It is standard knowledge that driving larger than 150cc bikes is not allowed in Vietnam and that crossing into Vietnam on a 250cc has not been possible in the past or only occasionally.
The previous edition of the Adventure Cambodia guide book, in contrast to other sources, claimed that it was routinely possible to cross in Takeo as well as on the Mekong near Chau Doc. Now I have just bought the new edition, “Ultimate Cambodia”, in which Matt Jacobson writes that across southern Takeo’s highway 2 was closed to larger bikes last year and that friends of his failed to cross down the Mekong in mid 2007. It also says “The word in December 2007 was that all Vietnam border crossings will soon be open for motorcycle crossings … We are hoping that many or all will be open for crossing with bikes when you read this.”
Now I would much rather rely on facts than hope. Has anyone recently been/not been able to cross with a 150cc+x bike from Vietnam into Cambodia? Where?
I want to give it a try during Khmer New Year. I understand that there are 4 international border crossings south of Bavet, one at the Mekong and Bassac River each, one at the end of highway 2 in Takeo and one at the coast line near Ha Tien (and one more close to Kampong Trach?)
Plan A would be to leave Phnom Penh early in the morning, cross the border and spent the night in Chau Doc. If this fails, we still want to be able to ride to Kep and spend the night there. One day is most likely not enough time to fail at all four border crossing and still get to Kep before dark.
Here the questions:
• I understand that the best chances of successful crossing are down at the border crossing on the western bank of the Mekong in Kandal, just 45km south of Neak Loeang (unfortunately rather far from Kep). This is mainly due to the remoteness of the checkpoint and ignorance of border guards. However, if we fail, is there an easy way to get from the Mekong to the Bassac River along the border? The physical distance to the next crossing down on road 21 is small but without at least one ferry and some sort of road between the rivers it can easily take half the day. Now the Ultimate Cambodia books does have a map on page 89 where there is just such o road with a reference to “Mekong & Basak Rivers Circle Ride” and another reference mentioning “Scenic Canals & Villages” but I don’t find this described in the text and there is also no such road in the much more detailed Gecko Road Map. I am aware of the possibility to cross from the Mekong to the Bassac about 25 km north of the border but this one takes long, even during the dry season.
• Is the checkpoint down road 21, along the western bank of the Bassac, an international checkpoint yet?
• In case we fail to cross on road 21, is there an easy way to get from road 21 to either Takeo or Angkor Borei, ideally closely to the border? I know the way from Angkor Borei to Takeo and I have heard about boats from Road 21 to Angkor Borei but the water may be too low now?
• My 250cc bike is fully registered but not in my name, I do have the registration card and the sales contract as proof of ownership. I don’t have insurance. Is that good enough to cross? Would insurance be a problem? Do I need to apply for some sort of export and/or import permit?
The previous edition of the Adventure Cambodia guide book, in contrast to other sources, claimed that it was routinely possible to cross in Takeo as well as on the Mekong near Chau Doc. Now I have just bought the new edition, “Ultimate Cambodia”, in which Matt Jacobson writes that across southern Takeo’s highway 2 was closed to larger bikes last year and that friends of his failed to cross down the Mekong in mid 2007. It also says “The word in December 2007 was that all Vietnam border crossings will soon be open for motorcycle crossings … We are hoping that many or all will be open for crossing with bikes when you read this.”
Now I would much rather rely on facts than hope. Has anyone recently been/not been able to cross with a 150cc+x bike from Vietnam into Cambodia? Where?
I want to give it a try during Khmer New Year. I understand that there are 4 international border crossings south of Bavet, one at the Mekong and Bassac River each, one at the end of highway 2 in Takeo and one at the coast line near Ha Tien (and one more close to Kampong Trach?)
Plan A would be to leave Phnom Penh early in the morning, cross the border and spent the night in Chau Doc. If this fails, we still want to be able to ride to Kep and spend the night there. One day is most likely not enough time to fail at all four border crossing and still get to Kep before dark.
Here the questions:
• I understand that the best chances of successful crossing are down at the border crossing on the western bank of the Mekong in Kandal, just 45km south of Neak Loeang (unfortunately rather far from Kep). This is mainly due to the remoteness of the checkpoint and ignorance of border guards. However, if we fail, is there an easy way to get from the Mekong to the Bassac River along the border? The physical distance to the next crossing down on road 21 is small but without at least one ferry and some sort of road between the rivers it can easily take half the day. Now the Ultimate Cambodia books does have a map on page 89 where there is just such o road with a reference to “Mekong & Basak Rivers Circle Ride” and another reference mentioning “Scenic Canals & Villages” but I don’t find this described in the text and there is also no such road in the much more detailed Gecko Road Map. I am aware of the possibility to cross from the Mekong to the Bassac about 25 km north of the border but this one takes long, even during the dry season.
• Is the checkpoint down road 21, along the western bank of the Bassac, an international checkpoint yet?
• In case we fail to cross on road 21, is there an easy way to get from road 21 to either Takeo or Angkor Borei, ideally closely to the border? I know the way from Angkor Borei to Takeo and I have heard about boats from Road 21 to Angkor Borei but the water may be too low now?
• My 250cc bike is fully registered but not in my name, I do have the registration card and the sales contract as proof of ownership. I don’t have insurance. Is that good enough to cross? Would insurance be a problem? Do I need to apply for some sort of export and/or import permit?
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