Hello, I just finished a 24,000 Mile tour of Europe and have made it to SE ASIA. I'm planning on riding a loop of N. Thailand for 4-7 days, then after taking the boat to Laos would like to do some riding there as well as a few weeks in Vietnam. I don't mind doing the trip on my own, but company is always good, so I thought I'd post. Anyone riding my way?

Ryan

Ryan,

we are just sitting in the Jolly Frog, going tomorrow up direction Chiang May, doing the loops there...

With which bike you are on the road? You can not enter Vietnam with a big bike; no chance for everything above 250cc.

Why you want to take a boat to go into Laos, from North Thailand you can just cross the border on land...

cheers Sascha

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Round the world by bike. www.RTWbyBIKE.com

A nice route is to take the small ferry over the Mekong.



If you go up to the Huay Sai (Laos side of the border) the road on the Laos side has some great twists and turns…you can stay over night as the ferries stop at 6pm and if you do use Sabedh guesthouse on the Laos side or the Green Inn on the Thai side. Both are nice and quiet with a great views over the Mekong. Bikes can be parked up outside.
You only wait around 45 mins or so for the ferry which takes you over the Mekong and direct into Thailand...or Laos depending on which way you are going!!



if you take the road 1129 in thailand to the border this goes to Chiang Khong from Chieng Saen from Mae Sai. Passing through the Golden Triangle area. this road takes you through the rice plains and is quite open countryside...however once you are on the West side of Mae Sai - make sure you take the smaller roads that run right along the tha/Myanmar border....and head for Thoed Thai. All of these roads are smaller, quite steep and at one point runs right along the spine of the mountain that runs along that part of the border. great views!



have fun.

Lisa

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Lisa
www.2ridetheworld.com

Correct, except I don´t think engine size means anything to them - all foreign vehicles are basically banned from Vietnam (a bit like in China´s borders). Everyone´s free to try of course, and you can get in, if you´re really lucky, but I would not base my trip plans on being lucky. Anyway Thailand, Cambodia and Laos are do-able and well worth exploring.

Ryan
I justed arrived Chiang Mai yesterday. I have everything I need (GPS, riding gear, tools) to ride except a motorbike. I am planning on biking in Laos and have asked whether to buy or rent in Thailand or rent in Laos. It seems to make the most sense to rent in Laos. I am thinking of taking a bus to Vientiene in the next week. Let me know if you want to meet up.

Thanks everyone for the replies and the good info. Musq--I'd love to meet up if our schedules match. From the research I've done, the best/easiest way to tour around SE Asia seems to be to rent bikes Laos and Thailand for the trips there as they are short loops and rentals are cheap, and to buy a bike in Vietnam. (outside bikes aren't allowed in Vietnam and the Hanoi to Saigon route which is 3 weeks or so is supposed to be great.) I rented a little 125 CC Honda for 200 baht a day in CM. While its no match for the R1150GS I had in Europe, Iits surprisingly peppy in the mountains even with my 180lbs plus 30 pounds of backpack on it. I'm currently doing a 4 day loop in N. Thailand (the Mai Hong Song Loop. Which goes from Chiang Mai to Pai to Mai Hong Song then through a few other fun towns S on the way back to Chiang Mai . The roads are incredibly fun to drive on a small bike. Well paved with just occasional potholes (much better than what I encountered in Central and E. Europe) and there are miles and miles of sweeping curves through mountains and rice fields. I took a break in the little town of Pai for the last couple days, and have just been laying in hammocks reading and hitting the hot springs. I'm planning on getting back to ChiangMai around the 4th, then was going to take either the slow boat or the bus over to Laos. I'm not sure how much good riding is N Laos, but if you know of some good roads I'd be happy to check them out with you. The one good recommendation I've had for Laos was a 4 day loop in the S, and I was considering doing it after Vietnam. I've heard motorcycle rentals in Laos are around $5-7 a day as well, so no point buying anything. My basic plan was to check out Vieng Vien and Luang Prabong, then take a slow boat up N from Luang PRabong to do some trekking in the mountains. Then I was going to go to Vietnam after that (probably around the 15-20th of Feb) and buy a bike to ride Vietnam with. How long are you traveling for?

Yes, I have done the Mai Hong Son loop a couple of times. You're right, it's a great road. Pai is a great place to relax. I enjoyed Soppong too as there are or were fewer touristas. I'm still hanging out in CNX and will be for another few days before I make a move to Laos. I did find a bike fully licensed for sale yesterday but not sure I can make the committment. I will be in SE Asia for about 2 months. I am also thinking of going to Burma but traveling by bus. When you return let me know and we can go have a coffee, soda...

Hey Musc,
It looks like I'll be back in Chiang Mai sometime tomorrow if you want to meet up for a . I'll be staying at the little bird guesthouse, which is a few blocks away from the Sunday night Market. Had a great ride today from Pai around to Mai Sariang with a quick detour up to the Burmese border along the way. It was such a good ride I couldn't make myself stop until dusk. I almost want to do it again. Do you know how the N.E. Loop that goes up to the golden triangle around Chiang Rai is? Is anywhere as cool as this loop?


Ryan

Ryan,
I'll come to your guesthouse around 6 PM. I would think you would be back by then. If not, no problem.

Jon

Hey Jon,
Sorry I missed you. Thai massage ran a little long. I got here right after you left. I have to meet another travel buddy at 8 to go to the night market, but if you want to join us, come on by. I'll buy you a . Could also meet for breakfast if you're around. I have to be on the bus to Laos at 10 though. I'd love to meet up for a bit of riding in Vietnam or Laos if our schedules match. If not though, enjoy the ride wherever you are.

Ryan

You can go into Vietnam on a bike bigger than 250cc, i have been there on a
Harley, its just a question of money! contact VIKING TRAVEL
in Saigon , you will allso have to have a guide stay with you.

Phil.