouvanna Travel Co., Ltd., Luang Prabang. Contact Sithon Somngam, ID Line + phone number +856- 20 - 55774286. Processing time of the permit is 2 days

Or contact Luang Prabang Holiday Travel - Khun Mongkhon at +856 20 550 46474; +856 20 9829 8987 - Email: mongkhon@luangprabangholidaytravel.com and website at http://www.luangprabangholidaytravel.com. I don't know if this company charges the same amounts for their services

Final word from me on this matter.
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  #21  
Old 11 Feb 2018
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Well - you can have a look at one of the expat riders of Thailand forums GT-Riders post # 67 here from March last year which tells that no bikes below 250 cc are allowed into Laos and no agent can help with that matter...https://www.gt-rider.com/se-asia-mot...gs.7692/page-3
And this posting on the facebookgroup «Overlanding Asia» also from march 2017 where a couple of dutch riders had bought malaysian plated 125cc scooters and tried to enter Laos at Huay Xay and there where absolutely no way they could get through because of the 250 cc rules have been dusted off and enforced...https://www.facebook.com/groups/4871...32165230314041

But as we all know nothing is consistent at all down there so whats allowed one week might not be allowed next week and vice versa. But I have heard several places that riders on small scooters has been denied entry to Laos lately so I think this seems to be enforced nowadays. At least I wouldnt have counted on getting in if I was a newbie to SE-Asia and had limited time available.
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Last edited by Snakeboy; 11 Feb 2018 at 03:11.
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  #22  
Old 11 Feb 2018
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Originally Posted by Snakeboy View Post
Its about CC too nowadays, and 250 cc is the least the bike has to be. Butyoiee correct about numbers of bikes too but since TS seems to do this alone I didnt find it relevant to mention it.

Im not sure if for example Lonerider had the Greenbook with him but anyway C&P rental in CM will normally let you ride into Laos. But you need to ask first of course and price will be higher.
No I didnt have a Greenbook with me, just the paperwork to allow me to ride a rented bike and take it over in to Laos.
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  #23  
Old 11 Feb 2018
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Originally Posted by Lonerider View Post
No I didnt have a Greenbook with me, just the paperwork to allow me to ride a rented bike and take it over in to Laos.
Good to know...
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