To avoid being bothered, the basic rule is to buy a motorcycle with a Vietnamese plate. You can buy it in Vietnam, but you will also find in Laos or Cambodia no problem, because many “motorcyclists” end their trip and resell their motorcycle in these countries.

Some customs officers being corrupt, you will sometimes have to pay a bribe to spend with your bike. (See our tips to avoid problems with customs officers and the list of the most common border scams ).

It is theoretically possible to enter Thailand with a motorcycle from Laos or Cambodia, but it is very complicated. Indeed, your name must appear on the blue card, which involves lengthy steps in Vietnam to put the bike in your name.

In addition, the Thai authorities will ask you to fill out shipping information, a crew list, a passenger list and a temporary import and export form. In practice, it is very rare for travelers to continue their motorcycle journey from Laos or Cambodia to Thailand.

Depending on the country, you may need a visa to enter the territory.

• Laos: You must obtain a visa on arrival valid for 30 days. It costs $ 30.
• Cambodia: You need a visa that will be valid for 30 days. You can get your visa on arrival ($ 30) or ask for an e-visa ($ 37) before arriving at the border (which avoids having to pay a “supplement” to the customs officer)

• Vietnam: You can stay 15 days in the country without a visa. If you plan to stay longer, you can apply for a 30-day e-visa (€ 25) before you arrive. You can also make a visa on arrival that can be valid for 30 or 90 days for one or more entries ($ 45 to $ 95). See our visa file for Vietnam .

You will find more information in our visa file around the world .

No, it is not mandatory. Many travelers drive a motorcycle for the first time in South East Asia. They are very easy to take in hand and the person to whom you buy it will teach you willingly to drive and shift gears. However, if it is the first time you drive a motorcycle, be very careful on the road, especially in big cities.

If possible, avoid driving in a location with heavy traffic or rush hour traffic. If you want to put all the chances on your side to avoid having an accident, you can pass your motorcycle license at home, before leaving.

Do not hide it, driving a motorcycle in Southeast Asia is dangerous. The traffic can be dense, the code of the road is little respected, the roads are sometimes in very bad state and are slippery when they are wet or dusty.

In Laos and Cambodia, there are not many people and people drive quite quietly. In Vietnam, however, you will face a real swarm of scooters. They tumble from everywhere in the big cities.

The road along the coast of Vietnam is also very busy. Apart from the Hue – Danang section which offers beautiful scenery, it is better to take the road that passes inside the country. The traffic is much quieter there.

• Choose a good helmet and always drive with it, even if it’s hot.
• Do not leave part of your body apparent. Wear a jacket, pants and closed shoes.
• Do not put your bag too far in the back of your luggage rack, it will unbalance your bike. It must be between the saddle and the luggage rack.
• Do not drive too fast and pay attention to the road constantly.
• Never drive at night.
• Take breaks regularly.
• Do not drive when you are too tired and / or drunk.
• Always drive as far to the right as you can from the road, as the vehicles in front of you have an unfortunate tendency to bite on your side of the road.
• On descents, especially on wet, sandy or dusty roads, downshift to use your engine brake.
• Do not brake too sharply, especially with your front brake.

• Follow the rule of “the biggest vehicle wins”. Act as if cars and trucks always take precedence over you.
• When a vehicle is doubling in front of you, it will sometimes be necessary to deport you on the roadside. Decelerate to avoid slipping.
• You will often see motorcycles or scooters driving against the meaning. Be vigilant and obviously do not do like them.
• The locals have the unspoken rule of dealing only with what is going on in front of them. Again, do not look like them and look around.
• Do not hesitate to use your horn to warn of your approach, indicate that you double, etc. In South East Asia, the use of the horn is an integral part of the driving style and often replaces the use of mirrors.
• Really slow down when approaching speed bumps (groups of five or ten transverse white lines). They can be very slippery.
• Pay particular attention to debris on the road, potholes and stray animals.

Motorcycles are the most used means of transportation for people in Southeast Asia. Many travelers therefore choose to discover the region by bike.

Navigating the countryside, coast and mountains of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia on your motorcycle is perhaps the best way to explore these countries.

In this folder, we explain in detail how to buy your bike yourself and move to Southeast Asia.

Advantages

Driving in the open air, in the winding mountain roads, in the midst of beautiful scenery or in the crazy traffic of the big Asian cities is a unique experience that provides a good dose of adrenaline.

Traveling on a motorbike allows you to explore more easily the most remote corners, where public transport does not go. Unlike the bus, you always have a 180 ° panoramic view and can stop when you want to enjoy the scenery or take pictures.

You are also closer to the locals. You ask for directions, talk during your stops and are invited to exchange with garage owners to maintain and repair your vehicle.

The motorcycle is an extremely flexible means of transport. You can easily change programs, make a detour, stay longer in a place you like or shorten your stay and quickly go to your next destination.

You are not constrained by public transport schedules and can visit countries at your own pace. It is also a relatively inexpensive means of transportation because a used motorcycle is not expensive and does not consume a lot of fuel.

The inconvenients

The motorcycle trip is not only a part of pleasure. You have to deal with sometimes chaotic traffic, pollution, accident risks and bad weather.

You must also pay attention to where you leave your vehicle when you are not on it so you do not fly it.

It is a fairly lonely means of transport, because even if you travel to several you can not discuss when you drive.

Traveling on a motorcycle can also be tiring. You must be constantly attentive and can not rest like in a bus or plane.

You will also face additional costs to go to the islands, because you then need to transport or store your bike.

Even if you are an open-minded person, it is possible that the confrontation with poverty and a culture very different from yours will destabilize you. Cultural shock usually occurs a few weeks after arrival in a country. At first, you are fascinated by this new culture, but after a while, some things that seemed normal to you become unacceptable to you. You feel betrayed and it generates frustration and anxiety in you. No worries, it’s a normal process. To minimize it, find out about the countries you visit, prepare yourself mentally and plan to stay in touch with your loved ones.

For couples, it’s more the opposite question: “Will we get to live together h24 without farting the lead?” There, we can not guarantee you a success rate of 100%. We have heard about couples who broke during a world tour. But it’s finally quite rare and often there was already some tension before departure. In most cases, the couple comes out reinforced. Sharing so many extraordinary experiences is a unique binder.

When you look at the news on TV, you sometimes have the impression of living in a world so hostile that you do not have to leave home. The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also quite alarmist. Of course, some areas or countries are to be avoided. But they are finally quite few.

It is in fact mainly a fear of the unknown. The barrier of the tongue scares. But in reality, in most countries of the world, you can travel by simply applying the basic safety rules. Of the thousands of Turdumondists who leave each year, very few are victims of problems that actually endanger their physical integrity.