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The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:08 pm
by Ronny
Hey Guys. Well, I'm only a little more than a month away from making the jump from Thailand and I was wondering if any of you guys have any experience about what is the best border crossing to take to go from Thailand to Cambodia? By best I mean by I want to be "in and out" (Out of Thailand and into Cambodia) as easily and quickly as possible. And also, have any of you had any issues with things like medications (pills and stuff like that) when crossing the border or do the customs guys get nosy and want to see every single item you take over the border? I must admit it's been awhile since I've left Thailand and I want to know in advance how things are now so I can prepare for any possible bullshit. Thanks for the help. guys.

Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:14 pm
by Username Taken
Much better to fly over the border. Far less hassles.

Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:37 pm
by phuketrichard
Used all of these and they are the easiest, no hassles and NEVER been charged more than the offical voa rate,also NEVR Had a bag or my car searched.
enterd and exited many times at these 2 with my car
Chong Jom, Thailand/O'Smach, Cambodia
Cham Yeam Checkpoint: Had Lek, Thailand / Koh Kong, Cambodia
Exited many times at these.
Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand/Phsar Prom Pailin
Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daun Lem, Battambang, Cambodia


Did poi pet in May and it was very easy although took a long time as lots of people
http://www.canbypublications.com/cambodia/overland.htm

Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:21 pm
by Ronny
Thanks for the info, Phuket. How hard is it to get a "Passport" for your car? I was thinking about driving my truck into Laos a few years ago but my Thai workers were saying I'd need a "Passport" for my truck which would be valid for maybe a month but It would take a few weeks to get and I didn't have the time. I just drove to Ubon and parked at a friend's house and then rented a van to cross over into Laos. You're making me start to want to just drive over there and check the place out a little before making any long-term commitments.

Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 10:11 pm
by John Bingham
Ronny wrote: Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:08 pm And also, have any of you had any issues with things like medications (pills and stuff like that) when crossing the border or do the customs guys get nosy and want to see every single item you take over the border?
I've never been searched or scrutinized for anything other than documents entering Cambodia (or any country in Asia/ Africa for that matter). It's when returning from those countries or traveling within Europe that I was regularly pulled in and searched/ interrogated by special branch etc. I'm not sure how it is for others, it can depend on your appearance. It probably helps that rather than the scruffy fucker I was in those days, now I'm a clean-cut, blue-eyed Caucasian from the EU with no criminal record who always wears smart collared shirts, so that probably helps. 8-)

Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Fri Jul 28, 2017 10:27 pm
by Ronny
Thanks, John. Yes, appearance is important. It's been a long time (over 10 years) since I've left Thailand so I'm like a little kid traveling for the first time. I thought would give you body scans and go through your luggage and things like that.

Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 8:10 am
by phuketrichard
Ronny wrote: Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:21 pm Thanks for the info, Phuket. How hard is it to get a "Passport" for your car? I was thinking about driving my truck into Laos a few years ago but my Thai workers were saying I'd need a "Passport" for my truck which would be valid for maybe a month but It would take a few weeks to get and I didn't have the time. I just drove to Ubon and parked at a friend's house and then rented a van to cross over into Laos. You're making me start to want to just drive over there and check the place out a little before making any long-term commitments.
very very easy,takes 2-3 days here in phuket, cost 50 baht, you apply for it where u pay ur yearly registration fees, valid for 1 year,u NEED it for Laos ONLY< for Malaysia u get a letter, for Cambodia, nothing is asked for.
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Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 10:46 am
by soup
phuketrichard wrote: Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:37 pm Used all of these and they are the easiest, no hassles and NEVER been charged more than the offical voa rate,also NEVR Had a bag or my car searched.
enterd and exited many times at these 2 with my car
Chong Jom, Thailand/O'Smach, Cambodia
Cham Yeam Checkpoint: Had Lek, Thailand / Koh Kong, Cambodia
Exited many times at these.
Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand/Phsar Prom Pailin
Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daun Lem, Battambang, Cambodia


Did poi pet in May and it was very easy although took a long time as lots of people
http://www.canbypublications.com/cambodia/overland.htm
I did the Poipet crossing as I was leaving about 2 weeks ago. At first, I was told I overstayed one day. When I showed the IO he was wrong he bounced me to another person. (lost face) When I explain to the other person the first IO was wrong she bounced me to another IO, too. When I got to that person, of higher rank, she berated me and told me I should follow the laws of Thailand, as if I had not followed them. When I told her I did follow the laws of Thailand and if they didn't change their laws so often people might actually understand what to do, she got enraged. She was then called to help fuck over some Iranians and got distracted so I approached the fourth IO and presented my case; I had not overstayed, had a valid visa and just simply wanted to leave. He took a good look at my records and started to process me out, and then the bitch showed up and had to demonstrate her power over a farang. I listened and then asked if I could leave. She said yes, so I did.
Before I left I checked on the Iranians and their situation. They went to Don Maung the day before and were told they could not enter Cambodia by air and must use ground transport. They then took the same bus as I to Poipet and were told by the IO that they could not enter Cambodia by bus and had to go by air. Then the bitch showed up, again. She didn't want me to see what they were going to try on the Iranians.
The moral of the story; Don't go to Poipet, especially as an Iranian. :facepalm:

You might consider putting your stuff on the overnight bus to PP and driving across empty, then pick it up. You get 125 kilo's per seat.

Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 10:52 am
by Fourkinnel
Had a friend from Thailand try to bring his truck over via Poipet (had the ID, Passport all the docs for truck etc) refused entry in Cambodia and no explanation why not. Since heard he should have used other border crossings and they would have let him in. Yet Poipet is not as corrupt (last time I came that way) as the Koh Kong border for overcharging on visa entries when on foot. All nonsense in KOW!

Re: The Best Border Crossing to Cambodia from Thailand.

Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 10:54 am
by phuketrichard
Iranians need visa in advance so am sure thye misunderstood the immigration officer. :beer3:
Citizens of most countries can apply for a visa online or get one on arrival in Cambodia, however citizens of the following countries should arrange a visa before travel, from their nearest Cambodian Embassy: Afghanistan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Nigeria
am sure there is more tour story than ur letting on, 35 years of in and out of thialand,never had any trouble
Had a friend from Thailand try to bring his truck over via Poipet (had the ID, Passport all the docs for truck etc) refused entry in Cambodia and no explanation why not.
PS u CANT cross with truck at Poi pet ( have said this many many times here).
ONLY at Koh Kong and Osmach!!!