Border hassles for road passengers at Poipet

Just had email from farang travelling to Poipet that they had delays at Poipet. It appears the border is not open 24 hours and they had to sleep in their cars.They asked me for help. Would not know where to start to find a phone number, let alone who to talk to.

But in all my time in Thailand, I was not aware of the overnight closure of land borders. I have been aware of the corruption for those buying a visa on arrival. Both at the airports and what I have heard about Poipet.
My last visit by plane, I watched a plane load of Chinese who had no idea what they were filling out or what to say. Total confusion.

For those planning to visit Cambodia get your visa in advance and be so relieved you are not bogged down in immigration.

There are good hotels at Thai side in Aranya. Not the luxury one, but normal 2-3 stars.

About 3 years ago Cambodian visa service got good new building at the border in Poipet for issuing visa, there are seats and aircon so waiting is more comfortable now. Officers still asking for money, but if you refuse then they issue visa without pause.

The longest lines at the border are in last buildings - at time of enter to countries - at both sides: Thai and Cambodian. At Cambodian immigration fingerprint reading system has been installed, so now lines move much more quickly - people from market who moving over border often just use fingerprint and show docs, it takes about 15 sec only.

To my surprise the longest line with over 1.5 hour waiting has been at time of entering to Thailand on my way back from Cambodia: I met few Chinese tourist groups there.

The best time to cross borders in both directions is btw 10 and 12 AM: workers and sellers from market already passed border, but touristic groups from Khaosan road and from Siem reap are still in their buses. Exceptions: monday morning in direction Cambodia - Thailand: khmer workers flow is very high. Second half of Friday is totally mess in direction Thailand - Cambodia: flow of returning khmers and going for weekend gambling Thais is very high.

This avoided the problem of arriving late at night and having to stay in cars etc. until border opens at 0800
http://www.travelfish.org/visas/cambodia

Was not creating a scene it was reporting what occurred.

Those travelling by road and not in a taxi or bus, need to be warned.

this is photo from past April: Khmers on the way from market in Poipet to Siem Reap after Songkran New Year shopping:

Attachment 3622

Cambodian border crossings are generally open from 08:00 to 20:00 with the exception of Veun Kham/Dom Kralor, which closes earlier. On weekends and late hours, don't be surprised if you're asked to pay a dollar or so in "overtime" -- and don't expect a receipt.

Your photo looks like it is daytime

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lonelywombat

Your photo looks like it is daytime

---

Sure, it is about 1PM. What I have to do at the road from Poipet to Siem Reap at night time? :)

At night time I make another kind of photos: like this - Barcode bar in Siem Reap

Attachment 3623

I've crossed at Poipet several times and never had a problem.

I checked the border crossing hours before ever making the trip. This should be standard procedure.
I always had the e-visa for entering Cambodia, which makes the process quick.
On the way out, I've always arrived by my own taxi from Siem Reap & I booked it to ensure it's arriving before the tourist buses. Hence no major queues.

However, since Thailand cut the visa exemption to 2 weeks for arrivals by land, I'm more inclined to fly now.

I crossed from Cambodia to Thailand in August 2014 without problems. Stayed over night in hotel in Poipet to have a look at casinos and town.

The border is indeed closed at night. Gates from Cambodia to no-man's-land with casinos are wide open, gates to Thailand closed. About 1 km away, there was an illegal border crossing (wooden bridge over river, water about knee deep).

I didn't try Thailand to Cambodia and have no intention to do so, internet says it's rife with all kinds of scams.