Crossing Myamar, Thailand to Vietnam

[MatteoCap]

Hi,
I'm traveling from Italy to Vietnam with my girlfriend and ours 2 motorcycles.
Now we are in India and we heard about the need to have a tourist guide to cross Myamar and Thailand. I'm tryin to undestand how expensive could be this guides and if they are mandatory. Can anybody tell us some experience?
Thank you to everybody.

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by MatteoCap

Hi,
I'm traveling from Italy to Vietnam with my girlfriend and ours 2 motorcycles.
Now we are in India and we heard about the need to have a tourist guide to cross Myamar and Thailand. I'm tryin to undestand how expensive could be this guides and if they are mandatory. Can anybody tell us some experience?
Thank you to everybody.

For Myanmar you definetively need a guide + permits, no way around this. However if you can find a group to join and thus share the expences it isnt that expensive. I have seen prices as low as 7-800 USD for a 7-8 days crossings which includes guides, permits and accomodation with breakfast. That if you are in a group of travellers, lets say 7-8 persons. If its only you and your gf it will of course be much more expensive.
Btw - there were rumours that India and Myanmar had opend up their borders for crossing without guides and permits the other day. But that was only for travellers without vehicles. If you bring a foreign vehicle in to Myanmar you still need a guide and permits.

For Thailand the situation is a bit more complex. Yes rules for mandatory guide and permits were introduced in 2016. But the enforcing of these rules and laws has not been very strict. Sometimes travellers get in with a 30 TIP as was the rule before this new mandatory guide and permit law. Sometimes travellers get into Thailand using a Carnet although Thailand is not a Carnet country. Sometimes both a Carnet and a TIP are used. I have even heard of travellers getting into Thailand without any paperwork at all - but beware that might qualify for a huge fine when leaving the country!
Still the main rule is that you need a guide and permit though.

Coming from Myanmar the only border into Thailand that are used is the Mae Sot border in Thailand. And unfortunately that border is known for being very strict and not allow any travellers in without the mandatory guide and permits. However wven this border let two dutch guys in a campervan which is totally prohibited entering Thailand into the country around two weeks ago - a Carnet and a TIP were used. So how to interpret that? Im not sure, I wouldnt count on it that they will let every traveller that pops up at the border into their country without guide and permits. But who knows...?

An advice could be to arrange a short crossing (1-3 days) into either Cambodia or Laos and thus spend as little money as possible for the Thai buraucrasy of guide and permits. Because from Laos or Cambodia it seems that entering Thailand without permits and guides are totally possible.
So cross Thailand superfast into Laos or Cambodia with a guide.
Then travel Laos and Cambodia, both great countries for motorbike travelling, especially Laos imo. And then enter Thailand without guide and permits but with a TIP and or Carnet and travel freely in Thailand without guides and permit.

Vietnam - is still a very difficult country to get into with a foreign plated bike. Officially you need permits and guide there too and its expensive! But I have heard about travellers that have been let into Vietnam on their foreign plated bikes without permits and guides although the legality about this is a bit hazy.

There are facebook groups for both Myanmar crossing and for information about the laws about mandatory permit and guide for Thailand

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1024579897597702

https://m.facebook.com/groups/152596798515738

Hope it helps a bit and good luck with your travels.

[MatteoCap]

Thank you very much, these informations are very precious for us.
Anyway i'm thiking about ship ours bikes form Kathamndu to Bangkok, I heard about that if you ship to the airport you will not need any guide. But I'm still looking for any information.

[Snakeboy]

Originally Posted by MatteoCap

Thank you very much, these informations are very precious for us.
Anyway i'm thiking about ship ours bikes form Kathamndu to Bangkok, I heard about that if you ship to the airport you will not need any guide. But I'm still looking for any information.

There are info about shipping vehicles into Bangkok in the FB-group about new laws in Thailand. As far as I remember those who did so didnt need guide/permits. But look more into that in the FB-group.