Motorbiking in Asia forum

'Importing' a Vietnamese bike (in Viet name) into Thailand?

Bonny_Ricar-
do

longtail driver
Posts: 8

Ok, so I've been in Vietnam (Bien Hoa) for 4 months now teaching, and I'm definitely ready to leave.
Having rode motorcycles since I was 15 of all shapes and sizes, I really have to do a long trip on my uprated SYM Bonus. I've had it almost the full 4 months, and slowly got it working spot on, and can fix everything on it myself quickly and happily. A joy to work on, in fact.
To that end, I'm fairly attached to it, and having lived in Thailand for a year before now, I want to try my hand at getting some work in Chiang Mai teaching for the doss term before I head on to Australia to do some blue-collar work.

As I mentioned, I'm fairly sick of Vietnam, and the thought of sticking it another month dicing with the lunatic traffic is not ideal (but I know I'll regret not doing it). About the only place I actually want to see is Hue.

So, my current route looks like it will be Bien Hoa - Dalat - Kon Tum - Hoi An - Danang - Hue... Then the Dansavan border to Laos. Which will no doubt slap my passport with the 'leave the country with this bike or face the $1000 wrath'.

A) What happens if the bike is stolen/irreparably explodes?
If I then ride up north, revisit Vang Vieng (shits and giggles, I worked there for a month just before Vietnam), then cross back into Thailand at Nong Khai...

What will the Thais hit me with?

I can speak fairly good Thai, so should come off fairly well, but does anyone know how strict they are? I remember Mukdahan has a slightly friendlier border, and I can certainly cope without revisiting Vang Vieng.

Obviously I want to either keep the bike, or get a few hundred dollars selling it somewhere. But dipping back into Vietnam just to ride to Hanoi to sell it will be a ballache (and all told, an extra $75-100 in visas, plus I'd want to fly from Ha Noi to Chiang Mai/Bangkok (BKK to Chiang Mai bus from Mochit is less than $25, so I'd check the cost difference).

Any advice from the gurus?

TL;DR - Taking a Viet bike in Viet name through Laos and into Thailand LONG TERM... Possible?

#1 Posted: 7/9/2011 - 13:23
johnysac

hippy
Posts: 71

Posted from within Vietnam.

hey
I know of few that have done it no problem how ever the new thai goverment is putting in visa restrictions on overland travel so i have heard .Last year i rode a susuki gn 125 out to bangkok and then back to saigon with no probs apart from a cambodian cop demanding nearly 50 bucks for nothing . basicly a legal mugging but i payed and had no more trouble
Cross out of vietnam at small boder posts not main bus routes Raven has some customers
doing the same trip as you leaving this week . He told me this just now on the phone so call him and maybe he will put you in touch with them They will be the best people to inform you

REGARDS JOHNY

#2 Posted: 15/9/2011 - 03:16
Bonny_Ricar-
do

longtail driver
Posts: 8

Yeh, I'm aware of the joys of 'legal mugging'.

I have always got my Visas in advance for Thailand from (of all places), the Hull consulate in England. Always had a letter of employment in advance. This is my first time doing it as a usual 'backpacker'.

Is Raven a member on here?

My main concern is the bike is NOT in my name, I have no titles on it, my plastic motorcycle license was stolen in Bangkok and my paper one has disappeared into the ether...

Obviously I don't want to be stamped out of one country, only to be refused entry from the next...

Also, is there much to see in Southern Laos? Mukdahan is a much smaller/less white border than Nong Khai, so I could always go through there instead, and then I'm home free in Thailand.

But, I'll also want (for all intents and purposes), permanent import. Does this just mean I chuck someone some money and they 'forget' to stamp it in?

#3 Posted: 15/9/2011 - 09:40
Bonny_Ricar-
do

longtail driver
Posts: 8

Ah ha, worked out who you meant by Raven. I just phoned him and actually got to talk to the girl (didn't catch her name) organising the trip who I think you talked to as well.

Lots of good advice (go at noon, ask to check other end etc). Looks like my biggest issue is the tourist visa to Thailand. Arse balls.

Seems they have changed the rules to make it completely untenable. Knowing Thailand fairly well, it's possible it will have all gone back to normal soon after they realise their stupidity.

I may also /just/ be inside my 1 year visa multiple entry I got a year ago. So I leave here on the 18th September, and have to hit Mukdahan (and get through) by October 12th... Makes it a bit of a rush, but I'm not much for sightseeing anyway.

Cheers for the help. I'll cogitate further

#4 Posted: 15/9/2011 - 11:13
Bonny_Ricar-
do

longtail driver
Posts: 8

Just to say, I got to the Bao Bao/Dansavan border today.

Midday, shaved, in jeans, pleasantly talking in Vietnamese (24 year old male) so should have got pleasant treatment (ie not a fat old guy with a beard in shorts shouting at them in English).

Viets adamantly told me to piss off as the Laos wouldn't let me in. Got my (Viet) friend on the phone to have a go, she eventually got me through to chat with the Laos. My Thai/Laos is rusty, but I can still do a fair bit and explained I already had a Thai visa, and even if Thailand wouldn't let the bike in, I'd just bring it back to Vietnam. Could they mark my passport etc.

Lots of 'bor dai'ing later, I was sullenly sent back to the border. Now sat in Dong Hoi (avoid this place, it's a hole), trying to work out my route of attack now.

My main logistical problem is, currency. I changed up all my dong to dollars (and transfered most to a home bank account), then expected I'd have to go to Ha Noi then hit the border later, so took out 5 million to save my sanity. Now looks like I'll be at the border the day after next (hopefully trying again, this time Nam Phao / Cau Treo.
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Is Lak Xao ok with changing currency? Both Kip and Dong are bloody useless currencies, the only similar one I've seen before is Mozambican Meticais (which the swazis wouldn't touch).

I think if I don't get through this time, I shall call it a day and just camp in Ha Noi backpackers to sell it, then head to Laos. If it weren't for the mindscrew of currencies I'd keep trying various borders, but it's depressing watching money evaporating through changing states.

#5 Posted: 30/9/2011 - 22:11