Hi, guys I have a question about buying a motorcycle in Vietnam and bringing it to Cambodia where I'll be living for a year. Is this possible

Aaronlee wrote:Hi, guys I have a question about buying a motorcycle in Vietnam and bringing it to Cambodia where I'll be living for a year. Is this possible

In short, yes. Just don't go making a song and a dance of it when you cross the borders. If they know you don't know, there will be money to pay.
I do it all the time, never any hassle. If you were buying the bike in Cambodia with Cambodian plates the Viets may try and stop you if they even noticed.

Cambodia doesn't care the other way round at the moment.

Thanks, do I have to get some type of registration in Cambodia? Where could I do this in Phnom phen?

Aaronlee wrote:Thanks, do I have to get some type of registration in Cambodia? Where could I do this in Phnom phen?

I should have stated the above info is if your riding a small bike across, like a Honda Wave/Dream or a Win/ Minsk. Don't try it with the Bat Bike. Big bikes mean money. Tourists mean money. If you look like your not a tourist or at least know the game, you'll have no problems.

Once on the Cambodian side, you need nothing except a helmet and 2 wing mirrors (lol) and make sure that your lights are NOT ON in the daytime. It's OK to have them not on at night.

Just park outside in the parking when you arrive at the Viet side. Go in with your passport(I leave my luggage strapped to the bike). Walk to the front of the cue and hand them your passport with at least 20000 VND inside. He stamps it, you go out the way you came in and pick up the bike. Drive slowly through and your into Cambodia.
Pretty much the same process on the Cambo side. Park, go to the little kiosk, buy your visa, go inside the building to get an entrance stamp, then back on the bike for a slow ride through.

I always leave the bike helmet on the bike, as I don't want to give them any bright ideas.

I seem to remember too that you are supposed to walk your bike across the borders. I would anyway, not wanting to look like I'm ready to make a dash.

ExPenhMan wrote:I seem to remember too that you are supposed to walk your bike across the borders. I would anyway, not wanting to look like I'm ready to make a dash.

Yes, that;s what they used to say at Bavet, but nobody says anything anymore and I always just watch to see what locals are doing anyway. I drive through slow now.

Oh BTW Maybe I seemed to suggest that big bikes can't be brought across the border from Vietnam. That's not the case, just that I have never done it on a big bike. I have heard some money may need to swap hands, but not too sure.

Also, there is a place for the moto reg on the immigration form. What vehicle did you come in bus, plane no, etc. If you want a record that you brought it across the border you can fill that in. Last tie I forgot and customs said not to bother.

Thanks guys best info

Don't bother trying to register a VN bike here. It's simply not worth the cost or time for a $300 bike.

With VN plates you're more likely to be pulled over/fined here, but if you have your blue card (which you'll need to leave VN with the bike AFAIK), a cambodian licence (if you get a >125cc bike), wear a helmet and avoid breaking the law in front of police, you should t have much trouble besides a few dollars at traffic stops now and then.

Easy enough to buy a Cambodian registered bike in Cambodia if you plan to be here 12 months. Crap old Honda win clones or little vintage CD50/90/125s are availabile here.