Riding a Chinese bike into Vietnam

[bikerdoc]

OP have you thought about riding from Yunnan into Loas and/or Thailand? Northern Thailand is great for MCing IMHO. Both countries are doable on PRC plated MC's. I have been riding in Northern Thailand the past 6 weeks having ridden down and across from Ningbo (3900km in 48 hours with 1 hours sleep just to get to Kunming). By day 3 and some 4900km later I was at the Laos-PRC border, crossing over the Chiang Khong bridge. Yes, MC's can cross the bridge but one has to pay CNY100 (500BHT) for the privilege and then be escorted across. Car drivers only pay CNY20 (200BHT) and drive across unescorted. However it beats having to put the MC on the old ferry at the old crossing point 10km away and then the rider still has to go back and cross on the new Chiang Khong bridge paying and using a shuttle bus (meaning the rider and bike are separated - as rider is not allowed on the ferry any longer - so bike travels unaccompanied).

This is my second Xmas New Year in Northern Thailand having come over from China. The riding, people, attitudes, etiquette, availability of stopping for food/drinks/beverages at every turn, along with a more genuine engagement with the local population... makes riding in Thailand a much more worthwhile and engaging experience IMO and beats PRC hands down. That and the observation that Thais driving skills and behaviour is far superior to that of PRC drivers and riders IMHO.

YMMV