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Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia
I have been reading this part of the forum with much interest, very informative.
However I can't find anywhere where someone has taken a British registered bike around all these place, which is what i am very much interested in doing. I fancy shipping my bike from the UK to Vietnam then spending as much time as i can afford/am allowed by the country to travel before shipping back out from Malaysia. Am i right in saying that for most of the countries you can bounce in and out for about a month at a time and get visas on arrival?? Thanks in advance |
Big bikes - foreign registrated - are as good as impossible to get into Vietnam.
Malaysia is a carnet country - if I have understood it right - so you will need that for Malaysia. Visa on arrival ok in Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand (but for Thailand maybe only 15 days on land border crossings depending on your nationality) Visa for Vietnam needs to be arranged before entering. Maybe a better option would be to rent a bike in each country? A few rental companies in Thailand would allow you to take a rental bike into Laos -for a higher fee of course. |
Thanks for the info....but would it not be cheaper to fly your own bike in to country, as renting in each country would work out rather expensive??
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Is there any particular reason why getting a big bike into Vietnam is as good as impossible?
So that said it may be better transporting my bike to Thailand or Malaysia the? |
I simply dont think Vietnam allows big foreign bikes in their country. However I am not 100 % sure about this. I think there will be someone else in here that knows more detailed about this.
There were a few big bikes that were allowed into Vietnam from a certain border crossing Laos-Vietnam last year, but it seemed it didnt last long. You can read more about it in this link: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...crossing-59059 Flying in and flying out a big bike from UK to southeast-Asia - how much is that? 1000 £ each way or more??? You can certainly hire motorbikes a long time for that in southeast-Asia. Prices in Chiang Mai - Thailand approx: Honda Crf 250L: 6-8 £ pr day long time rent Honda CB500F/X: 10-12 £ pr day long time rent Kawasaki 650: 12-15 £ pr day long time rent. Personally I love the Crf250L for riding in Thailand. Just perfect for the mountain roads in northern Thailand. Would be a great bike for the other countries in the area as well. But of course if you got the £ - riding your own bike, set up at your riding style etc is great...... |
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You can get a 60 day Thai tourist visa prior to hitting the country (2 days in Vientiane Laos). Then when they do the temp import at the border, they will do longer then 15 days. Mine was 30 and I had to go to another customs office (A border crossing or international airport) before it ran out to get it extended. You might be able to ask them to make it for the full 2 months at the border when you enter. Laos and Cambodia customs at the border very with which border you hit. In my experience, they don't know what the are doing. Just be confident that you are bringing your bike in. The Southern Laos customs guy was to busy playing on his Iphone to give me more then a 10 second look. When I left Laos to Thailand near the Golden Triangle, They asked for paperwork and I said "what paperwork? guy didn't give me any paperwork at the southern crossing". No problems. Move on. Vietnam has 2 drivers licences. 1 for under 250 cc (I think). Basically this is the one that EVERYONE has.. or doesn't because its Vietnam and it is crazy. From what I gather, the big bike licence is hard to get even if you are from VN. You have to be in some sort of racing team or club or motorcycle industry or know the right people and do the right $paperwork$. There are not many big bikes in VN and this is probably a good thing. Anyone who has ridden there will say the same. I would not want to see these guys on 600cc street bikes. Fake honda scooters are fast enough :scooter: The big bikes that have gotten in were on tours and/or knew the right people and $paperwork$. I met a guy in Tajik who was riding a BMW GS1200. He said when he got to VN he would be let in because he had a contact who did the correct paperwork. Apparently it would cost him around $700 to get his bike in. I'm not sure if that happened or not. I know of a few people who have ridden foreign registered bikes under 250cc into VN. The XR250 and CRF250 are very common bikes in SEA and a good option. You can buy a brand new Thailand CRF250 for around $4200 or so. You shouldn't have problems going into Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia with this bike especially if its got a Thai licence. The only problem is there is a fine for leaving thailand for a certain number of days. It will max out once you hit that time though. Hope this helps some. One more thing, I'm on a KTM690. And this bike has been perfect just about everywhere I have been in the world. But believe it or not, it actually feels like overkill in SEA. Especially when I get into city traffic and I'm trying to split lanes with the scooters. I am wishing I had a smaller bike. Of course that all goes away when I am in the mountains with 65hp in my right hand. The 250s are about 1/3rd that. |
Snoah: According to this list on another side here on the HUBB Malaysia is a Carnet country - but as it says:
"Malaysia: while officially required, it is no problem to enter or leave via land borders on the peninsula. Local bikers think that a problem would arise attempting to ship the bike out." Carnet de Passages en Douanes - List of countries where it is Required | Horizons Unlimited Its nothing like having first hand knowledge as you do have - but as you see officialy you need a carnet. And as for most bordercrossings in this region - as you mention - they dont have a clue what to do most of the time. One day they might want a carnet, the next day not. Vietnam is difficult, if you are on a prearranged tour witha guide etc or have some special connection or permit it might be possible - but you still drive illegal since a big bike licence is very difficult to get. AS for know I would say renting a motorbike in Vietnam - maybe a 250 ccm - would be the best option for those who absolutely wants to drive a motorbike in Vietnam. Buying a bike in Thailand is possible - but you need an registred adress in the country, so this isnt as simple as it sounds. |
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Easy to get an address. Just use the guest house you are staying at. I know a guy who did that a few months ago. Also good to get the Thailand drivers licence as it is better recognized in the ASEAN countries. |
I have to agree with Snakeboy’s comments. When I took my motorcycle from Indonesia into Malaysia in July 2012 – from Belawan, near Medan, on the Indonesian side -to- Butterworth Docks, Penang, on the Malaysian side – a valid carnet was an absolute prerequisite. No way was the Malay agent going to handle the temporary import without a carnet. He made that clear from the outset.
Bottom line: If you take a foreign-registered motorcycle into Malaysia by sea or by air, then you’re going to need a carnet. And of course, if your carnet is stamped-in, then you must get it stamped-out when you leave, by any means of exit (sea, air or land.) Entering Malaysia via a land border crossing – e.g. from Thailand – then the situation is far more relaxed. . |
Snoah wrote:
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As long as I am not living in the country I prefer to rent there. But the idea of a thai driving licence is probably good.... |
Very informative guys thanks
I would not know where to start getting a Thai licence though lol |
Hi, I live here in Vietnam and have rode everywhere in the country. Many of my friends are in the motorcycle tour/repair business.
I can tell you this…..if you do ever get your "Big Bike" into the country, the chances of the police confiscating the bike the forever are very high. Because you don't have a "big bike" licence is one reason, the other reason is your bike isn't registered in Vietnam so you will be driving with foreign plates which will make your bike stand out like a sore thumb. Just recently, a tour group of 10 big bikes was seized by the police……Goodbye….gone forever!! And, as proof of this….my friend/mechanic is Saigon just bought 30 "Big Bikes" seized by the police in Hanoi…..beautiful bikes….BMW, WR's, XR's….you name it…..they took it!! The bikes are kept for months and months until the police make the paperwork for the each bike and then they go to auction and are auctioned as a "Lot" meaning, if there are 30 bikes…..you bid on all 30 bikes….I think my friend won the bid at $300,000usd!!! I was there today and saw 3 of the bikes…..2 BMW's- $21,000usd for one and $17,000usd for the other and a Honda 750 crusier…..the long low one….not sure of the model….$17,000usd….. So if you don't care and want to take the chance of loosing your bike, try getting it in. I would suggest, buying a nice bike that's in the country with papers and vn plate and then selling it when you leave….work out a deal with the seller to buy the bike back…..if not, chances are, you'll be leaving Vietnam with your dick in your hand! Hope this helps Gee. |
XRL GEE: Thanks so much for the information. It was more or less just what I thought.
So driving motorbikes in Vietnam for a foreigner - rent or maybe by one while in the country. |
SMALL Bike for Me!
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Did they smuggle the bikes in? I just read a report on ADV Rider where Vietnamese locals (wealthy ones I guess) rode round on nice BMW GS's. I'm assuming they were legal? ... or owners worked for the Govt? or had connections? I'm interested in either buying or renting a 125cc or maybe 200cc bike. I'd like to tour round for a couple months. In your opinion, what's the best approach? Better to buy in Hanoi or HCMC? What about a buy back? Or buying from another traveler? Is it possible for a foreigner to present legal, registered current paperwork on a bike NOT in their name? Do you need any sort of permission from listed owner to travel? I hear rules are changing there ... so what is going on now? I've heard there are some dealers who've got bike shops in both Hanoi and HCMC. So one could buy at one end, ride to other end and re-sell. Possible? Legal? What's your best recommendation for someone who does not want to spend a month screwing around with paperwork or go to jail. Better off renting? (expensive) Any help, much appreciated! bier |
Mollydog: There might be some useful information in this thread - especially from member UK_Vette....
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-vietnam-51118 |
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