Just tryn to give a bit of info back to the HUBB as I've taken so muh from it.
After bieng seriously doubtful of entering Vietnam after reading all the blogs I gave it a go at the Lak Sao border. I guess I can say i got Lucky and the customs offical let me go after a bunch of smiling and a couple of questions of "which side of the road will you drive?' or "will you break any laws in Vietnam?" which after answered correctly, he said with a smile," ok you can go"
So that is it. just in case anyone is interested. Although my disclaimer is that he never said Vietnam is open ,I my have came on the day he was in a good mood.

Lucky bastard...

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Rich
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tst...richardandlisa

I think I'll go try my luck with china. hehehehh
Already got denied at the mohan/boten border in Laos a week ago, soooo... I'll just hav to give it a go from Vietnam..eh? Keep on smilin.

nice man!
which bike did you drove?

greetz
niels

So which side of the road did you drive on?

And did you break any laws?

Wel, I am on a HOnda XR650r, and driving on all sides of the road is the only way to go. hehehh, and I think I break laws everysecond as there are so many of them. found out can't leave your bike on the street of Hanoi overnight or while partying at the clubs the hard way. Got Lucky as some friendly Vietnamese people picked up my bike and carried it about 50 meters to a parking lot for me so the police wouldn't take it. Fantistic place and great people.
Keep on Smilin

Seems like you doing well.
End of september we gonna try China from Mongolia site while our route takes from Latvia to Australia. Do you have any moore info abaut China border, what they ask and so on?
I wish you a white way.
Geronimo

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janis

Well, concerniing China,
I have now tried every border crossing that is possible with the exception of Myanmar, from Laos to Vietnam. China customs at the Loa border was a sttrong NO! WAY!! (truth be told I then got a couple of truckdrivers to sling the bike onthe truck and smuggle it across, nut when the china customs officer saw the bike he shouted something in chinese ot the truck driver and the driver pointed to me...hahahahah I just laughed.) I almost got in at the DongDang /Pinxieng Border after a couple of days trying. I came late as to optimize the percentage of the big boss going home early and that was exactly the case except it backfired and they told me to come again tommorrow. I talked the vietnam immagration not to stamp me out so I can give it a go with china and they were like "no worries" just leave your bike here. Cool, I went to the immagration, asked an offical loooking lady that spoke english and she said " yeah, no problem" I nearly crapped my pants and was just turning to spritn to check out of Vietnam when a customs guy came by, was consulted on the issue and after 30 min of haggleling, came tot he conclusion of the proper paperwork and invatation allowing me to come to china. soooooo, that was a bust. witht the right docs, should be no worries, well at least possible.
Then I went to the Mong Cao border of Vietnam and almost got inthere too as they were confused on what to do. Very froendly at all borders, but sicne they were not sure , there was this one guy that took about an hour calling what i think was every offical in China on what to do and the conclusion was the same. need the properpaper work. I then asked every truck driver to smuggle it across( I have a translated paper a friend explained what I want to do) but all of them were like, uhhhh "no" One of them said yes for 60 bucks, so we loaded up the bike and after a little more conversation , I relized he was going back to Hanoi......hahahahah gotta laugh. off came the bike.
Lao Cai border in the north was pretty much the same. Had a great time crusin Vietnam though, now to ship it somewhere..mmmmm.

Just another bit... a friend just emailed me from Laos, and tried to enter Vietnam with a carnet and all( I dont have one) and was denied after a two day attempt.
Luck of the Draw I guess.Hope the info helps. I might try to lift it on a truck to get into china again, not sure.

I like the way you dealing with this situation, aspecialy with a truck.We have the same idea if nothing works.
Thanks for usefull information.
You can take a look on our web page www.enduroadventure.lv it is not yet in english but still.
Good luck.

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janis

Yeah,
I think that the truck route is definatlly a possibility from Vietnam as the vietnamese are a little more eager to make a little money. I admit, that it takes a little patience to find the right driver and trust him as well. Since all hte trucks going into china only go a short distance to pick up cargo and haul it back to vietnam or vise versa, I was thinking it might be a good idea to then get another truck to haul the bike a little deeper into china and get away form the border and start the ride from lets say about 200 or 300 ks instead f square one. That way, if I do get pulled over it might seem that I've been allowed in somehow. Dunno, just a mad mind thinking of things.
Good Luck.
Chris

Hi,
How is it going? Please let me know abaut you succses crossing the border. Sometimes eny single word is important.

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janis