I only have an European car drivers licence and I'm wondering if it is possible to rent/buy a motorcycle somewhere in South-East Asia and ride it. Is it allowed in some countries in that area? Or are there countries where it's not checked at all if you have a licence?
Highly related to this question, but now I'm looking for answers about South-East Asia.
You have alternatives in most countries. In Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, I've found it useful to rent mopeds with <100cc engines. While they are regulated, and while I have a license, very often, I don't get asked for it.
Three big advantages over motorbikes: a. you're most comfortable driving them at 20-30 km/h (most of them max out at about 50) - this means you get better time to adapt to the hellish urban traffic, are at lesser risk of serious injury and consciously keep away from the fast roads.
b. it's small - that hellish urban traffic is also snailish at times - and a smaller lighter moped allows you better control. It's also better in dealing with roads on resort shores and islands - where the roads may be rudimentary.
c. it's cheap - in highly compact traffic, without stopping distances, drivers rely on predictable behavior... behavior that might be counterintuitive to tourist riders. The odd scratch or dent does happen, and when it does, it's easier on the wallet.
The main limitation is that it isn't a motorbike - it has limited range and efficiency. If you're looking to emulate Che Guevara or Ewan McGregor, you're better off with the best hog (and some handling experience)
Are there any countries in South-East Asia that don't require a motorcycle licence to ride one?.
No there is not. All countries in South-East Asia require licenses to drive a motorcycle, and even more so to rent one. That even goes for more remote locations like Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
I want to add that there are countries like India where driving yourself is a REALLY bad idea. If you are in the countryside and have an accident where you injure someone or damage something valuable (a holy cow for example), there is a risk that a mob from a local village attempts to kill you. Literally. Expats in India are generally not allowed and are forced to have a driver. So please check for each country if it's smart do drive by yourself.
