Driving a rental car in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam?

[motion]

Anyone done it recently?

I can drive a car anywhere. That stuff doesn't bother me. I'm just wondering about crossing borders over there in a rental car. Do you get hassled for bribes or is it no big deal? Any special paperwork involved?

A buddy and I are putting together a motorcycle trip in Cambodia for next month and I'm trying to nail down some of the details, like getting from Bangkok to Phnom Penh in a car (to see the countryside).

[recycled sixtie]

Ah Motion I see you coming. We got 911's . Oh wait we got tsunami deal on Boxsters at 1/10 the price.
What you gonna do?
Guy.

[nota]

Originally Posted by motion

Anyone done it recently?

I can drive a car anywhere. That stuff doesn't bother me. I'm just wondering about crossing borders over there in a rental car. Do you get hassled for bribes or is it no big deal? Any special paperwork involved?

A buddy and I are putting together a motorcycle trip in Cambodia for next month and I'm trying to nail down some of the details, like getting from Bangkok to Phnom Penh in a car (to see the countryside).

was reading a new book on the VN war history
author said he could not drive a private car into cambodia from thailand
when he was there doing research

[diverdan]

A dozen years ago it was easily done often with private cars, except if you had something that was in high demand. Then the car would make it into Cambodia, what would happen to the driver was left up to forensics. That said, there are a lot of Cambodian plated cars driven by expats in Thailand. Check the customs regs on the net for details. Money does grease things such that legal things get done more quickly. Always had to carry a few pictures of the king of for local cops who needed a salary supplement. They were satisfied with just a few bucks and no fines or lengthy trips to the police station for real imagined charges. It was the same in Indonesia. Motorcycle travel is a blast in Cambodia and Thailand and I highly recommend it if you are experienced.. Not recommended for the novice due to the chaos of "traffic patterns" (an oxymoron there.) I can't speak for Viet Nam as I am not experienced there. Older and beat up tends to reduce the chances you'll have problems. Dirt bikes are great and the small 125-150 cc machines are adequate off the superhighways. My GSXR was way overkill for Thailand, but it was a blast. A smaller off road bike would have been smarter even in the city as it goes better down sidewalks and other detours around stopped traffic. But, at every light there was a drag race for all of us that made it to the front. The newish small bikes get ripped off all the time.

Just for fun google Thailand motorcycle gangs. Have fun.

Dan

[Rick Lee]

Motion, read that ADV Rider ride report called "China or Bust."

[motion]

Originally Posted by nota

was reading a new book on the VN war history
author said he could not drive a private car into cambodia from thailand
when he was there doing research

Yeah, I think I'm finding out that you cannot take a rental car into Cambodia.

[motion]

Originally Posted by diverdan

A dozen years ago it was easily done often with private cars, except if you had something that was in high demand. Then the car would make it into Cambodia, what would happen to the driver was left up to forensics. That said, there are a lot of Cambodian plated cars driven by expats in Thailand. Check the customs regs on the net for details. Money does grease things such that legal things get done more quickly. Always had to carry a few pictures of the king of for local cops who needed a salary supplement. They were satisfied with just a few bucks and no fines or lengthy trips to the police station for real imagined charges. It was the same in Indonesia. Motorcycle travel is a blast in Cambodia and Thailand and I highly recommend it if you are experienced.. Not recommended for the novice due to the chaos of "traffic patterns" (an oxymoron there.) I can't speak for Viet Nam as I am not experienced there. Older and beat up tends to reduce the chances you'll have problems. Dirt bikes are great and the small 125-150 cc machines are adequate off the superhighways. My GSXR was way overkill for Thailand, but it was a blast. A smaller off road bike would have been smarter even in the city as it goes better down sidewalks and other detours around stopped traffic. But, at every light there was a drag race for all of us that made it to the front. The newish small bikes get ripped off all the time.

Just for fun google Thailand motorcycle gangs. Have fun.

Dan

Someone with experience! We're planning on Honda XR250 rentals in Phnom Penh.

[motion]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Motion, read that ADV Rider ride report called "China or Bust."

I checked it out... its 7 years old. Does anything still apply? Cliff notes?

[Bill Douglas]

Ah, how you say it in English "Golden Triangle".

You take care young man.

[scottmandue]

Be careful, my nephew went to Thailand for their honeymoon, one truck passing another leaving no room on a narrow mountain road, lots of broken bones.

[group911@aol.co]

Ask the rental car company about crossing borders.
If you have a choice, Laos is the easiest place to ease into Asian motorcycle riding. I've never seen a slower paced place. Next up is Cambodia. A little more frantic and then you're ready for Vietnam.
The only road rule is don't hit. It's your responsibility to merge and give way to everything in front of you- whether they are coming from a side road or not. Pedestrians, livestock crossing the road- just go around them. It's really one of the most pleasing systems I've ever been in.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by group911@aol.co

give way to everything in front of you- whether they are coming from a side road or not. Pedestrians, livestock crossing the road- just go around them. It's really one of the most pleasing systems I've ever been in.

Sounds like Southern Italy.

[diverdan]

XR250 sounds about right. Its probably on the up and up, but take close up pics of the bug with a verified date if you can to avoid scam problems. I've rented more on vacations in Thailand and always use the same shop and deal with the owner and have had 0 problems. Enjoy!

Dan

[motion]

Since I've discovered that crossing borders between Cambodia and Vietnam is so difficult, our plan now is to rent 150cc "scooters" in Saigon, and ride around Vietnam for 3-4 days. Then we'll take a train/boat to Phnom Penh and pickup XR250 Bajas and ride around Cambodia for 4 days. I wish we could find real bikes in Saigon, but so far have found absolutely nil. Scooters should be interesting!

[tevake]

Hey Motion, sounds like you have a fun trip in mind.

Train travel in SE asia can be really nice. We took the train from Bangkok to Chang Mai and enjoyed the overnight trip.
A good friend has been spending winters in Thailand for years, and has had to travel out of country each time to renew his visa. Vietnam is one of the neighboring countries he has visited. He ended up scoring a nice deal on a mid sized touring bike in Bangkok and rode it on many of the visa trips. when he resold the bike in Chang Mai after a few years of owning it he lost very little money. perhaps that could be a way for you to do the trip you want.
I would be happy to put you in touch with my friend if you want.

Cheers Richard

[motion]

Thanks, but we're just 4 days in each country, so way too short of a time to deal with buying and selling. The little bikes should be a lot of fun

[motion]

A buddy and I are riding motor bikes from Saigon north along the ocean road this weekend.

Then, returning back to Saigon and taking a bus to Chau Doc, where we will take a boat up the Mekong River to Phnom Penh. Renting bikes in Phnom Penh and motoring to the usual temples. Then, bus or flying back to Saigon for return trip home.

We're kinda winging it, but would be great to have some inside knowledge of interesting places to see, how to eat food, etc.

Anyone been?

[vash]

i went from Laos to Vietnam (then to Cambodia)

we crossed into Vietnam at some tiny border crossing, IIRC up in the mountains, at the end or beginning of a long ass tunnel. i'll tell you what; i've crossed a lot of borders and this was the one that made me the most effen nervous. i was held back for unknown reasons, with a butch lesbian lady that was traveling with us. no explanation..my wife was ushered thru, and i didnt see her for like an hour. to this day, i cant explain it. all of a sudden, we were waved thru. i found my wife and friends on the other side relieved.

i wish i had the balls to take some pictures. we actually found a hand written note folded up in my wife's passport. she saw it, and without thinking about it, stuffed it into her pocket. i think she thought i was hers. later, we found a bartender at some cool ass news reporter bar and he interpreted it for us. it said something like, "Search this traveler"

i think she dodge something.

i dont think i am saavy enough to do that trip on our own. we hired a company to move us to and fro. we were on our own when we got to where we wanted to go. you cannot read any signs. i couldnt.

your trip sounds awesome motion. it is an awesome part of the planet. try eating some bugs. fun and some of them are good.

[motion]

Holy crap! Was this on your most recent trip to Japan?

No bugs for me, thanks.

[vash]

Originally Posted by motion

Holy crap! Was this on your most recent trip to Japan?

No bugs for me, thanks.

no, i did a 30 day trip in Laos, cambodia and Vietnam a few years ago. it was pretty awesome. we floated down the Mekong river, staying in some villages along the way.