Hi all,
I started here with a topic for a visa run through Thailand via Pailin. I'm now looking at going for Vietnam instead, via Bavet. It seems more "clean" to keep up in a new topic. Hope it's ok?

So first some info. As a Canadian, I easily got a visa to Vietnam for 30 days (I said I would go a few days) for 40USD. In theory, you find info and the form on the web, but in practice you don't. To enter by land, you need to do the in-person application (e-visa many websites help you get for an extra fee won't work). The visa office is super nice, easy to find, with friendly people, etc. My plan is to do an "on arrival" visa to come back in Cambodia after crossing to Vietnam. This way you normally save on the admin fee they charge if you do the e-visa online. We'll see... (I'll be sure to bring a passport photo).

I mentioned in the other thread that one can get a bus or VIP van to HCM for 24-30USD using an agency. They leave PP in the morning. It is possible to drop off at Bavet before noon, and catch one going back to PP when it passes through Bavet again around 3pm. Potentially shorter than going all the way to HCM. PP-Bavet is a 3-4h trip. It looks like you do the crossings more or less on your own, but I was told that for $5 the bus company might "help you" with the visa or whatever...

I also got some information about going to Bavet with a taxi. Seems like it can be done for 10$. There is a few Casino near the checkpoint: that's where they go. Taxi means you get 3 people sitting in the front (so you share the front seat), and 4 in the back. The advantage is you are not tight to a schedule, so you might be able to shave a couple of hours on the run by doing it this way.

I'm not crazy about packing in a car, but to save time I think I'll do that.

My question now: do you think it's a better idea to do it on the weekend (like Sunday) when everything is likely more busy, or to do it on a weekday (say Monday), when quieter?

I'm thinking the road might be better on Monday, but I have fewer chances of drawing attention if I do it on Sunday.

Any pieces of advice or opinions?

Thanks again to all!

A minivan from monivong just before the bridge to route nr. 1 is 15000 riel to svay rieng so about 5 bucks to the border. Takes about 2half hours.
Than I would just take a moto to get around beetween borderposts.
Same on the way back. We waited about 5 minutes in svay rieng for a minibus.
Taxi from psar Olympic is about 50 to the border but I would take the minibus as it is a pain in the ass to go to Olympic and back.
But depends on were you stay in PP.

Oh, that's interesting! Yes, I am close to Olympic than Monivong (I'm near Northbrige school, Est end of street 2004). But getting to route 1 bridge early in the morning might work. Could you say more about where you get a minivan there?

What you suggest is to go to Krong Svay Rieng and from there get a moto-taxi to Bavet? Then do the crossing by foot, and back to PP with moto-taxi to Svay Rieng and then a Minivan.

Or do you mean renting a moto in Svay Rieng and taking it across or parking it at the post?

You recently did in/out crossing there without problems?

Thanks a lot for the input!

Hi all,
As promised, a quick update on my run.
I took a "taxi" at the Olympic market for 30k (the kind you sit 4 in the back seat, 2 in the front, and the driver sometimes share his seat with someone for a few km...) around 630am. Took me right next to the check point in about 3h.

Despite many motos offering me a lift, I walk to the Cambodia check point, got my passport stamped, and then keep on going. Honestly, I think it would have been very possible to hang in the vietnam border building 5 minutes and cross back in Cambodia without using my vietnam visa. But since I had it, I walk across, chose the "free" line where nobody was waiting anyways, got my stamp and my bag scaned and that was it. I stood in the middle of the road 2 minutes wondering if i might do something else, and then opted for just going back. Within 5 minutes I was back in the international zone. Walked to the Cambodia border, filled a form and pay for the visa (no trouble there), waited 5 minutes to get my passport back, et voila.

I simply walked back to where the taxi left me (at the casino) and it took 2 minutes for a guy to offer me a ride to PP. Got back for the same 30K (to Olympic). Road was a bit busier, but all in all I was back home in the afternoon.

Since there are no time stamps on the visa, they could not really tell I was just in and out. Could have cross early in the morning and now come back, etc.

I hope this can be useful to some!

Despite many motos offering me a lift, I walk to the Cambodia check point, got my passport stamped, and then keep on going. Honestly, I think it would have been very possible to hang in the vietnam border building 5 minutes and cross back in Cambodia without using my vietnam visa. But since I had it, I walk across, chose the "free" line where nobody was waiting anyways, got my stamp and my bag scaned and that was it. I stood in the middle of the road 2 minutes wondering if i might do something else, and then opted for just going back.