Gabi7

My husband and I live in Cambodia and are considering buying a car and travelling around Asia fora few months (Vietnam, Laos, China and India).

We're interested in knowing of others who have done this and if it's a viable idea or if it would be better to stick to buses and flights. What are the challenges? (inter country, borders, etc).

We would love any feedback or suggestions.

BillT

Have you driven in Asia? If not then you are not an experienced driver when it comes to the crazy driving seen in many if not all asian countries. I don't advise it for your safety.

Kathie

I wouldn't consider driving in India - have you ben there? Nor China for that matter.

You might well be able to drive in Cambodia, Laos and VN (outside the big cities) but you will complicate your travel significantly by opting to drive yourselves. In fact, I expect that buying a car would cost much more than traveling via plane, train and bus.

Grassshopper

I'm imagining what you'll do when your car has a breakdown somewhere in India or China. I would never do it.

amln

In Chiang Mai we met a family of Chinese tourists (husband, wife and two kids) last August. They had been driving all the way from Lijiang (Yunnan, China) across China, Laos and Thailand in their car and were planning to continue driving all the way down to Pattaya before driving back to China. So I guess that it is possible to drive in the region (lots of people seem to do it anyway).

In our upcoming trip to Taiwan we are going to rent a car for six days, to cover a stretch which is not well served by public transportation.

amln

BTW, not sure you can get with a car from China to India. That would involve driving across Tibet and perhaps you need a permit.

I also wouldn't drive across India.

rhkkmk

i am not sure it is allowed in china??

rkkwan

IF you got the proper permit and licenses, you can drive a foreign car in China. I have seen Indian pilgrimage entourages in Tibet. Ferrari groups from HK have also driven to Shangai before. But that is IF you get those arranged way before hand. You clearly can't just drive to the border and expect to get in.

Jaya

You wouldn't survive driving in India. Most roads don't have signs. In Delhi alone, people who have lived there their who life only know their way around a few parts of the city.

amln

Indeed, India could be a challenge ;-)

But I think this car should be safe enough: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gurkha_LAPV.jpg

thursdaysd

Some crazies drive in India:

http://www.theadventurists.com/the-a...s/rickshaw-run

Some others drive in (or rather to) Mongolia:

http://www.theadventurists.com/the-a...s/mongol-rally

Getting permission to drive in China as a non-resident non-Chinese is likely to be extremely difficult. I would think trying to drive yourself in India and China not worth the effort, given that being driven should not be that expensive, and there are extensive train systems in both countries. However, driving in SEA is likely to be easier, and much easier in some parts, such as Malayasia.