Cross-Border Motorcycle Tours from Thailand: Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and China
Plenty of riders want more than one country out of a trip to Southeast Asia: northern Thailand, then the empty roads of Laos, maybe the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam or a run up into Yunnan. It can be done, and several tours do it, but every border has different rules for motorcycles and they change more often than the maps do. This guide sets out where things stand in late 2026 for each border, the paperwork you and the bike need, the questions to ask before you book, and every multi-country tour on Moto Mass.
Nothing here is legal advice. Border rules for vehicles are rarely published in English and often depend on the officer on the day, so check with your operator and the official sources linked below before you travel. For the wider picture, see our Thailand motorcycle tours hub.
Border status at a glance
| From Thailand into | Status in late 2026 | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Laos | Open to Thai-registered motorcycles at the main crossings | Original registration book, owner's consent for a bike that isn't yours, Lao insurance and a temporary import paper at the border |
| Vietnam (usually via Laos) | Possible, but only as an organised trip | A permit arranged by a licensed Vietnamese tour company, and a guide vehicle on Vietnamese plates |
| Cambodia | Thai land border closed since 23 June 2025 | No land crossing from Thailand. Cambodia can still be reached from Vietnam or Laos |
| China (via Laos) | Possible with an agent | A Chinese temporary licence, temporary plates and insurance, arranged weeks in advance |
| Myanmar | Not a realistic option for foreign riders | Riders report being refused transit, and Mae Sai has been reported closed to foreigners |
Thailand to Laos
This is the easiest border in the region with a motorcycle and the one most multi-country tours start with. The usual crossings for riders are the Friendship Bridges at Nong Khai to Vientiane and Chiang Khong to Huay Xai, plus smaller ones such as Huai Kon near Nan. Some smaller crossings have been closed to two-wheelers in the past, so check the specific one you plan to use.
What riders report needing, from the GT-Rider and RideAsia forums (GT-Rider, RideAsia):
- The original green registration book. Copies are not accepted, and the name in it matters.
- Owner's consent if the bike is rented or borrowed. This is a power of attorney or letter from the registered owner. On a guided tour the operator owns the bike and sorts this out.
- An English vehicle registration certificate from a Thai Land Transport office. Some crossings ask for it, others don't. It is only valid while the bike's annual tax and compulsory insurance are current.
- Lao insurance, bought at a kiosk on the Lao side.
- A temporary import paper for the bike. Riders report anything from 10 days to a month, sometimes 14 or 15 days even on a 30-day visa. Ask for the length you need at the border, because extending it means a trip to a customs office inside Laos. Overstays are fined by the day (GT-Rider).
Roads in Laos are rougher than in Thailand, and the UK Foreign Office warns that many vehicles drive at night without lights (gov.uk Laos advice). Plan to be off the road by dusk.
Into Vietnam
Vietnam is the border that most often surprises independent riders. Under Decree 151 of 2024, foreigners can bring motorcycles in, but only through a Vietnamese international tour company licensed for self-drive tours. That company applies for the permit, the permit sets the route, and the bikes must travel in a convoy led by a guide vehicle on Vietnamese plates. The bike has to leave before your visa or visa exemption runs out (Việt Nam News).
On top of that you need a licence for the class of bike, an international driving permit, and civil liability insurance recognised in Vietnam. For UK riders, the Foreign Office says that means the 1968 international driving permit plus your UK licence (gov.uk Vietnam advice). For the detail on licences, see our Vietnam licence and IDP guide.
In practice, a multi-country tour that enters Vietnam has to plan the permit weeks ahead, and it's the reason operators ask for passport copies early. If you only want to ride Vietnam, it is far simpler to fly in and ride with a Vietnam-based operator on local bikes. See the Vietnam tours hub.
Cambodia
Every land crossing between Thailand and Cambodia has been closed since 23 June 2025, after the border dispute between the two countries. A ceasefire has held since December 2025, but as of October 2026 no reopening date had been announced, and Thai security officials have said they expect the closure to last through the rest of the year (Nation Thailand, Wander Cambodia, updated 19 October 2026).
Cambodia itself is still reachable overland from Vietnam and Laos. A 2026 overland guide says foreign motorcycles need a temporary import permit, declared in advance, that lasts up to 30 days and names the border you must leave by (Mad or Nomad). The catch for a loop that starts in Thailand is the way home: you can't ride back across the Thai border, so the bikes need another way out.
Into China
China does not let foreigners ride on their home licence or an international permit. The well-trodden route from Thailand runs through northern Laos to Boten and over to Mohan in Yunnan. To cross there you need a registered Chinese travel agency, which arranges a temporary Chinese driving licence, temporary plates and Chinese insurance. Operators and agents suggest allowing around 60 days for the paperwork (GlobeBusters, Mad or Nomad). A rider who crossed at Mohan in 2025 describes a quick bag check going in and a much slower, everything-off-the-bike search coming out. A carnet is not used for motorcycles in China. Check the current visa rules for your nationality separately, as they have changed several times recently.
Myanmar
Myanmar is effectively off the table for a ride from Thailand. Riders report being refused transit with foreign motorcycles (RideAsia), and Mae Sai to Tachileik has been reported closed to foreign visitors. Several tours ride right up to the border at Mae Sai or Mae Hong Son, which is as far as most riders get. Our Golden Triangle loop guide covers that ride.
Your own paperwork
Whatever the route, the rider's side of the paperwork is the same in every country:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | With enough blank pages for several entry and exit stamps. A long tour can use six or more |
| Visas | Check each country separately and in the right order. Some e-visas name the border you must enter by |
| Motorcycle licence | A full licence for the class of bike you'll ride |
| International driving permit | For UK riders, gov.uk lists the 1968 permit for Thailand and Vietnam and the 1949 permit for Laos, so you may need both. China doesn't accept either |
| Travel insurance | Make sure it covers motorcycling at the engine size you'll ride, in every country on the route |
Questions to ask before you book
- Who owns the bikes, and who handles the vehicle paperwork at each border?
- Which crossings does the route use, and when did the operator last cross there?
- What happens if a border closes or the permit is late? Is there a backup route, and does it change the price?
- How early do they need your passport copies for permits?
- Is there a support vehicle, and who rides it, for example a Vietnamese guide vehicle where the law requires one?
- Which visas do you arrange yourself, and in what order?
Our guide to vetting motorcycle tour companies has more general questions.
Multi-country tours on Moto Mass
These are all the tours currently listed on Moto Mass that cross at least one international border on the bike, in alphabetical order of operator. Ask the operator for the current price and dates.
| Tour | Operator | Days | Countries and crossings | Listed from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai to the Great Wall of China | Bike Tour Asia | 25 | Thailand, Laos and China, via Chiang Khong and Boten to Mohan, ending in Beijing | On request |
| Ride of a Lifetime | Bike Tour Asia | 90 | Chiang Mai to Piran in Slovenia, about 20,000 km by way of Laos and China | On request |
| The Four Corners of South East Asia | Bike Tour Asia | 25 | Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. The published itinerary returns to Thailand by land from Cambodia, so ask how that leg runs while the border is closed | On request |
| Timeless Vietnam, Laos & Thailand | Bike Tour Asia | 18 | Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, crossing at the Friendship Bridge, Tay Trang and Huai Kon | On request |
If you'd rather fly between countries and ride with a local operator in each, that avoids the vehicle paperwork completely. Moto Mass lists tours based in Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, where the Luang Prabang trips start and finish inside the country, with no border to cross. Several Thai tours, such as those on the Golden Triangle loop and the Mekong, ride along the Lao and Myanmar borders without crossing them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride a rented Thai motorcycle into Laos?
Riders report that it's possible with the original registration book and written consent from the owner, plus Lao insurance and a temporary import paper at the border. Many rental shops don't allow it, so ask before you hire.
Can I ride from Thailand to Cambodia?
Not overland at the moment. All Thai and Cambodian land crossings have been closed since 23 June 2025, and no reopening date had been announced as of October 2026. Cambodia can still be entered from Vietnam or Laos.
Can I ride my own motorcycle in Vietnam without a tour?
Not with a foreign-registered bike. Vietnam requires a permit arranged by a licensed Vietnamese tour company and a guide vehicle on Vietnamese plates. Riding a locally registered bike needs the right licence class and, for UK riders, a 1968 international driving permit.
How far ahead should I book a tour into China?
Allow at least two to three months. The Chinese temporary licence, plates and insurance are usually arranged through an agency, and operators and agents suggest about 60 days for that alone.
Which border crossings do tours use between Thailand and Laos?
Most often the Friendship Bridges at Nong Khai to Vientiane and Chiang Khong to Huay Xai, and the Huai Kon crossing near Nan. Smaller crossings can have restrictions on motorcycles, so check the one on your route.