Taking A Big Bike From Thailand To Vietnam (and Back...)

[GizmoBKK]

Hi there. We are thinking about a bike trip to Vietnam, however, we have heard there are difficulties taking big bikes across the border. (not allowed > 250 cc?)

Any experience with that? How can it be done? What paperwork is needed? Time required?

Thanks in advance everybody and safe riding.

G.

[Bard]

Check out GT-Rider someone has managed to do it, but it is supposed to be impossible.

[LivinLOS]

Vietnam is closed to bikers... Technically under 175 cc is supposed to be allowed but no one told the border guards that..

Every once in a while someone slides through.. But thats the exception not the rule.. Many many try and fail.

[BigBikeBKK]

There are organized rides to Vietnam a couple of times a year. I'm not sure how the ride organizers are able to obtain permission for big bikes to enter Vietnam, but they obviously do. I think trying to arrange it on your own would be near impossible. Best option would be to join one of the tours. Doubt there are any tours going during the rainy season though.

There is one tour that goes to Vietnam every December. There was an ad in Ride Thailand Magazine, but I can't seem to find that issue. I'll dig around later and if I can find the name of the company I'll post it here.

I'm quite interested in riding to Vietnam too, so let's stay in touch!

Happy Trails,

Tony

[Richard-BKK]

I belief the organized rides to Vietnam are also become more and more difficult, as most Vietnam tours enter Vietnam from Laos. Laos announced a few months back that it would not allow privately owned foreign motorcycles into the country. Option is to enter Vietnam by Cambodia, but that is something I would not advice...

Edited April 20, 2009 by Richard-BKK

[BigBikeBKK]

Option is to enter Vietnam by Cambodia, but that is something I would not advice...

Why?

[LivinLOS]

Laos still allow bikes to enter but not via any of the friendship bridges.. GT-R has info on crossings via the boats that work.

I see no reason why a cambo / Vietnam wouldnt be fine.. But all I read says your VERY lucky to get any bike over..

[Bard]

Yes most try and fail, read about one couple who managed on there Beemer GS which must have been the right day or something... Maybe right sized brown envelope, I donno.

There was the group who tried to pass over via Cambodia a while back on Honda Waves I think, ahh it's all on GT that is THE place to find information, and out of respect for David I shall not repeat it here it would not be fair for all the work he and the others put together there.

Hey anyone up for a blast to Cambo this time? Or Malaysia, Malaysia does not have the same weather problem as Thailand now as they have opposite rainy seasons. Who's up for border crossing fun?

Cheers Bard

[Richard-BKK]

For anything after the casinos in Cambodian you need a serious off-road capable motorcycle within a few weeks.

[Bard]

Not true,

Just read through a lot of info from GT-R and there is lot of nicely paved roads there now, if you select the right routes.

Cheers Bard

[Richard-BKK]

He Bard,

Maybe other border crossings are better but at Aranyapathet-Poipet the nice paved roads stop and then you have a lot of un-paved rural road.. which wet is like clay and sticks everywhere. Even off-road tires get full of this "light orange" clay and traction is competently lost...

[Bard]

Agree Poipet sucks, besides the casinos and the friendly local cultural spots it really is nothing after that, like you say clay, I was stuck there with mud to my knees once so no thanks on that road. Still can't believe how I came home without a severe tropical disease after that trip...

[Richard-BKK]

We did Poipet - Battambang last year, we did it on two bikes, one a Honda CRF400 and a BMW G650 Xmoto. It was funny that the BMW, which had more road going tires had less problems with the clay-dirt them me on off-road tires. The wet clay was stuck within my tire profile and it was like I was on ice..even worse

[Bard]

Well just re-read the HD guys who did Poipet to Siamreab who claimed it's a nice paved road there now, if that is the case it would be a blast.

[Bard]

Sorry the HD fellers went from Trat to S'Ville my fault. I would love to take that trip though.

[hanno]

Apart from everything else, the Vietnamese police are currently cracking down on foreigners riding without a valid Vietnamese license.

[RusticCharm]

Laos still allow bikes to enter but not via any of the friendship bridges

Not bloody friendly at all, commie gits!