Yes Vette ,number 5 in the list

Here on OpenStreetMap.

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Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10

Yes Vette ,it is n.5 in the list .
In this border I got enter but I must exit (Ended my trip) to Laos in the same border.It was not possible change,but you can try to ask again because rules are not so strong.
Happy new year. Robertos

Hi Robertos,

When you returned to Laos, did you get your visa from the border or did you arrange it somewhere in Vietnam?

-Hemuli

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Hi all and greetings from Vietnam,

Update to the Vietnam border crossing what Robertos mentioned:
Laos side, Visa on Arrival is available there (I had prearranged Laos visa from Phnom Penh and then tried to get one VA from Cambodia - Laos border (which was impossible because (according to the border officials) I cannot have 2 valid visas at the same time).

Vietnam side border crossing:
Walked in to the office, first immigration went easily (no visa needed for me because I am staying less than 15 days in Vietnam).
Bike: Handed over Carnee and officials started to put information to the computer (english speaking officials). One person regretted that this process takes such a long time because it was their first motorcycle process (which is not the case, but in any case).
Took something like 15 minutes to get all things filled out (they filled all information for me) and then they asked to take the bike to the customs.

At the customs, there was around 10 people there and one of them asked if I have any illegal items in my panniers. I answered, no and quickly told what I have (did not even need to open any bag or pannier!).

After this "check" was time to take photos I was posing with several people and then after handshakes, I was free to ride to Vietnam

Whole process at the Vietnam side took around 30 minutes, Laos side around 15 minutes (because I was making sure that I can get visa to Laos from that border).

Both borders, several people spoke english and were really nice (I was offered coffee and tea at the Laos Customs )

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Well done Marcos

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Hi Robertos & Hemuli

Congratulations - this is exciting news ..

Can you tell us about the road condition east from Thakhèk - Route 12 - to the Vietnam border? Is it tar-sealed .. or dirt, or a combination? What about the Vietnam side?

See, I’m 2-up, crammed with all the luggage. I don’t mind a bit of dirt + pothole dodging .. but I do know my limits!

Thanks

Keith [& Ellen]
.

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Right Way Round ...

Hi Keith and Ellen,

Road #12 is in a really good condition (paved all the way).
Same thing in Vietnam side (only smaller roads from Ho Chi Minh -road seem to be potholed).

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I have a friend passing soon. I will let you know how it goes for him.

Hi all,

Short update for coming back from Vietnam to Laos via same border:

Whole process on Vietnam side took around 30 minutes (guys did not know what to do with the Carnee, but after showing where to stamp things went smoothly). No problems at all, once again, many customs guys wanted to pose next to the bike.

Laos border:
Visa on Arrival is available. Really quiet border, so no waiting needed.
Things worked out really nicely. Got stamp for my carnet without any questions.

I really liked this border. No-one asked any "stamp fees". Visa on Arrival at Laos side cost me $30 (for comparison: Laos - Cambodia VA fee is $36 and Lao visa in Phnom Penh $40).
Guys at the border are really helpful. Many of them speak english and smile every time. Carnee seems to be a bit new to them, but with friendly advice I got all the stamps.
Remember: Lot of smiles and handshakes

Other from Vietnam:
I managed to get through my trip without any stops by police (on road #1 there are police checkpoints all the time), so I do not know what would be the feedback from them if u get stopped.

Try to avoid road #1. It´s damn busy, polluted and boring. There are also lot of police along this road.
Instead ride Ho Chi Minh highway. It´s in good condition, quiet and much more things to see there.

I am not sure how officially your bike is in Vietnam, so if you get stopped by a police, I do not know what will happen. When I arrived to the Vietnam, I got temporary import permit paper, so if police would have stopped me, I would have shown this white document.

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This are really great news that someone managed to get to Vietnam on his own bike! Well done Marco! Inspired by these news I might try the same border crossing within next month. I'm in Cambodia at the moment, I have already finished touring Laos but because cambodia-Vietnam border crossings are rather impossible, I will go back to Laos and try my luck. Is there anyone else planning to do this crossing sometime soon?

Sylwiak, please keep us posted on your progress of accessing Nam as I am monitoring this for my future trip. This is why I subscribed to the thread.

Yes we plan to give this one a go in about 3 weeks...Thanks for the info Marko, you rock. Hope to catch up with you down the line

Hi,

That's really good news!! We are currently in Thailand for a visa run, but are planning to go back to Laos any time soon to do our second month in Laos.

When we saw this thread about taking our own bikes to Vietnam, we got really excited to try it as well. We'll probably try the same border crossing as mentioned here in about a month...

For all the others trying the coming weeks, please let us know how it went. We will keep you updated about our attempt as well!!

Safe travels ya'll! Maybe we'll catch up on the road :-))

Cheers,
BigTom & Cuki

Hi guys,
Just a quick update for all of you that plan to enter Vietnam soon. This border crossing really works and today I succesfully crossed it on my BMW F650GS.

As I'm a polish citizen and I cannot obtain the visa on the border like some of the nationalities, e.g. Finish, I have applied for Vietnamese visa in advance in Sihnoukville in Cambodia. The 30-day one entry visa was issued at the same day, really quickly for $60 fee.


As for the border crossing:
- lao side really quick but I had to ask them especially to stamp out my carnet de passage

- vietnamese side: little bit more tricky, I think I spent there 1-2 hours if not longer. They stamped my passport no problem but they didn't know what to do with carnet de passage. I explained them how it works and they looked and looked, they were making some phonecalls etc. One guy suggested that I should leave the bike on the border and go by bus for which of course I didn't agree and finally one friendly lady who spoke good english has sorted me out. She gave me some temporary import document for the bike and carnet de passage wasn't stamped at the end. I had to promise that I will exit at the same border crossing (they said I might not be let out on another border crossing) and I was waved off by something like 50 people wishing me good luck.

So here I am in Vingh in Vietnam, really happy to be here!

One advice: it is good to fuel up in the khaek or short after it as later on there are no petrol stations (only the bottles)