We're planning a trip from HCMC, around Cambodia, up through Laos, then on to Hanoi via Sapa and we'd love some advice from some of you more experienced riders! We're departing on July 26 and returning Sept 23.
I've been researching this trip for months and area of greatest concern remains border crossings. The answers we've received have ranged from "no problem" to "impossible".
We'd like to buy a 125cc bike in HCMC (Honda Bonus?), take it through the Mekong Delta, then up into Cambodia at the crossing between Rach Gia and Kep. I have heard that it will be impossible to get the registration in my name, which could present some difficulties. I have also commonly heard that any foreign bike than enters a country must leave a country or I will face big fines upon my exit ($2000 USD+)
Most people have said that it will be no problem, but a shop in Hanoi (who I suspect was trying to get us to start our trip in Hanoi rather than HCMC) said the following:
According to me ride up through Cambodia from Vn side it is not sensible idea because Vietnamese custom not accept to ride any motorbike(even bike in your own name) to Cambodia if the bike don’t have a permit road work for crossing border. it make by ministry of communications and transport.
Does anyone have experience crossing into Cambodia with a Vietnamese bike?
On to Laos:
We're planning on crossing from Cambodia into Laos at Si Phan Don. Again, I have heard very mixed things about. A couple people have reported that their one month Laos visas were changed to one week or ten days because they entered with a bike. Others have said local cops will pull over any bike in VN plates. Still others have said it is really easy.
Does anyone have experience getting bikes into Laos?
I suspect that all of these different reports are due to inconsistent enforcement of border laws, officials looking for "happy money", tourists with poor attitudes, or officials simply having a good/bad day.
Getting the bike back into Vietnam by Dien Bien Phu is said to be no problem if it is a Vietnamese bike.
One poster suggested that I buy a different bike in each country. I was hoping to avoid this solution because we're on a bit of a budget, but I would far prefer seeing these places from the freedom of a bike rather than cramped in a bus.
Does anyone have contacts for bikes/info in HCMC or Hanoi?
Here is our current itinerary:
7/26-9/23
58 Nights
HCMC
(100km)
Ben Tre
(130km)
Can Tho
(120km)
Rach Gia
(150km)
Kep
(300km)
Kompong Luong
(300km)
Siem Reap
(280km)
Kampong Cham
(125km)
Kratie
(200km)
Si Phan Don
(150km)
Pakse
(250km)
Savannakhet
(280km)
Pak Kading
(190km)
Vientiane
(150km)
Vang Vieng
Luang Prabang
Muang Khua
Dien Bien Phu
(220km)
Sapa
(380km)
Hanoi
I've been researching this trip for months and area of greatest concern remains border crossings. The answers we've received have ranged from "no problem" to "impossible".
We'd like to buy a 125cc bike in HCMC (Honda Bonus?), take it through the Mekong Delta, then up into Cambodia at the crossing between Rach Gia and Kep. I have heard that it will be impossible to get the registration in my name, which could present some difficulties. I have also commonly heard that any foreign bike than enters a country must leave a country or I will face big fines upon my exit ($2000 USD+)
Most people have said that it will be no problem, but a shop in Hanoi (who I suspect was trying to get us to start our trip in Hanoi rather than HCMC) said the following:
According to me ride up through Cambodia from Vn side it is not sensible idea because Vietnamese custom not accept to ride any motorbike(even bike in your own name) to Cambodia if the bike don’t have a permit road work for crossing border. it make by ministry of communications and transport.
Does anyone have experience crossing into Cambodia with a Vietnamese bike?
On to Laos:
We're planning on crossing from Cambodia into Laos at Si Phan Don. Again, I have heard very mixed things about. A couple people have reported that their one month Laos visas were changed to one week or ten days because they entered with a bike. Others have said local cops will pull over any bike in VN plates. Still others have said it is really easy.
Does anyone have experience getting bikes into Laos?
I suspect that all of these different reports are due to inconsistent enforcement of border laws, officials looking for "happy money", tourists with poor attitudes, or officials simply having a good/bad day.
Getting the bike back into Vietnam by Dien Bien Phu is said to be no problem if it is a Vietnamese bike.
One poster suggested that I buy a different bike in each country. I was hoping to avoid this solution because we're on a bit of a budget, but I would far prefer seeing these places from the freedom of a bike rather than cramped in a bus.
Does anyone have contacts for bikes/info in HCMC or Hanoi?
Here is our current itinerary:
7/26-9/23
58 Nights
HCMC
(100km)
Ben Tre
(130km)
Can Tho
(120km)
Rach Gia
(150km)
Kep
(300km)
Kompong Luong
(300km)
Siem Reap
(280km)
Kampong Cham
(125km)
Kratie
(200km)
Si Phan Don
(150km)
Pakse
(250km)
Savannakhet
(280km)
Pak Kading
(190km)
Vientiane
(150km)
Vang Vieng
Luang Prabang
Muang Khua
Dien Bien Phu
(220km)
Sapa
(380km)
Hanoi