Thailand to Vietnam on Vietnamese bike with NO papers. Possible?
 

I'm currently in Southern Thailand and I want to ride to Hanoi, Vietnam in April/May 2012.

After reading about how difficult it is to enter vietnam with a Thai (or other foreign) reg'd bike, I planned on just flying to Hanoi and riding back here. Until I found this Vietnamese bike.

I can buy a 20 year old Honda Win with a Vietnamese plate but NO papers.

Would I be able to get across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and back into Vietnam with this bike with no papers?

Thanks

Ooooh, risky, I can see your logic but it could cost more money than its worth.
I passed with viet plates at Mukdahan then the border to Viet-Nam at Boy-Y
they never asked for papers, maybe there. I gave them my papers but they only gave a cursory glance
btw you're in Thailand, they have great printing facilities ;)

Can I print fake registration papers?

Guess it depends on how good you are in Photoshop.... :rofl:

(but just be aware, that making fake papers is against the law, and westerners are not above it anywhere in the world.)

The Thais can do a good copy of just about anything BUT they would need to see some papers to copy them.
If you can swing that be aware the papers will need to have a Vietnam name on the Rego, not yours as foreigners cannot legally register a bike in Vietnam.

I have heard of foreigners having to show papers with Vietnamese names on the rego without any issue but once your in the country I dont think they bother much with foreigners on bikes.
I was only renting in Vietnam but was never stopped by Police for a rego check.

Even if you go through all the trouble of making fake documents for the bike what are you going to do when Thai Customs asks for the Temporary Import Papers for the bike? Getting into Cambodia will not be a problem since they do not even issue a Temporary Import Paper.

Correction on Vietnamese Registration
 

Sorry, a bit off topic.. however, a foreigner certainly can register a motorcycle in Vietnam, in fact it is reasonably easy if you go to the right place and can pay the steep 'fees'/taxes. I am riding a legally imported, legally registered BMW G650GS.

There are a number of odd bits of rumour circulating around the internet on motorcycles and Vietnam:
1. Can't get a motorcycle over 175 cc. Not true, but they are rare and expensive. You can buy one, but renting one is limited to a few shops in Hanoi (organized tours).
2. International licenses are not recognized. True sort of. But in practice - I've not heard of anyone riding on a foreign license that faced anything worse than a 'fine'.
3. Foreigners cannot get licenses, import bikes, register bikes, own bikes, ride bikes... bla bla bla. All possible, if your are willing to take time, pay money and have a vietnamese speaking friend.

However, I agree with all of the above comments that are above. If you want to come to Vietnam and ride... make your life easy, fly here and rent, or contact a tour operator who can help you bring in your bike (read pay $1000 USD or more).

To put things a bit straight... Thailand is a very disorganised country. I was told I could leave my bike there and then it turned out I faced imprisonment and a huge fine. The minimum fine was £20. So I tried for the crossing and I made it through with no paperwork, no fines and no problems. They shouted at me, i kept my mouth shut and acted dumb. When they asked questions, I made jokes and they laughed, then I bought them a drink and let them get on with it. Mostly they're just nice enough guys who want to help.
Turn up with fake documents and they'll lock you up. It's not worth it and please don't be stupid. You're talking about riding through a border where they see papers every single day. They'll know. If you have to try then turn up with nothing and hope for the best, chances are you'll be ok. However, you'll not get back out. Get a bike with papers or expect to lose the bike and if you do anything criminal, expect to get in trouble for it.