Driving Trip Around Burma Myanmar

[stevehaigh]

is it practical to take your car or truck to Burma and drive up and down the country?

has anyone done it?

[phuketrichard]

You cant, end of story

You can drive to Laos/Cambodia/Malaysia/Singapore

You'll need the purple book, stickers showing English version of ur license plate ( or an English plate as i have) a a big T sticker.

Drive ON

[jobsworth]

David Burlinson drove through Burma to India in 2004.

It is the Stillwell road featured in First Overland by Tim Slessor.

http://www.odysseyshow.com/jou_se_asia.html

The problem seems to be not so much entering Burma

but exiting into India where the Naxalites are at war.

Thailand is so close to India that it seems silly that it

is not possible to go by bus.

[cowslip]

You cant, end of story

You can drive to Laos/Cambodia/Malaysia/Singapore

You'll need the purple book, stickers showing English version of ur license plate ( or an English plate as i have) a a big T sticker.

Drive ON

not according to this poster...

#11

[0zz1]

You cant, end of story

You can drive to Laos/Cambodia/Malaysia/Singapore

You'll need the purple book, stickers showing English version of ur license plate ( or an English plate as i have) a a big T sticker.

Drive ON

not according to this poster...

#11

Any news on this? I would be also very interested to drive through burma to india.

[phuketrichard]

Not sure about Burma but;

Just took my thai car to laos from Thailand at Chang Kong, ( entered on the 6th of July) and the purple car book was required as they stamp the car in an out. Also need to buy insurance 800 baht for 21 days. BUT ur car can only stay 15 days even though you get a 30 day visa on arrival for $35.

Drove all thru laos, good roads and some really really bad ones. But made it all the way down to Savannaket, spent 1 hour looking for a hotel, what a shit place, run down, half closed an abandoned so took the bridge back to Thailand. ( 60 baht). Entry and exit ...easy and straight forward an took about 30 minutes,

one thing when u enter here. You do the car work at the car ferry, ( cost 1,500 baht for the ferry) but need to than drive about 1 km to the immigration where the boat comes across for people.

Tomorrow head to Cambodia via Osmach border and down to Banteay Chhamer and on to Siem rep.

Note u can proceed all the way up to China IF u have a Chinese visa in advance but you can not take ur car or motorbike

Should be no problem as have had my car in an out of Cambodia more than once over the past 4 years with one stay of over 8 months.

[cowslip]

Not sure about Burma but;

Just took my thai car to laos from Thailand at Chang Kong, ( entered on the 6th of July) and the purple car book was required as they stamp the car in an out. Also need to buy insurance 800 baht for 21 days. BUT ur car can only stay 15 days even though you get a 30 day visa on arrival for $35.

Drove all thru laos, good roads and some really really bad ones. But made it all the way down to Savannaket, spent 1 hour looking for a hotel, what a shit place, run down, half closed an abandoned so took the bridge back to Thailand. ( 60 baht). Entry and exit ...easy and straight forward an took about 30 minutes,

one thing when u enter here. You do the car work at the car ferry, ( cost 1,500 baht for the ferry) but need to than drive about 1 km to the immigration where the boat comes across for people.

Tomorrow head to Cambodia via Osmach border and down to Banteay Chhamer and on to Siem rep.

Note u can proceed all the way up to China IF u have a Chinese visa in advance but you can not take ur car or motorbike

Should be no problem as have had my car in an out of Cambodia more than once over the past 4 years with one stay of over 8 months.

i'd like to drive to Angkor Wat too

but Iwas under the impression that one couldn't leave the border province?

Is it now possible to drive all over Cambodia?

I also heard that if your car is out of Thailand for more than 3 months you have to RE_IMPORT it???

Edited July 19, 2012 by cowslip

[phuketrichard]

Not sure about Burma but;

Just took my thai car to laos from Thailand at Chang Kong, ( entered on the 6th of July) and the purple car book was required as they stamp the car in an out. Also need to buy insurance 800 baht for 21 days. BUT ur car can only stay 15 days even though you get a 30 day visa on arrival for $35.

Drove all thru laos, good roads and some really really bad ones. But made it all the way down to Savannaket, spent 1 hour looking for a hotel, what a shit place, run down, half closed an abandoned so took the bridge back to Thailand. ( 60 baht). Entry and exit ...easy and straight forward an took about 30 minutes,

one thing when u enter here. You do the car work at the car ferry, ( cost 1,500 baht for the ferry) but need to than drive about 1 km to the immigration where the boat comes across for people.

Tomorrow head to Cambodia via Osmach border and down to Banteay Chhamer and on to Siem rep.

Note u can proceed all the way up to China IF u have a Chinese visa in advance but you can not take ur car or motorbike

Should be no problem as have had my car in an out of Cambodia more than once over the past 4 years with one stay of over 8 months.

i'd like to drive to Angkor Wat too

but Iwas under the impression that one couldn't leave the border province?

Is it now possible to drive all over Cambodia?

I also heard that if your car is out of Thailand for more than 3 months you have to RE_IMPORT it???

Left Thailand going to Laos from Chaing Khong, July 6th ( northern exit point) they asked for lots of papers, purple book and got a computer print out guaranteeing the car be returned, They valued my car at 220,000 baht.

Took about 10 minutes

ferry across the river

At Laos they filled out lots of papers, charged me 500 baht and also had to get insurance. 20 minutes

also they stamped the purple book.

Note the customs for ur car is at the car dock BUT u need drive about 500 meters down the road to immigration to get ur passport stamped in

Leaving Laos back to Thailand at Savannkhet/Mukdahan

Gave laos papers back , They stamped my purple book. crossed the bridge Thai customs took the computer print out and that it.

Leaving Thailand and entering Cambodia at Osmach, Today ( south of Surin) Thai's filled out some papers, I filled out some ( they were not stamped) and gave them back to me. No computer, no stamp in Purple book ( didn't even look at it)

10 minutes

arriving in Cambodia they looked at the papers and said OK!!! 1 minute and that was it.

Only could give me a tourist visa at Cambodia immigration ( $20 no hassles) I asked for a regular ( as wanted to extend ) but they said they did not have any.

Cambodia does not care :-)

So for all u that say u cant do it,

Your Legally allowed 30 days but i have kept it out more and intend on keeping it out more

can drive anywhere u want an has been that way since i first brought my car in in 2006

DO NOT cross at Koh Kong, west of Trat. they make u pay 100 baht/day an tell u you can ONLY drive in Koh Kong Province which is bullshit.

I have entered twice at Koh Kong and both times told them 3 days.

One time left via Osmach, One time via Pailin

I am in Siem rap now. Note i went via Banteay Chhamer, to Siem Rep It is a great old temple not cared for at all unlike Angkor. 100 kms of dirt road though head south of Osmach to Sispohan

[cowslip]

Not sure about Burma but;

Just took my thai car to laos from Thailand at Chang Kong, ( entered on the 6th of July) and the purple car book was required as they stamp the car in an out. Also need to buy insurance 800 baht for 21 days. BUT ur car can only stay 15 days even though you get a 30 day visa on arrival for $35.

Drove all thru laos, good roads and some really really bad ones. But made it all the way down to Savannaket, spent 1 hour looking for a hotel, what a shit place, run down, half closed an abandoned so took the bridge back to Thailand. ( 60 baht). Entry and exit ...easy and straight forward an took about 30 minutes,

one thing when u enter here. You do the car work at the car ferry, ( cost 1,500 baht for the ferry) but need to than drive about 1 km to the immigration where the boat comes across for people.

Tomorrow head to Cambodia via Osmach border and down to Banteay Chhamer and on to Siem rep.

Note u can proceed all the way up to China IF u have a Chinese visa in advance but you can not take ur car or motorbike

Should be no problem as have had my car in an out of Cambodia more than once over the past 4 years with one stay of over 8 months.

i'd like to drive to Angkor Wat too

but Iwas under the impression that one couldn't leave the border province?

Is it now possible to drive all over Cambodia?

I also heard that if your car is out of Thailand for more than 3 months you have to RE_IMPORT it???

Left Thailand going to Laos from Chaing Khong, July 6th ( northern exit point) they asked for lots of papers, purple book and got a computer print out guaranteeing the car be returned, They valued my car at 220,000 baht.

Took about 10 minutes

ferry across the river

At Laos they filled out lots of papers, charged me 500 baht and also had to get insurance. 20 minutes

also they stamped the purple book.

Note the customs for ur car is at the car dock BUT u need drive about 500 meters down the road to immigration to get ur passport stamped in

Leaving Laos back to Thailand at Savannkhet/Mukdahan

Gave laos papers back , They stamped my purple book. crossed the bridge Thai customs took the computer print out and that it.

Leaving Thailand and entering Cambodia at Osmach, Today ( south of Surin) Thai's filled out some papers, I filled out some ( they were not stamped) and gave them back to me. No computer, no stamp in Purple book ( didn't even look at it)

10 minutes

arriving in Cambodia they looked at the papers and said OK!!! 1 minute and that was it.

Only could give me a tourist visa at Cambodia immigration ( $20 no hassles) I asked for a regular ( as wanted to extend ) but they said they did not have any.

Cambodia does not care :-)

So for all u that say u cant do it,

Your Legally allowed 30 days but i have kept it out more and intend on keeping it out more

can drive anywhere u want an has been that way since i first brought my car in in 2006

DO NOT cross at Koh Kong, west of Trat. they make u pay 100 baht/day an tell u you can ONLY drive in Koh Kong Province which is bullshit.

I have entered twice at Koh Kong and both times told them 3 days.

One time left via Osmach, One time via Pailin

I am in Siem rap now. Note i went via Banteay Chhamer, to Siem Rep It is a great old temple not cared for at all unlike Angkor. 100 kms of dirt road though head south of Osmach to Sispohan

Very interesting

I've been into Laos several times in the last 12 mounts and used both the Nong Khai crossing and the one at Huay Kon.

I certainly will give the Cambodians a try before the year is out.

I also notice that it is just a short hop to Vietnam - but will they allow RHD vehicles in?

PS - have you gone from Laos into Cambodia?

Edited July 19, 2012 by cowslip

[SeaVisionBurma]

WELL OFF TOPIC...

Sent from my ALCATEL_one_touch_918D using Thaivisa Connect App

[phuketrichard]

I have heard u can not take rhd car into Vietnam but can take bikes if u apply in advance (I know some harley riders in Pattaya that have)

The drive from Vientaine was in a word BORING to Savannakhet. ONce we arrived an ospent an hour looking around twn for a place to stay gave up. This is one laos town that has nothing to offer other than being on the river. Most shops are closed, Many places abandoned, Hotels are run down and shabby and no reason to stay, hence we drove back across the bridge to Mukdahan and got a place cheaper and much better than anything we looked at in Sav.

[cowslip]

BYW - what do those who go to Laos etc do for insurance?

My company will extend it's cover to Laos - I don't know about anywhere else.

[TwoDogz]

How long can you take a vehicle out of Los without having to pay tax to bring back in ?

[BookMan]

Left Thailand going to Laos from Chaing Khong, July 6th ( northern exit point) they asked for lots of papers, purple book and got a computer print out guaranteeing the car be returned, They valued my car at 220,000 baht.

Took about 10 minutes

ferry across the river

At Laos they filled out lots of papers, charged me 500 baht and also had to get insurance. 20 minutes

also they stamped the purple book.

Note the customs for ur car is at the car dock BUT u need drive about 500 meters down the road to immigration to get ur passport stamped in

Leaving Laos back to Thailand at Savannkhet/Mukdahan

Gave laos papers back , They stamped my purple book. crossed the bridge Thai customs took the computer print out and that it.

Leaving Thailand and entering Cambodia at Osmach, Today ( south of Surin) Thai's filled out some papers, I filled out some ( they were not stamped) and gave them back to me. No computer, no stamp in Purple book ( didn't even look at it)

10 minutes

arriving in Cambodia they looked at the papers and said OK!!! 1 minute and that was it.

Only could give me a tourist visa at Cambodia immigration ( $20 no hassles) I asked for a regular ( as wanted to extend ) but they said they did not have any.

Cambodia does not care :-)

So for all u that say u cant do it,

Your Legally allowed 30 days but i have kept it out more and intend on keeping it out more

can drive anywhere u want an has been that way since i first brought my car in in 2006

DO NOT cross at Koh Kong, west of Trat. they make u pay 100 baht/day an tell u you can ONLY drive in Koh Kong Province which is bullshit.

I have entered twice at Koh Kong and both times told them 3 days.

One time left via Osmach, One time via Pailin

I am in Siem rap now. Note i went via Banteay Chhamer, to Siem Rep It is a great old temple not cared for at all unlike Angkor. 100 kms of dirt road though head south of Osmach to Sispohan

Thanks for that, an interesting post

[sabaijai]

I've driven my own car twice across the border at Mae Sai and all the way to Kyaingtong (Kengtung) in the Shan State. Easy to arrange papers at the border.

That is the only route inside Myanmar I know of where you can bring a foreign-registered vehicle.

[Tomtomtom69]

Not sure about Burma but;

Just took my thai car to laos from Thailand at Chang Kong, ( entered on the 6th of July) and the purple car book was required as they stamp the car in an out. Also need to buy insurance 800 baht for 21 days. BUT ur car can only stay 15 days even though you get a 30 day visa on arrival for $35.

Drove all thru laos, good roads and some really really bad ones. But made it all the way down to Savannaket, spent 1 hour looking for a hotel, what a shit place, run down, half closed an abandoned so took the bridge back to Thailand. ( 60 baht). Entry and exit ...easy and straight forward an took about 30 minutes,

one thing when u enter here. You do the car work at the car ferry, ( cost 1,500 baht for the ferry) but need to than drive about 1 km to the immigration where the boat comes across for people.

Tomorrow head to Cambodia via Osmach border and down to Banteay Chhamer and on to Siem rep.

Note u can proceed all the way up to China IF u have a Chinese visa in advance but you can not take ur car or motorbike

Should be no problem as have had my car in an out of Cambodia more than once over the past 4 years with one stay of over 8 months.

If your car is registered in Laos, you can enter China, at least up to Jinghong without restrictions, further if you know a Chinese person who can be your guarantor. Not sure about Thai vehicles, but my guess would be you would need a guide and pay a steep fee for the "privelege" of being allowed to drive in China. 3 months advance notice and a lot of money would be required for that option though.

[Tomtomtom69]

Not sure about Burma but;

Just took my thai car to laos from Thailand at Chang Kong, ( entered on the 6th of July) and the purple car book was required as they stamp the car in an out. Also need to buy insurance 800 baht for 21 days. BUT ur car can only stay 15 days even though you get a 30 day visa on arrival for $35.

Drove all thru laos, good roads and some really really bad ones. But made it all the way down to Savannaket, spent 1 hour looking for a hotel, what a shit place, run down, half closed an abandoned so took the bridge back to Thailand. ( 60 baht). Entry and exit ...easy and straight forward an took about 30 minutes,

one thing when u enter here. You do the car work at the car ferry, ( cost 1,500 baht for the ferry) but need to than drive about 1 km to the immigration where the boat comes across for people.

Tomorrow head to Cambodia via Osmach border and down to Banteay Chhamer and on to Siem rep.

Note u can proceed all the way up to China IF u have a Chinese visa in advance but you can not take ur car or motorbike

Should be no problem as have had my car in an out of Cambodia more than once over the past 4 years with one stay of over 8 months.

i'd like to drive to Angkor Wat too

but Iwas under the impression that one couldn't leave the border province?

Is it now possible to drive all over Cambodia?

I also heard that if your car is out of Thailand for more than 3 months you have to RE_IMPORT it???

Left Thailand going to Laos from Chaing Khong, July 6th ( northern exit point) they asked for lots of papers, purple book and got a computer print out guaranteeing the car be returned, They valued my car at 220,000 baht.

Took about 10 minutes

ferry across the river

At Laos they filled out lots of papers, charged me 500 baht and also had to get insurance. 20 minutes

also they stamped the purple book.

Note the customs for ur car is at the car dock BUT u need drive about 500 meters down the road to immigration to get ur passport stamped in

Leaving Laos back to Thailand at Savannkhet/Mukdahan

Gave laos papers back , They stamped my purple book. crossed the bridge Thai customs took the computer print out and that it.

Leaving Thailand and entering Cambodia at Osmach, Today ( south of Surin) Thai's filled out some papers, I filled out some ( they were not stamped) and gave them back to me. No computer, no stamp in Purple book ( didn't even look at it)

10 minutes

arriving in Cambodia they looked at the papers and said OK!!! 1 minute and that was it.

Only could give me a tourist visa at Cambodia immigration ( $20 no hassles) I asked for a regular ( as wanted to extend ) but they said they did not have any.

Cambodia does not care :-)

So for all u that say u cant do it,

Your Legally allowed 30 days but i have kept it out more and intend on keeping it out more

can drive anywhere u want an has been that way since i first brought my car in in 2006

DO NOT cross at Koh Kong, west of Trat. they make u pay 100 baht/day an tell u you can ONLY drive in Koh Kong Province which is bullshit.

I have entered twice at Koh Kong and both times told them 3 days.

One time left via Osmach, One time via Pailin

I am in Siem rap now. Note i went via Banteay Chhamer, to Siem Rep It is a great old temple not cared for at all unlike Angkor. 100 kms of dirt road though head south of Osmach to Sispohan

Very interesting

I've been into Laos several times in the last 12 mounts and used both the Nong Khai crossing and the one at Huay Kon.

I certainly will give the Cambodians a try before the year is out.

I also notice that it is just a short hop to Vietnam - but will they allow RHD vehicles in?

PS - have you gone from Laos into Cambodia?

RHD Thai vehicles can only enter Vietnam if they arrive as part of a caravan tour. I saw 5 Thai vehicles travelling near Phan Thiet in southern Vietnam led by a police escort, travelling north, presumably to Nha Trang as their next destination. Most Thai caravan tours enter at Lao Bao opposite Daen Savanh in Savannakhet province. Individual Thai vehicles can't enter Vietnam; I remember seeing a Thai vehicle parked at Phou Keua, Attapeu province, while the driver and his Thai passengers took a Lao vehicle with driver across to Vietnam. Perhaps after AEC is implemented in 2015 Thai vehicles might gain unrestricted access to Vietnam but for now it's a caravan tour or you have to take a Lao or Cambodian vehicle across.