Talk of easy vehicle rules

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN) has announced plans to issue a Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia cross-border road vehicle transport permit.
According to local news report, easing regulations for cross-border transport would encourage tourism between the three neighbouring countries.
Under the plan, licensed vehicles will be able to transport tourists and cargo between the three countries.
Non-commercial vehicles under party organisations, national assembly bodies, ministerial offices and agencies, diplomatic corps, general consulates, and representative offices of international organisations in Hanoi will also benefit from the plan.
The Hanoi municipal Department for Transport will be in charge of licensing regular transport services and non-commercial vehicles of individuals.
Details are sketchy on how the process would work as Vietnam would have to liberalise its rules for foreign owned transport to enter the country even for tourism purposes.
At the moment the announcement gives the impression that progress is being made to improve overland travel options. In fact, the realities on the ground are quite different when tour companies attempt to take government announcements to a practical level.
For example, it is very difficult for tourism companies to take the same transport through the three countries. Usually they hire different transport at each border checkpoint.
Thailand has not been included due to the additional obstacle of having vehicles that have right-hand steering wheels. Vietnam does not allow them to be driven in the country.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews