Driving around South East Asia

bman

Hi,

3 of us are planning a trip around Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia (maybe Malaysia also) for 3-4 months. Since we're going to be doing a lot of travelling over there, and would like to see out of the way places where tour buses might not operate, we're considering the option of driving it. Has anyone here done this and would the recommend it?

Less or more hassle making border crossings in your own car vs. on a bus?

Also, given the length of time we'll be there, would buying an old car for a few hundred euro be a better option than renting? And then either selling it (or abandoning/giving it to a local) at the end of the trip.

Cheers.

killbillvol2

bman wrote: »

Hi,

3 of us are planning a trip around Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia (maybe Malaysia also) for 3-4 months. Since we're going to be doing a lot of travelling over there, and would like to see out of the way places where tour buses might not operate, we're considering the option of driving it. Has anyone here done this and would the recommend it?

Less or more hassle making border crossings in your own car vs. on a bus?

Also, given the length of time we'll be there, would buying an old car for a few hundred euro be a better option than renting? And then either selling it (or abandoning/giving it to a local) at the end of the trip.

Cheers.

Last time I was in Vietnam foreigners weren't allowed to rent a car and the way they drive they're doing us a favour!

Malaysia and Thailand would be no problem. I've driven in both and the standard of driving is ok and roads are generally of a decent quality (just don't even think of driving in Bangkok!).

Last time I was in Cambodia we could only hire a car with a driver and AFAIK that's still the case but I'm open to correction. Never crossed my mind in Laos when I saw the "roads" so can't help you there.

Notch000

Not a great idea, foreigners are not alowded drive cars in Vietnam or actually buy a motor bike or cars, also as stated the roads or V rough in Laos and i dont believer foreigners are allowed rent cars or bike in Cambodia now either. Thailand may be ok but the distances are masive anyways so it would still be much more economical to do the normal backpacker thing with buses, trains and boats. These are very cheap modes of transport there. There si also no real insurance in these countries so you;'d be a potential target for local thugs ramming your veichile and demanding some monies off you. Which is not unheard off.

Vietnam espically has horrificly dangerous traffic too, you'd have to swerve into the ditches to avoid busses and lorries who ram everyone else off the road all day long.

you can rent bikes for 5-10E everywhere for doing local trips which are good craic if you really want ot go driving

bman

Thanks for the advise lads.

Yeah, the more I've read into it the more effort it seems to be. It's possible to get a temporary license for Cambodia easily enough it seems, but Vietnam is tougher. You have to hold a residence permit of at least three month's before you can apply for a temp license.

Also, all reports seem to be that the rules of the road aren't worth the paper they're written on (which I don't think I'd mind too much ). The idea of driving and the driving standards in these countries doesn't put me off, it's the effort involved in getting the permits.

Might rent in Thailand and Malaysia and then use buses, etc. in all the others.