What! no youtube in china??
 

I can't believe it. So where do all the Chinese videos come from? you're really missing out on all those billions of videos of cute cats. :\

Anyway, thank you very much for all the advice. I think I'll be the one buying you a beer when we get to China.

I think we're going to see how things go once we arrive in china with regard to getting a bike, it might be easier to think about it once we're there. We've got a year anyway so we're not in a hurry.

I had a look at the JH600 and it looks like a good bike. By the by, do most owners stick BMW badges to them to make them look like GS650's? :) odd.

Have a great weekend. It's finally summer here in London but I still can't wait to get on with our trip. I'm sure it'll come round soon enough.

1. I've read a few posts on here and other sites about crossing VN, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia with a bike and there seems to be conflicting information on border crossing.
Can you take a bike, bought in VN, across these countries?

As of May 1st, Thai, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam has agreements to allow land inter-travel. It means you can freely bring any vehicle from the 4 countries in the 4 countries.

2. What documentation will I require?

Ownerships and registrations.


3. In China, I've read that you simply can't buy/rent a bike and drive through the country. Is this true? and do you need a government guide if you are going out of the cities?

Yes. it is true. However, you can bring a bike from VN into China. No it is not true.

4. Does my girlfriend, who has a HK card and passport, get any benefits i.e. allow us not to require a guide?

No.

5. Is it possible to travel from Thailand to India? I expect that it's Burma that's the problem. Does anyone know if it's possible to travel through there? Failing that I'd be keen to get on a ferry/cargo ship of some sort.

Yes you can by pass Burma (land travel) into India but it is longer.

6. I'm sure there's been plenty people who have done this sort of trip, could anyone give me a rough indication on how much to budget?

Depends on you and your girlfriend's need of comfort level. In Thai and India, I spent U.S $45 per day but it gets cheaper if you share room and gas.

7. Depending on which way round we're going to travel, can anyone tell me what might be a good time, weather-wise, to start in each country. We're not bothered about being in the rainy season but I'm concerned about biking through VN etc as that's going to affect our travel.

In that region, mid Nov is a good start but you want to complete your trip prior to late March since it will enters the rainy season.

Also, if anyone is doing all or part of these places next year it would be good to share tips/research and maybe hook up along the way.

We (3 males (2 in early 70s and one in 50s) and 1 female (60 yo) are flying into Hanoi, pre-buy 4 125cc motorcycles drive to Quang-Binh for the largest cave in the world), Ho Chi Minh trail into Laos visiting Luaung Prabang, dropping down to Ankor Wats,floating city, cut north to Chiang Mai and then down to Bankok. We simply donate the bikes to charities and fly home from Bangkok.

Have a great trip. I wish we have as much time as you do.

Can you please give us a source for this? It will be a major boost for bike travel in the region.

If this is true as well it would open up overland bike travel from SE Asia to Europe during the summer months.

trying your blood's worth bottling
"As of May 1st, Thai, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam has agreements to allow land inter-travel. It means you can freely bring any vehicle from the 4 countries in the 4 countries. "

more here Explore Indochina & Vietnam Travel.
Quote
"Reportedly, the next three Indochinese countries will sign an agreement to allow road vehicles in circulation means more easily within the three countries of Indochina.Travel agents is expected after the deal, two-way tourists travel by road will be the growth sharply today."

There's a new site to promote the Mekong countries Explore Mekong
have registered but can't post on its forum , will keep trying to get an answer
This could be good news :D

awesome! that's good news. Going to speak to the embassies and see what they are saying about it.

That might change our route a bit now - in a good way. We might have the option of exploring China on the bike now. Also will look into Burma more as I'm really keen to go through/round Burma and see Darjeeling and Assam.

Your trip sounds good, I think we'll include the cave. What are your trip dates, it'd be great to meet up along the way.

Just had a look at the Mekong site, it looks pretty good albeit lacking in good content but I'm sure it'll grow. Adding it to my 'research' folder.

Suggest you research stories of people who have already gone through Burma. Just one morsel of info: to get to the Burmese border in India you need an Inner Line Permit. Apparently, it's about as hard to get for a foreigner as permission to cross Burma itself.