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Cambodia How To Get There
Border Crossing
Laos :
Currently, the border into Laos is not yet open others than
Cambodians and Laotians, but officials in Champasak, Laos
hope to open the border for everybody in the near future.
There is still occasionally Khmer Rouge activity, so it's
not absolutely safe.
Thailand :
There are several points for crossing the border between Thailand
and Cambodia. Safety has improved a lot over the last few
years. The border at Poipet is open to foreigners. The border
is open before 8 am and closes at 6 pm. If you leave the country,
you will have to pay USD 5 "leaving tax". The road
to Siem Reap is in very bad condition, so that cars sometimes
prefer the fields instead. It takes about 10 to 12 hours.
Safety is not especially high. A place in the truck can be
at THB 100. On the Thai side of the border, you can get taxis
and motos to Aranya Prathet, about 4 km down the road. There
is a bus station and a train station. Buses to Bangkok take
about 5 hours and cost about THB 130 for aircon buses and
THB 75 for non-aircon buses. At least two trains leave each
day, one at 6:40 am and the other at 1 pm. You can get a visa
for Cambodia directly at the border station. The border city
of Pai Lin, 80 km southwest of Battambang is now also open
to foreigners. Unfortunately, it seems not possible to get
a visa at this border station. .The border crossing between
Had Lek and Koh Kong is open, with many local people crossing
each day. To cross, you'll need to travel by 'bathtub' boat,
which is about USD 4 for foreigners. You can get a visa directly
at the border station.
Aranyaprathet is open and legal to cross in both directions.
It is possible to cross at Ban Had lek, east of Trat, from
where there is a boat transfer to Koh Kong and Sianoukville.
From Sianoukville to Phnom Penh there is a regular air-conditioned
coach service.
Vietnam
The only legal way to cross between Cambodia and Vietnam is
at Moc Bai. There are daily bus services between Vietnam (Saigon)
and Phnom Penh. The fare from Saigon is USD 10. If you want
to go from Phnom Penh, pick up a shared taxi from the far
side of the Japanese Bridge. After the border, you'll find
plenty of cars to hire to Ho Chi Minh City. At the border
at Moc Bai, the shared taxis have to park some two or three
kilometers further along the road. If you do not want to walk,
take a moto taxi. Prices are about KHR 1000, although the
drivers will try to charge you USD 2 to 3.
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