Travel Cambodia from The Thai crossing at Poipet.
Cambodia- Thailand crossing border is the most accessible to Siem Reap; the Thai crossing at Koh Kong and the Vietnamese crossings at Ha Tien and Phnom Den give international access to southern Cambodia; and the Vietnamese crossings at Moc Bai and Chau Doc are most convenient to Phnom Penh.
Crossings with Laos
13. Voeung Kam, Laos/Dom Kralor, Cambodia
Visas at Overland Border Crossings
See Visas page for prices and other details on visas.
Border crossing with Laos: This is a semi-official crossing. Border policies are not stable. Cambodian visas are available at the border. Laos visas are not available.
Border crossings with Vietnam: Cambodian visas are available at the Bavet/Moc Bai and Chau Doc (Kaam Samnor) crossings. Availability of visas at the new Phnom Den and Kampong Cham crossings is unknown. Vietnamese visas are not available at any crossing.
Border crossings with Thailand: Cambodian visas and 30-day Thai transit visas are available at all Thai/Cambodian border crossings. Thai transit visas are free of charge. Other types of Thai visas are not available.
Bavet Checkpoint: Moc Bai, Vietnam / Bavet, Cambodia (Route 1 to Phnom Penh)
Kaam Samnor, Cambodia/Ving Xuong, Vietnam ("Chau Doc crossing") (On the Mekong River)
Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border
This Mekong River border crossing is near the Vietnamese city of Chau Doc. Coming from Cambodia, this crossing is accessed primarily from Phnom Penh.
visas NOT available at thCambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese border
This border crossing in Takeo province Cambodia is about 10 km south of the the Vietnamese city of Chau Doc. Coming from Cambodia, this crossing can be accessed from either Phnom Penh or Kampot.
Trapeang Phlong Border Pass: Xa Mat, Vietnam/Trapeang Phlong, Kampong Cham, Cambodia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Cambodian visas available at the border. As yet unconfirmed by travelers. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border.
Recently opened. In Kampong Cham province, Memot district, bordering the Vietnamese province of Tay Ninh.
Cambodian visas available on arrival at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border. (You must get your Vietnam visa in advance.) There are conflicting reports about whether Cambodian E-visas are accepted.
The road from Kampot to the border crossing is, for the most part, in fair condition, taking about 1h15m-2 hours to traverse, though longer in the wet season. Take Route 33 east from Kampot to the intersection of Route 31 at Kampong Trach town. Turn south on Route 31. All but the last few kilometers to the border is sealed. There is also a shorter cut off road from Route 33 before Kampong Trach town. It is slightly shorter but the road is rough hardpack dirt, which deteriorates significantly in the wet season. A tuk-tuk to the border costs about $15-$20; a car taxi is $20-$25 for a private taxi and $5/pax for a shared taxi; and a motorcycle taxi to the border costs about $7-$8. Some motorcycle taxis fromKampot are also able to cross the border with you and take you as far as Ha Tien for an additional $2-$3. For those coming from Vietnam, motodups usually wait at the border crossing to take travelers toKep or Kampot.
The Phnom Den/Tinh Bien border crossing near Chau Doc Vietnam is an alternative border crossing with Vietnam accessible from Kampot. It is not a regular taxi route but taxis to the crossing can be hired for about $30-$40 for the whole car. 2-3 hours. Contact your guesthouse to arrange a taxi.
Travelers report that Cambodian immigration at the Cham Yeam crossing will not accept payment in US dollars and is currently charging 1200 Thai baht for a tourist visa and 1600 baht for a business visa. A photo is required and, unlike the international airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, an extra charge of 100B is leveled if you don’t have one.
The visa process at the border is straightforward and do-it-yourself. Touts will insist you need their help to obtain a visa but this is untrue. Do not accept their ‘assistance’ as it is not necessary and will only increase the cost
Cham Yeam Checkpoint: Had Lek, Thailand / Koh Kong, Cambodia (The way to Sihanoukville)
Details: Bangkok to the Had Lek / KOH KONG crossing
1a. From Bangkok: A/c bus to Trat (new bus station). ~200 baht, 5-6 hours.
1b. From Koh Chang: Boat from Koh Chang to Leam Ngop, 80 baht. Share taxi to Trat, 40 baht. Moto to new bus station, 20 baht.
2. Take a van from Trat market to the Thai border town of Had Lek (120 baht). Vans depart every 30 minutes or so and take about 1h30m to the border.
3. Stamp out of Thailand. Walk to the Cambodian immigration station to buy a visa and stamp in (see page 51) Drivers will approach you as soon as you come out of the immigration station. Prices into Koh Kong City 8 km away run about 100B for moto, 150 for a tuk-tuk and 250-300B for private taxi into town
4. You can travel from Koh Kong to Sihanoukville by bus, taxi or, when in service, coastal ferry. Be aware that the last bus for Sihanoukville leaves Koh Kong at about 8AM.
KOH KONG to/from SIHANOUKVILLE
Bus Since the completion of Route#48, most now choose to travel to/from Koh Kong by road rather than by ocean ferry. Virak-Buntham bus company offers direct daily bus service between Koh Kong andSihanoukville using full size a/c buses. $10/person. About 4 hours duration. Departs about 8AM. Check current schedule. In Koh Kong the bus office is located on Street 3 in the center of town. InSihanoukville the office in located at the bus station.
Taxi 40,000R/person for a share taxi or $60 for a private taxi.
Coastal Ferry Since the completion of the road, ferry service became less regular and is currently suspended entirely. Ask at your guesthouse for current ferry schedule. The ferries are in no way up to international safety standards. In Koh Kong the ferry dock is located on the riverfront 500m south of the bridge. In Sihanouk Ville, the ferry arrives/departs the ‘Port of Passenger Ship.’
Taxi 500 baht per person for a share taxi or 3000 baht for a private taxi.
Bus Virak-Buntham bus company offers direct daily bus service between Koh Kong and Phnom Penh using full size a/c buses. $12/person. About 4 hours duration. Departs about 7:45AM-8:00AM. Check current schedule. In Koh Kong the bus office is located on Street 3 in the center of town. In Phnom Penh on Street 106 just off the riverfront. (Tel: 012-322302)
Aranyaprathet, Thailand/Poipet , Cambodia
Cambodian visas and Thai transit visas available on arrival at the border. Cambodian E-Visa accepted at this crossing.
You will likely be confronted by a couple of annoyances at the border. Touts and drivers on the other side of the border will offer to assist getting a Cambodian visa from a ‘local consulate’ on your way to the border crossing, insisting that it is required, the process at the border is difficult, that they can get it cheaper, etc. Do not use their services. The visa they will provide is authentic but wildly overpriced. The process of getting a visa on arrival at the border is now straightforward and do-it-yourself. Get your visa from the immigration station at the border. Also, money-changer touts will also tell you that you either should or need to exchange foreign currency for Cambodian riel, and then give exchange rates far worse than the going rate. There is no requirement to exchange money. DO NOT change money at the border. Wait until you are in Siem Reap where you can get the proper rate.
Aranyaprathet, Thailand / Poipet, Cambodia Border Crossing: The Route from Bangkok toSiem Reap
It’s a 465km, 6-9 hour trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap. The usual route begins with a 4-5 hour bus or a train ride from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (‘Aran’), the town on the Thai side of the border, then a short tuk-tuk ride the last 6 km to the border crossing to Poipet Cambodia. On the Cambodian side, the road to Siem Reap has been completely repaired and is in excellent condition, requiring only 3 hours to traverse. There are two options in planning an overland trip: 1) buy a package ticket in Bangkok or; 2) put it together yourself.
Option #1: Package Tickets
In Bangkok you can buy package tickets from travel agents. The price ranges from 200-800 baht on Khao Sarn Road and up to 1000 baht on Sukhumvit. Regardless of the cost of the ticket, most travel agencies are sending customers to the same bus companies. When you buy your ticket, ask about the type of transportation, especially on the Cambodian side.
You will depart Bangkok between 7AM and 8AM, arriving at the border crossing near Aranyaprathet 4-5 hours later. At the border, you will disembark and will be told to cross the border on your own and how to locate your onward transportation once on the Cambodian side. Transportation quality on the Cambodian side is variable. Sometimes good, sometimes cramped and slow.
Option #2: Do it yourself
1) From Bangkok take a bus or train to Aranyaprathet. Bus: 164-196 baht (first class), 140-155 baht (second class), 4 hours, departing the Northern Bus Terminal (Morchit) hourly from 4AM to 6PM. Train: 48 baht, 3rd class, 6 hours, departs Hualamphong Station twice daily (5:55AM and 1:05PM).
2) From Aranyaprathet, take a moto or tuk-tuk from the bus station to the border for 50 and 60 baht, respectively.
3) Cross the border to Poipet Cambodia.
4) On the Cambodian side, take a free shuttle bus to the transport station. From there you have three options for transportation from Poipet through Sisophon and on to Siem Reap: a) Taxi; b) Official Bus; c) Tourist bus.
a) Taxi: Taxis offer the easiest, fastest, most comfortable, most expensive travel option. Though the local rate is $25 for a private taxi, tourists usually have to pay $45-$50. Sometimes taxi drivers wait for passengers just past the Thai immigration station. These drivers usually offer the lower price ($25-$30), but are unlicensed and of variable reliability. Taxis from the regular station almost always charge the higher price ($45-$50), but they are often all that is available to tourists. It’s a 2.5-3 hour ride. Share with other travelers and split the cost. Under no circumstances pay in advance. Pay once you arrive in Siem Reap.
b) Official Tourist Bus: $10 for the official bus. Buses leave when full which can sometimes take quite a while. Slow.
c) Package Tourist Buses: These are the same buses that the package ticket holders from Bangkok use. ( Package Tickets.) Price and quality is variable.
If you are planning to make this journey, check out www.talesofasia.com . The site does a fastidiously detailed, painfully honest, very up-date-date travel report.
Taxis back to Poipet from Siem Reap should cost about the same, perhaps a bit less. Arrangee through me 30usd,
Chong Jom, Thailand/O'Smach, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Remote border crossing north of Siem Reap in Oddar Meanchey province. From Siem Reap travel to Khra Khra Lanh/ Bantay Mean Chey Province, then north to Samrong and then on to the border. Guesthouses available in Samrong.
Chong Sa Ngam, Thailand/Anlong Veng, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Remote border crossing northwest of Siem Reap in Oddar Meanchey province, opposite Thailand's Si Saket province.
Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand/Phsar Prom Border Crossing: Pailin, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Located in Pailin, Cambodia, opposite Thailand's Chantaburi province. From Bangkok, bus to Chantaburi for about 150 baht (4 hours). Mini bus to border for about 100 baht (1-2 hours). Cross border. Motodup to Pailin. Taxi from Pailin to Battambang (shared taxi for 200baht, private for $25-$30.) 3 or 4 hours but road conditions change with the season.
Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daun Lem, Battambang, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Located in Kamreang, Battambang province, Cambodia, opposite Thailand's Chantaburi province.
Voeung Kam, Laos/Dom Kralor, Cambodia
Cambodian visas are available at the border (Don't forget to bring a photo!). Some travelers report that visas are only available at the road crossing, not at the river crossing. Laos visas NOT available at the border. No special permits required from either Cambodia or Laos.
There are two border crossing points with Laos relatively close to one another: 1) the riverine crossing at Koh Chheuteal Thom; 2) the road crossing at Dom Kralor. Expect extra fees for “stamps” on both sides of the border.