Proposed ride around Indochina - possible at the moment?
 

I'm exploring the possibility of a ride through Thailand-Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia for Nov/Dec '07. Has anyone does this recently? and are these borders easily crossed on a bike at the moment? There'll be two of us but others are welcome!

thanks
Brett

borders
 

hi

im planning to go through there at the start of '09 and from what i found out most of the borders are easly crossed and anything you need, ie visas's, insurance's can be obtained at them, BUT unless your bike is 125 or under you can cross out vietnam im afrraid, as no bikes over 125 are allowed in there:nono: :ban: , but you can leave your bike in one of the outher countrys then go there and rent one if you want to, cheers

travelingtrev

No foreign bikes to Vietnam
 

we tried (Dec. -06) to go with 115cc scooters from Thailand to Vietnam, went to all 3 international borders in Cambodia and 1 in Laos. Didnt work. And the guy running the tour has done RTW trips, and traveled in the Far-East for 30 years, he goes to Laos&Cambodia almost weekly.
Its sad, but at the moment you can practically forget getting any foreign bikes through the border. Doesnt even seem to depend on engine size.

The issue with larger bikes in Vietnam is supposedly coming to an end this year once they have properly joined the WTO. A couple of vietnamese tour companies we're in touch with are already buying bigger capacity bikes in preparation. Check out http://board.gt-rider.com/forum.asp for details on riding through SE asia

dancingroads
 

are you now talking about getting big bikes imported & registered into Vietnam? That is an entirely different story than getting your own, foreign-registered bike thru the border, as a tourist.

My own experience is that the latter is not possible (unless MAYBE, if you have residency, speak vietnamese, know your way around their bureaucracy exactly, and have lots&lots of time and patience) It even seems the "under 175cc = ok" rule, if there ever was one, is no more.

Them joining the WTO might change their big bike imports, but will it change their policies for tourists with vehicles at their borders, i dont thinks so... not very soon anyway. I for one hope that Im wrong, it´d be a very interesting place to visit.

Not referring to imports but driving across the border with your own bike. I know it's very difficult at the moment but apparently it's going to change..Don't quote me on that but it's what a lot of people (in Phnom Penh at least) are saying at the moment...

Well,.. these posts actually provide the answer to my first HUBB querey. It's not the answer I was looking for,.. but HeyHo, better to find out sooner than later. (This RTW planning is going to require a much larger 'Beer Budget' than I had accounted for). Geoff