Vietnam - Temporary Import of Motorcycles for Non-Commercial Purposes
 

Hiya - at the risk of displaying my complete ignoreness - can I ask if this "CIRCULAR No. 16/2008/TT-BTC OF FEBRUARY 13, 2008, GUIDING THE IMPORT AND TEMPORARY IMPORT OF MOTORCYCLES FOR NON-COMMERCIAL PURPOSE" issued recently by the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance permits the importation of bikes into Vietnam? I've read a lot of posts on the HUBB saying that you can't take a bike into Vietnam, with discussions extending to possible cc limits, but this circular suggests, to me at least, that they've relaxed their stance a bit.

Any advice would be appreciated,

Cheers,

vince

No personal experience, but [my] "interpretation" of this, FWIW:

2. Subjects of application
...
2.2. The following subjects may import or temporarily import used motorbikes under the mobile property regime (motorcycles manufactured within three years counting to the time of import):
a/ Agencies, organizations and individuals entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities;
b/ Individuals entitled to tax incentives under the Vietnamese State’s regulations;
c/ Overseas Vietnamese permitted to repatriate and permanently reside in Vietnam;
d/ Vietnamese citizens who are assigned to work or act as experts overseas

is that you would have to fall into one of the categories a/ b/ c/ or d, in order to even temporarily import a used motorcycle.
Put another way, if you're the "usual" Horizons Unlimited touring motorcycle rider, riding a personally-owned machine from anywhere outside Vietnam into Vietnam, you would not fall into the above eligibile categories, and your bike would not be admitted.
But that's an "interpretation" of Vietnamese legal/ bureaucratese (which was probably originally translated from Vietnamese into English).

Seems to me like what they´re referring to in that circular is vehicles, that are really shipped to Vietnam (the requirements include a Bill of Lading), for diplomatic use, for expats who work there, maybe even for tour operators use. Not necessarily for a regular tourist - but I do hope I´m wrong about that!

Still it could be a very different story at any of their land borders.

Cheers !!!
 

Thanks for the clearer interpretation! My wishful thinking had me looking at it differently, but that's been set straight now!

Cheers,

vince

Hi Vince:

I need to preface this reply by stating that I know nothing about Vietnam, and even less about their policies for importation of stuff.

However - I have visited a heck of a lot of oddball countries (almost all of Eastern Europe, and over half the ones in Africa), and I have never, ever heard of a restriction on a bona fide tourist being able to drive into a country with his or her car or motorcycle. Some countries will require a carnet, to provide them with assurance that you will take the vehicle out when you leave and not sell it there, but I have never heard of a country that simply won't let you enter for tourist purposes with your own vehicle.

I am going to take a guess that the memo issued by the government of Vietnam uses the word 'import' in the literal sense of the word - not in the sense of 'visit'. The policies in the document are actually the same as the temporary import policies followed by many other countries, and are likely not too different from the policies of Canada or Australia. However, I don't think that the author of that document intended it to apply to bona fide tourists. In other words, if you are an Australian, and you want to ride into Vietnam with your Australian registered motorcycle (and, by implication, ride out again when you are finished your tourism), you should probably be able to do that.

You might want to write a letter to the Embassy of Vietnam in your country asking for clarification of the what policy applies to tourists who want to drive in and out of the country with their own vehicle.

Pan, the issue of importation into Vietnam has been discussed many times on this forum and unfortunately it is not possible. I, myself tried it last year to no avail.

Sadly, there are many asian, and other, countries which will not allow importation of foreign registered vehicles into their country.

Garry from Oz.

options
 

For the cost of shipping you can rent or buy a motorbike in Vietnam. (Although that brings up issues of vehicle ownership by a foreigner)

I have been told by a Vietnam tour operator that XR200s can be bought. I know they can be rented. Other smaller Chinese motorbikes are also available.

Good luck

I left my bike in Cambodia locked to an expats house. I went into Saigon and Brought a bike within a couple of days. Its all pretty easy to find the expat tables to go and sit down and have a few drinks with them and ask about buy a bike.

When I got to Hanoi, I posted flyers up and posted a few adverts on line - anther Hanoi expat web site + gt-rider.com. I then rode around northern Vietnam and a week later I got back to Hanoi where I had a couple of people lined up to view the bike.

All the expats living in Vietnam said, if you have a bike over the 175cc rating, you will be stopped by police and have to pay a fine/bribe. If under the 175cc you will not get stopped (unless your doing something really wrong). I was travelling around for four weeks and never got hassled, but then again, I had brought an old 67 Honda SS50!

I wished I had a bigger bike, so I could get off the main roads and head north via the road which follows Laos boarder. next time!

Bikes into Vietnam
 

A month ago a group of bikers from Jesters MC attempted to get into vietnam, all paperwork in place ...... but obviously turned back at the border, Harleys are just way too 'obvious', lol. I've heard of a few guys with 250 trail bikes getting in, but this is rare. If you have a 125cc though, it really shouldn't be a problem. As for actually legally importing your bike, take the plate off and who'd know or care? :innocent:

I disagree with the ´125cc is ok´-part, as I was with a group of 8 falangs in Dec-2006, trying a total 5 times to get into Vietnam from several border stations in Cambodia & Laos. We had 115cc Yamaha Nouvo "chicken chasers" or scooters (Thai plates). Actually I think we were really close to make it a few times, drank tea & negotiated for several hours with the border guards, etc., but its still a fact that in the end they said "no" 5 times, and we did not get the scooters into Vietnam.


There is a persistent rumour on the net about under 175cc being ok, but at least back then, they seemed to reject all foreign bikes regardless of engine size.

We could have smuggled the scooters into Saigon, but as we had such a big group, which would certainly have been noticed by the authorities, we didnt want to go that way. May be different, if your only 1-2 people.

More cold water: not just no bikes, it's no motor vehicles, period. Locals from bordering countries can cross, obviously. Met an 82-year-old German in a van who tried and failed. He did manage to travel through Africa, Iran and Pakistan without a carnet, though...

The last person I know of who succeeded was this Frenchman:

20081116

He required the assistance of his embassy. Some German van drivers who met him told me that the embassy said to him that this was the first and the last time they had this, as it's too much hassle for them.

Yes you CAN enter Vietnam with foreign vehicles
 

Just to put these myths to rest, I took 35 European registered classic cars on a rally through South East Asia including Vietnam back in 2008. I don't pretend that you can organise the Vietnam leg independently as we had excellent local partners, but depending on the depth of your pockets, all is possible :)

I also don't see that bikes should be treated differently and think it is absolutely possible to enter Vietnam.

My 2 cents worth...

Adrian

I am sure anything is possible if you are prepared to pay, but most people on this site are travelling on a budget and need to weigh up the cost of getting their vehicle into the country for a short visit vs. the option of leaving it behind and renting locally.

Can you tell us exactly how deep your pockets were Adrian?

not possible
 

I've lived in Vietnam since 2008....married twice there...the only way you're getting a bike in is exactly like that government issues says....
There are warehouses full of exotic cars there that have been confiscated by the government.
To import a motorcycle into vietnam, you're paying a 90% duty plus 10%VAT and any other customs charges.
The bike can't be older than 3 years by the time it passes through customs.
You have to be Vietnamese or viet kieu or a foreigner married to Vietnamese and living in Vietnam or, you have a company in Vietnam.
If married, the import duties are cut 50%...
If you wanted to import a car...180% import duties plus luxury tax!! about 220% in total.
Buy a bike in Hanoi or HCMC.....lots of big bikes there....just bring lots of money....not the same pricing here as back home....and, you can buy new KTM, Ducati, Kawi's, BMW's.......a new BMW GS1200 is about $30,000USD
I've got a 2011 Gas Gas ec300e, Honda XR250 Degree, Honda XR250 Baja...
OH YA.....finding the bike...not so tough....finding a mechanic....now there's the problem....good luck!

Gee

So no change in Vietnam in 8 years??