Border Crossing Chiang Khong and Huai Xai Laos with motorbike Possible ??

[heineken]

Hi there .

I am planning a motorbike trip from Thailand into Laos in february 2015

Is it possible to cross the friend ship brigde at Chiang Khong in Thailand and Huai Xai in Laos with motorbike ?? It is Harley motorbikes

If not, where can i cross into laos ??? , when we are driving to Luang Namtha

Then we are driving road number 3 to Luang Namtha. Is that a good road ??

And then we set for Vientiane on road 13 , making a stop i Luang Prapang for a couple of Nights . How is the road 13 from Luang Namtha to Vientiane ?? In good condition ?

Hope to hear from somebody soon :-)

Best Regards

Helge from Norway

 

[bsacbob]

Heige,
There is no problem crossing at Chiang Khong although the fee's they charge are questionable for the so called escort service over the bridge, whichever crossing you use ideally the bike should be in your name, if not a letter from the hire company or owner is needed to them to grant permission for the motorcycle to leave Thailand.

The road between Huay Xai and Luang Namtha is fully paved and suitable even for a sports bike so you should have no troubles.

Likewise the route from Luang Namtha (13N) is fully paved all the way to VTE although if you travel from Oudomxai on the 13N to Luang Prabang the section of road from Oudomxai to Pak Mong is in a terrible state and on a Harley would be interesting !!! Maybe if you have the time ride from Oudomxai to Pakbeng, Hongsa then Sayaburi to Luang Prbang and then head south on the 13N, it's a huge detour but if you have time you would be thankful.

On a final note if you plan to exit at VTE then tell the immigration staff to help smooth the way

 

[Capss]

Heige

When I crossed the bridge about 2 weeks ago, albeit coming from Laos to Thailand I was charged 500 Bht for the privilege of an escort (which was nothing exciting, just a bloke in a car) and another 200 Bht when I got to Thailand to bring the bike back in to the country (even though it was Thai registered) I would expect it to be the same going from Thailand to Laos and also you will need to pay your Visa fee, I was charge $35 at a land crossing point.

Wayne

 

[heineken]

Hello Bsacbob and Capss. Thank you very much for the reply. This really helps :-)

The section from Oudomxai to Pak Mong . is so bad it cant be driven on a Harley ? I been to bad roads before. like Burma/Myanmar :-)

We are up to 8 bikes that is crossing in to Laos. Is that a problem for so many bikes at the same time .

We all have Our bikes on Our name :-)

Thanks again and have a great day .

Best Regards

Helge

 

[bsacbob]

Hope i didn't scare you too much

The section i mentioned is just very very potholed and whichever way you ride it you'll hit more than a few, but what the heck just make sure everything is tight and your bags are well strapped down. As for the bridge a group of 8 should be no problem, we have not heard of any groups having difficulties thus far, would be interesting to hear how much they charge such a group for the escort privilege....

 

[heineken]

Hello Bsacbob and thanks again for the reply :-)

Potholes are no problem :-) Just take it easy. If we have time , i will try the route thru Hongsa..

I will get back to you With how much they charge us on the brigde.

Thanks for all the help again :-)

Best Regards

Helge

 

[Capss]

Hello Bsacbob and Capss. Thank you very much for the reply. This really helps :-)

The section from Oudomxai to Pak Mong . is so bad it cant be driven on a Harley ? I been to bad roads before. like Burma/Myanmar :-)

We are up to 8 bikes that is crossing in to Laos. Is that a problem for so many bikes at the same time .

We all have Our bikes on Our name :-)

Thanks again and have a great day .

Best Regards

Helge

As Bob said it is very pot holed and very dusty, especially if you get behind some trucks and buses. As for doing on the Harley, yeah if you go steady. There is a large rest stop type area between the two place with a Restaurant and little shop, it was about 50 to 60 Km from Pakmong so it should be about the same from the other direction
Loads of stunning scenery

Enjoy it

Wayne

 

[asiarider]

We came back 1,5 week ago. We arrived afternoon at the friendship bridge Chiang Kong 8 motorbikes one jeep. We payed nothing this time. Crossing the bridge free of charge. Everybody body friendly maybe the win in the lottery ????? But I m not shure.

 

[asiarider]

We came back 1,5 week ago. We arrived afternoon at the friendship bridge Chiang Kong 8 motorbikes one jeep. We payed nothing this time. Crossing the bridge free of charge. Everybody body friendly maybe the win in the lottery ????? But I m not shure.

 

[heineken]

Have anyone crossed this border recently ?? Is it still no problem crossing here from Thailand to Laos ?? I have heard they have started to ask again for the International Transport Permit for the bike ( The Purple Book ) Is it the same into Cambodia ??

 

[Nightrider70]

Is the ferry still running?

 

[Lone Rider]

Have anyone crossed this border recently ?? Is it still no problem crossing here from Thailand to Laos ?? I have heard they have started to ask again for the International Transport Permit for the bike ( The Purple Book ) Is it the same into Cambodia ?? View attachment 44254

The Land Transport Department does not give the Purple Book anymore for bikes but they still do for cars. For bikes you can ask for a translation of the green book (see: Green-book-translation

When you cross the border bring also the original green (bikes) or blue (cars) book as the customs/immigration people may ask for it to be shown. Guess it is the same in case you cross from Thailand into Cambodia but I have no experience with that.

- - - Updated - - -

Is the ferry still running?

No

 

[kiwiphil]

Crossed this border a week ago into Laos, 1 motorbike, needed original green book and 500 bht for immigration 'escort' across


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[Pounce]

4 weeks ago.

Original green book & 3 copies of everything on a hired bike.
500 escort fee & also slugged us a "toll" of I think 200 for 4 bikes

 

[lakota]

I've heard on the grapevine the Chiang Khong /Huay Xai Bridge is now Free. No more 500 baht crossing Fee.
I cannot confirm as I had to cross at the Huay Kon/Nan Border due to lack of time, Hold ups on the 4b.

Laos is surprisingly dust free at the moment due to unseasonal heavy rain

 

[pensionist]

I've heard on the grapevine the Chiang Khong /Huay Xai Bridge is now Free. No more 500 baht crossing Fee.
I cannot confirm as I had to cross at the Huay Kon/Nan Border due to lack of time, Hold ups on the 4b.

Laos is surprisingly dust free at the moment due to unseasonal heavy rain

Which direction did you go? Enter Laos or enter Thailand?

 

[heineken]

Thanks for all the answers to all of you, But i have one more question. I have heard now after the New ESEAN deal from 1 of Janurary 2016 . That if you enter into Laos from Thailand. you have to exit from Laos to Thailand at the same border you crossed ?? Have anybody heard about this ? We are going into China at Boten border crossing . All the papers in China is in order .. Thanks for help again :-)

 

[lakota]

A friend entered and exited on a Chinese registered bike at different crossings last week. I think he's done 4 different borders in the last month or so. I also asked the question last week at Hui Kon (Nan) and was told I could exit at any International border point as I suspected. It wouldn't make a lot of sense otherwise.

China Steve will have done the Boten crossing a few times, maybe he will post some info for you

 

[kiwiphil]

Yea I was the same, entered Chiang Kong exited Nan, I did tell them at Chiang Khong that I was going to exit at Nan so it was on the paperwork ( I had heard you should do that but I don't think it makes too much difference )


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[heineken]

Hi everbody and thanks for all the help again.. We are coming from Nan to Chiang Kong. We are of course taking national road 1148 from Nan. But the last stretch , should we take national road 1155 or 1020 into Chiang Kong.. I am thinking about the road conditions ... We are also crossing Sirikit Dam with boat on national road 1339. Have anybody done the boat trip and that road recently ?? Thanks again for all help :-)

Helge from Norway

 

[pensionist]

We did the ferry 2 days ago. No problem at all.

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[lakota]

1155 to Chiang Khong is a much much nicer road than 1020 unless you are in a Hurry

 

[pensionist]

Prepare warm dress for Laos. It's freezing cold here

 

[joachim]

Today 9 February 2016 i crossed alone the chiang khong huei xai border at the friendship bridge , i paid only 200bt for papers on thai side , no 500bt for police escort , on laos side 300bt for papers and 350bt for 1 month insurance. Everything less than 40mn. No problemo!!!

 

[heineken]

Thank you for all help. We are starting from Pattaya today. Best Regards Helge from Norway :-)