Foreign big bikes in Vietnam - bis
 

Hello,

I was thinking to bring up again this topic, since it seems some laws has been changed in Vietnam concverning big bikes:

Vietnamese now favor large capacity motorbikes - News VietNamNet

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If I understand well: big bikes are allowed in Vietnam, given you have the A2 vietnamese driving license.
If I remember well what I have read once (can't figure where anymore), a foreigner who wants to enter Vietnam with his own big bike needs to apply for some A2 vietnamese license AND a permit issued from the vietnamese ministry of transportation (some 30 days permit).

Are these facts correct?

How to get them is surely a whole different story...

Cheers

What's the situation with riding lower capacity bikes?

For example could I ship two 250cc bikes from UK to Vietnam and spend a few months riding around Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand?

Big bike drive into Vietnam
 

Hi Arkean

- Since 1st Jan 2015 International Driver Licensed is reconized in Vietnam.
- Since August 2015 Vietnam will begin to issue their International Driver Licensed (for Vietnamese or foreigner who has a work contract in Vietnam for more than 3 months)

To enter Vietnam from other country you will need to contact a local Tour Operator in Vietnam who can organize this temporary import permit for you.

You may find some information from the following site: MOTOTOURS ASIA: Overland crossing borders motorbike tour Southeast Asia
They are doing overland crossing motorbike tours on big bike Royal Enfield from Vietnam to Laos, Cambodia...and other countries in SE Asia so I am sure they will have information about this

..............................

Hi c-m

All the bike exceeing 175cc is considered as big bike in Vietnam so riding 250cc bike is also needed an International Driver Licensed.
You will need:
- contact a local tour operator to get the temporary import permit
- documents of your bike: registration paper, Carnet de Passage, Insurance, international driver license...
- 4-6 weeks ship (by boat) or much faster by flight (expensive) as now they have a big Boeing for Hanoi - London :)) so you can load more than 2 bikes

temp import permit
 

Hi Brian,

you think its also possible to get this permit at any border ?

Regards H.

Is it really mandatory to book a tour operator for VIETNAM? same as Myanmar?
I'm driving a 125cc italian plate...

Hi all, I am currently in Vietnam with my bmw 650 swiss registered.

You do need an agent for both border crossing (entry and exit) and paperwork, but you don't need any guided tour.

My costs were about 630 USD (3 bikers crossing). The price depends on the number of people you might be crossing with.

Asia Senses and Mototour Asia do provide you all the required permits.

You need to start the paperwork process at least 3 weeks before border crossing, and apply for a visa prior at any viet embassy you may find on your way.

Happy rides!

Cheers

Great information Arkean.

Is an international driving licence legal in Vietnam by now?

How about insurance?

Can you cross at any bordercrossing you like?

When you apply for the vietnam permits in order to get into Vietnam with foreign registered bike, you need to supply a picture of your license (I personnally did not send the international one). You need to send as well a picture of your motorbike registration documents, carnet info where you have engine and frame numbers in it (allthough Vietnam is not carnet country). You are more or less free to choose which international you want to get in and out. If you have it organized by a tour company, you will just have to get to the dedicated entry border at a specific day, they make all the paperwork for you, then you are free to ride on your own. You need to get at the exit border at another specific day you will agree on.

I was never bothered by police check. It seems they prefer to get to the backpackers tourist who bought small Honda wins and travel through vietnam. Lots of them don't have licenses...

Hi Arkean

Just to clarify, was that USD630 for all three bikers, or each ?

You mentioned two tour companies, is there one you would recommend above the other ? I would be doing a self guided tour so just need assistance at the borders and with paperwork.

I would like to enter/exit through the Cambodia/Viet border at Snoul/Loc Ninh. Wondering if that might add to tour company costs seeing as its not a major border crossing.

Thx

Are the new regulations relating to travel in Thailand relevant to this trip.

@Ducbill: no, the 630 USD was for each bike/driver. In fact, there is a fixed fee per vehicle, and a grouped fee. The more people, the less for each.

@TonyLee: The new regulation in thailand is unfortunately very restrictive. There is an ongoing process at the time of writing which I am involved with the Department of Land Transportation in Bangkok in order to discuss about this new law. I will post more very shortly

Arkean, thanks for the clarification on Vietnam costs.

Hope you get your Thailand entry permit sorted without too much trouble. I usually ride over each dry season from Cambodia so am keen to learn whats involved to comply with the new rules.