IraHayes wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:17 am I posed this question to a Khmer friend who has a travel agency just off the riverside. If I were to do a visa run, as a UK citizen, he assured me all I would need to do is head to the VN border, enter VN on a 15 day free visa, go for a coffee, exit VN, re-enter Cambodia. I asked him if the border control people would question me and he said “no.. why would they?”

Of course as a Canadian you may not be entitled to the 15 day free visa but disregarding that fact and just looking at same day re-entries it would seem feasible. Hell, if I am bored this weekend I may even take a ride out to the border to try it...it’ll only cost me the gas there and back (multiple entry Cambodian visa + free 15 days in VN) and it’s a ride out worst case I have to crash at a g/h overnight and head back Sunday morning.

Some people have reported they were denied entry on the same day they left. Might be an issue.

Sorry, yes I mean Ho Chi Min city, of course!

I need a visa for vietnam, but i'm going to go get in now (40$, 48h), should get it by friday.

If you are up to a road trip to Bavet this weekend, let me know! Otherwise i'll have to pay 30$ for the bus, and wait there, etc. I would go with a Khmer relative, but they have to be in Pailin! Depending what car you drive, that could be enough for gas. But I hear entering Vietnam with your car is problematic. You need importation papers, and whatever. But I think you can park it and walk accross.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:08 am - flying to Bangkok is much more convenient (80 USD up return if you plan in advance) and not crazy expensive as it used to be

If I could really do it for 80USD by plane, of course that would be perfect. I just looked at AirAsia. For 83USD I can fly Thursday night (11PM) and back friday morning (7am).

You think that way of doing it is without problem?

jefjef wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 10:00 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:08 am - flying to Bangkok is much more convenient (80 USD up return if you plan in advance) and not crazy expensive as it used to be

If I could really do it for 80USD by plane, of course that would be perfect. I just looked at AirAsia. For 83USD I can fly Thursday night (11PM) and back friday morning (7am).

You think that way of doing it is without problem?

Yes.

Try Lanmei airlines and next time book in advance.

Make sure you come back when your Cambodian visa has expired. If it's still valid you won't get a new one.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 10:11 am

jefjef wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 10:00 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:08 am - flying to Bangkok is much more convenient (80 USD up return if you plan in advance) and not crazy expensive as it used to be

If I could really do it for 80USD by plane, of course that would be perfect. I just looked at AirAsia. For 83USD I can fly Thursday night (11PM) and back friday morning (7am).

You think that way of doing it is without problem?

Yes.
Try Lanmei airlines and next time book in advance.
Make sure you come back when your Cambodian visa has expired. If it's still valid you won't get a new one.

I have until the 21 to do it but I am busy from the 18, so still have a bit of loose. Cheapest on Lanmei is currently around 140USD+fees for next week.

When you say "Make sure you come back when your Cambodian visa has expired. If it's still valid you won't get a new on", what do you mean? I have a sigle entry T visa (its an extension) so is it not expired exactly when I leave Cambodia?

To Jefjef

I see that you talk about 30 USD for the bus from Phnom Penh to Vietnam.
The normal fare on most buses for the whole journey is 10 to 12 USD one way.
If you are only going to Bavet/Moc Bai (i.e the border) you can negotiate for less.
I see many people doing this at the border when I have travelled.

Thanks a bunch Jimpson!
It is still a bit hard for me to picture, how this is actually done. But knowing I probably won't be the only one is reassuring!

An agency offers me a ticket to Ho Chi Min city for 12USD/way. Apparently, you get off the bus, do the crossing, and then get back on the bus to continue your trip. Agent said he could inform the company (Mekong Express) that I will pick up the next bus at Bavet instead of HoChiMin. So I suppose it means I get off the bus at the Bavet checkpoint, do the crossing out, wait a bit or whatever, and then come back to Cambodia and ask for an on arrival visa. Then I cross back in with it, and wait for the next bus (on the Khmer side) to PP.

The agent says I probably actually dont even need a VN visa because it would be possible to walk out Cambodia and re-enter without going to VN. But I am a bit worry about that, and fell like getting the 40USD visa for VN is much safer.

He also warns me that Khmer officials are likely try to overcharge me for the visa - or make me wait a lot. Would it be better to get an evisa from the website before I leave, and use it to get in right away?

I think I'll go to Olympic Market with someone and see if I can find a "taxi" to Bavet/Moc Bai and back for less than the 24USD with Mekong Expres.

I really appreciate everyone's help on this, thank you so much! I'll be sure to report exactly what I did and how, hoping it can help others.

jefjef wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 10:20 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 10:11 am

jefjef wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 10:00 am

Kammekor wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:08 am - flying to Bangkok is much more convenient (80 USD up return if you plan in advance) and not crazy expensive as it used to be

If I could really do it for 80USD by plane, of course that would be perfect. I just looked at AirAsia. For 83USD I can fly Thursday night (11PM) and back friday morning (7am).

You think that way of doing it is without problem?

Yes.
Try Lanmei airlines and next time book in advance.
Make sure you come back when your Cambodian visa has expired. If it's still valid you won't get a new one.

I have until the 21 to do it but I am busy from the 18, so still have a bit of loose. Cheapest on Lanmei is currently around 140USD+fees for next week.

When you say "Make sure you come back when your Cambodian visa has expired. If it's still valid you won't get a new on", what do you mean? I have a sigle entry T visa (its an extension) so is it not expired exactly when I leave Cambodia?

Single entry will expire when you leave, so it's no issue. Could be an issue if you had a multi entry.

I used this border many times between 2013 and 2017. It was the easiest border I have ever been through. Would often travel through Chanthaburi to avoid Poipet just because I found this a chiller process. Unless things have changed in the last year, I recommend Prum/Bakkard as a great place to cross. Getting in and out in a single day I'm not sure about though.