Moving from Pattaya to Cambodia: report and video. From Thailand to Cambodia for a visa Border town of Thailand and Cambodia

So we ended up in Thailand and want to get to Cambodia. Most likely, you wanted to visit Cambodia for the first time because of the ancient temple city of Angkor Wat. To see Angkor Wat you need to stop in the nearest “special” city of Siem Reap. Siem Reap is located 5 kilometers from the Angkor Wat temple complex.

Let's go to Cambodia!

Minibus (minivan) quite cheap, for example Pattaya - Poipet 260 baht ($8) per person. Minibuses are offered by transport companies and run on schedule. With comfort, depending on your luck. All things are shoved inside the cabin, the backrests of the last row of seats do not move apart, you sit at a right angle. The minibus stops at different places along the way and picks up and drops off people, so at the end of the journey all the seats can be filled and a couple more Thais with bags in addition. Experience of driving in Russian minibuses will not be superfluous. Travel time depends on the number of stops and the number of passengers. The best places are separate chairs so that you can stretch out your legs, and if both do so, it’s just gorgeous.

Buses- convenient, cheap, a little longer than a minibus. There are "direct" flights from Bangkok to Siem Reap. As a rule, locals usually use this type of movement. Costs about 15-20 dollars.

The best way is a taxi. A taxi will cost about $100 and 4 people will comfortably get to the border. Travel time is 3-3.5 hours from the airport in Bangkok and the same from Pattaya. There is another way - air travel. The cost of a ticket Bangkok - Siem Reap is about $200 one way per person. If you are traveling alone, then this is the best option, because... The cost is a little more than by land transport, but in terms of comfort it is significantly superior. And the flight time is only 1 hour.

Where are they taking us? We are brought to the border, Poipet

THE OFFICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER CHECK POINT OF POIPET

Another wave of “helpers” offering to obtain visas, taxis and everything else. At this stage, you can already arrange a taxi. It is important for us that the taxi is already standing at the Cambodian border point. Normal conditions are 30-35 dollars to Siem Reap - the city of Angkor Wat. But you can also politely refuse and move on with a smile to the visa center. He is the only one, correct, official, fast and with a good toilet. This center is located on the right side of the road 100 meters from the Thai Deportation Center, which we passed. And it's called THE OFFICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER CHECK POINT OF POIPET We go into the center - there should be good-looking policemen there. They will give us a visa form. If you don’t have a photo with you, then prepare another 100 baht per person. In the form, enter your last name, first name, date of birth, passport number, and indicate the type of visa. Usually this is a tourist visa, it costs $20, and gives the right to stay in Cambodia for 30 days. If we stay longer, then for each day over 30 we will have to pay a fine of 5 dollars. We fill out the form, hand over our passport and money (20 dollars + 100 baht if there is no photo) and wait 5 - 10 minutes. The visa is ready. We go out into the street and move further towards Cambodia.

ARRIVAL

We pass a hotel with a casino and see a small booth called ARRIVAL. This is where fingerprint scanning takes place. There we fill out a migration card and give fingerprints, the procedure is simple and quick if there are no people. Please note that there are always more people in the morning than in the evening. After that, we go out into the street again, and after 10 meters there will be a canopy where there are many taxi drivers. We are on Cambodian territory. As a rule, no one looks into your bags and no one asks what you are carrying. There seems to be customs, but it is for locals.

We are in Cambodia

In total we get:

Border, visas: about $20 per person, processing time 30 minutes (on some days several hours)

Poipet-Siamrip, taxi: about $35, travel time 2 hours

Traveling on your own is much more interesting than buying package tours and using the services of tour operators. In the section "How to get there" I will periodically talk about my travel routes and some features along the way: transfers between cities, crossing borders, etc. I hope that some of my recommendations will be useful for independent travelers.

Route: Thailand → Cambodia → Vietnam

Cities: Bangkok → Siem Reap → Phnom Penh → Ho Chi Minh City
(Bangkok – Siem Reap – Phnom Penh – Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon)

Total distance: about 1000 km.

Section No. 1: Bangkok – Siem Reap

Siem Reap has an international airport (IATA: REP), so you can get from Bangkok (Thailand) to Siem Reap (Angkor, Cambodia) by plane. However, below I will only consider options for moving on the ground. The Bangkok - Siem Reap section can be divided into two subsections: before and after the border with Cambodia. There are two main options for ground transfer from Bangkok to the border: train or bus; from the border to Siem Reap: regular bus or minibus for 10 people.

Step 1. Bangkok → Poipet, city on the Thailand/Cambodia border

Plan A: by train (5.5 hours travel). To get to Poipet, you need to take a train to the border town of Aranyaprathet (Tais. อรัญประเทศ), and then take a tuk-tuk to the border. From the main railway station of Bangkok (Hua Lamphong Railway Station, Thais: สถานีรถไฟหัวลำโพง) two trains depart daily - at 5:55 and at 13:05. Tickets for Aranyaprathet can be purchased immediately before departure at the station. However, I recommend visiting the station the day before departure. In my case, it turned out that the train service was suspended due to flooding, so I followed Plan B. The fare is only about 50 baht (1.20 euros). The trains are only third class, but should be quite comfortable. Aranyaprathet is 255 km away, the morning train arrives at its destination at 11:35. In order to have time to cross the border on the same day and calmly get to Siem Reap without spending the night in Poipet, I recommend using the morning option. After arriving at Aranyapratet station, there will be tuk-tuks standing outside the station, which will take you to the border (about 6 km) in 10 minutes and 100 baht. Tell the driver in English that you are heading to the Cambodian border in Poipet.

Advice: Please contact the "Information" window with questions, they understand and speak English.

Plan b: by bus (4 hours travel time). There are several bus stations in Bangkok. I left from the eastern one (Eastern Bus Station, at the Ekkamai metro station). From the bus station directly to the border in Poipet, buses from the same company run at 6:15, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30. The fare is 220 baht (5.- euros), including a glass of water. At the ticket office, just say that you are going to Cambodia, they will show you which window to buy a ticket at and which platform to board on. The buses are not the most comfortable, but they are air conditioned.

This is what the eastern bus station looks like.

Step 2. Crossing the Thailand/Cambodia border

Passing the borders in Poipet and purchasing a Cambodian visa on the spot is not as difficult as it is sometimes written and talked about. The only and main rule: do not trust the locals and ignore those who pester you with offers. They may offer to escort you to the “official border”, or help you cross the border cheaper, or even on the Thai side to issue a bus ticket at exorbitant prices, etc. In fact, crossing the borders is free, you can easily buy a bus ticket on the Cambodian side. We ignore such individuals and simply go to the big gate, everything is intuitively clear. First we cross the Thai border. Along with your passport, you must have a completed departure form, which is usually obtained upon entry into Thailand. Then we find ourselves in the neutral zone. In front of the Cambodian "Welcome to Cambodia" arch on the right there is an official visa office and a border post where a visa is issued for $20 (+100 baht - the "official" bribe). If you do not have photographs with you for documents, you will need to pay $25. You fill out one single piece of paper and hand it in with your money and passport at the window to the border guards. In a few minutes the visa is ready. Next comes Cambodian border formalities. You may have to stand in line for Arrival for 30-40 minutes, but sometimes this is a very pleasant experience if there are globetrotters around you like you. Your passport is stamped, your fingerprints are taken and you are in Cambodia. The border is open from 7 am to 8 pm.

Thai border.

In the neutral zone.

Advice: don't trust locals who are trying to help you spend your money; take a photograph with you for identification; do not hide the pen for filling out papers; make sure you have American currency; don't spend all your baht in Thailand.

Step 3. Poipet → Siem Reap (Khmer: ក្រុងសៀមរាប)

Once on the Cambodian side, you'll be immediately taken to a free transit shuttle stop that will take you to the bus station (about a 10-minute drive). Siem Reap is 150 kilometers from Poipet. You have three main options: buy a bus ticket ($9, 3 hour journey), ride in a group minibus ($10, 2 and a half hour journey) or take a taxi ($48). While I was standing in line at the border, I got into conversation with several travelers and we already decided to take a minibus. We eventually assembled an excellent team of 10 people and went to Siem Reap. The road is great, the campaign is fun - it was very cool. Upon arrival, you will not be taken to the very center, but will be dropped off in specially designated areas where Tuk-Tuk drivers are already waiting. They will try to offer affordable accommodation, but I recommend taking care of these things before your trip and booking everything. Then just tell the tuk-tuk driver the address or name of the hotel, he will take you to the center for 1-2 dollars.

Advice: It is advisable to have a navigator in your smartphone or off-line maps with you in order to have an approximate idea of ​​where you are during the trip. Personally, I always additionally print out a map of where the hotel is located.

Section No. 2: Siem Reap - Phnom Penh (Phnom Penh, Khmer. ក្រុងចតុម្មុខ)

If you chose "Plan A" (train) in the first step of the first section, then most likely you will still have a few hours for an easy walk around the center of Siem Reap on the day of arrival. If you chose a bus as your transport, then you won’t have much time before evening. You can spend one or two days in Siem Reap before moving on to Phnom Penh. The distance to the capital of Cambodia is 250 km (by water) and 340 km (by land).

Plan A: on water. A passenger high-speed boat departs from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh every day at 6:30 am. Travel time is about 6.5 hours, estimated arrival time is 13:00. The fare is $35. A ticket for this type of transport can be purchased at the hotel reception.

Plan b: by bus. Regular buses depart from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh every day at different times before lunch. There are several transport companies engaged in passenger transportation between cities. I have traveled and recommend the Mekong Express Limousine Bus company. I left at 9:00, paid a fare of 12 dollars, which included transfer from the hotel (30-50 minutes before departure), a bottle of water and snacks on the bus. Travel time is 6 hours with a lunch break. All information on times, companies and prices can be obtained from the concierge at the hotel. In Phnom Penh, the tuk-tuk story repeats itself. They will take you to the hotel for 1-3 dollars.

Section No. 3: Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh City (Ho Chi Minh City, former name Saigon, Saigon, Vietnam. Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh)

You can spend one or two days in Phnom Penh before moving on to Vietnam. Buses depart from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City every morning. The process is the same: at the hotel you can get all the information and buy a ticket ($10-13). There is a shuttle bus that will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the bus. There is no separate organized bus station in Phnom Penh. On the spot, they will write out your passport information and check whether you have a Vietnamese visa, which you need to take care of before traveling. Again, I recommend using the services of Mekong Express. Everything was well organized and there were no problems crossing the Vietnamese border. Travel time with a lunch break and passing all border formalities: 6 hours. In Ho Chi Minh City, the bus arrives in the very center and stops on Phạm Ngũ Lão Street.

Route option by day(not including days in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City):

Day 1: Transfer Bangkok - Siem Reap (first night in Siem Reap)
Day 2: Siem Reap (second night in Siem Reap)
Day 3: Transfer Siem Reap - Phnom Penh (first night in Phnom Penh)
Day 4: Phnom Penh (second night in Phnom Penh)
Day 5: Moving Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh City

Travel and plan your trips yourself - it's easy and much more exciting than standard boring tours. Good luck and bright impressions! In the next parts I will begin to show the cities themselves. See you in touch!

The road from Bangkok was difficult due to the conditions around us. Thai music was screaming at full volume, which was already annoying. When we began to drive closer to the border, people began to enter and fill the bus in the aisle; somehow it’s not very pleasant to travel when dark-skinned Thais or immigrants from Cambodia are standing over you. When we were passing through a city, the police inspected the bus and took out more than half of the people; in our opinion, these were Cambodian illegal immigrants. Well, the ride has become easier, we go further, waiting for the border. The bus was checked again by the police and we soon arrived at a Thai city, which is located near the border. We were dropped off at the bus station, from there we need to get to the border itself, which is located a little further at the exit of the country. And then it started! Comrades be careful The Cambodian border is a complete scam. I'll describe how to go about it:

After being dropped off at the station, you will be offered a tut-tuk (for 25 baht/person) to the so-called “immigration office”, where they will issue you a CAMBODIA visa, no one even thinks about the fact that you have not yet left Thailand. You will be brought to an office on which there will be different inscriptions like: visa... Etc. You can apply for a visa there, but it will cost you at least 47 US dollars, despite the fact that it costs 20 dollars. You are brought to the immigration office, where you will be stripped of your money without a second thought.

They will start assuring you that you have arrived where you need to go, but you should turn around and move on, you will pass the temple on the left side, go through a long “road-corridor”

which leads to the building where they put the exit stamp, this is

View of the Cambodian side

Almost all Cambodians cross the border in their carts. They go to Thailand every morning and come back with shopping. As we later found out, they harness themselves to the carts, due to the fact that motorcycles and animals cannot be transported across the border, so they found this way out.

This is how wicker products travel from Cambodia to Thailand

Many Thais travel to Cambodia to play in casinos, since this type of gaming is prohibited in Thailand. As soon as you go beyond the borders of Thailand you will be surprised by hotels with casinos, they are everywhere!!

There they can start tricking you into doing all kinds of quarantine, they will even manage a card for you, everything is official and everything is for an additional fee. Of course you don’t need to do this, don’t believe it. And be sure to take it with myself You will need photographs for your visa; if you don’t have photographs with you, you can take them somewhere on the spot, but it will be very expensive.

The scam doesn't end after you leave the building! Local guys will approach you with offers to take you to the office, where they will stamp your arrival, without queuing. As a rule, there is a queue, but in our case the queue was not large, 6-10 people. We quickly stamped our arrival and here we are officially in Cambodia.

Here we are in Cambodia

In order to get to Siem Reap (where Angkor Wat is located) you need to take a free bus that will take you to the bus station, where you can buy a ticket for yourself. You can travel on a regular bus with air conditioning for 9 dollars, or on a minibus with air conditioning, as in our case, for 11 dollars per person.

Be attentive if you stand facing the building with the ticket office in the leftmost ticket office they cost 11 dollars, but they can charge you 12 dollars, this is what they did with some of the people from our bus, or another option is you can take a taxi for 4 people for 12 dollars per person. The drive to Siem Reap is 2.5 hours.

So Max negotiates with other tourists to get people into the minibus, the driver put forward the condition that he will go if there are 10 people. In the end, 12 people went.

Our ticket to Siem Reap

As we read on the Internet later, there is also a scam in all of this. This free bus takes you to its ticket office, and if you walk further than the border, you will find the offices of local companies, where the price will be 2 times cheaper.

We are moving to a hotel called “side walk coffee hotel”, where Dan and Christina are waiting for us. We're on the road, I'd better come and take a shower, it's very hot here, a small towel or scarf wouldn't hurt, it really saves me!

Border crossings by land/sea are becoming increasingly popular among independent travelers. Firstly, it is cheaper than flights, and secondly, you have the opportunity to see the country “without censorship”. When making a choice, be guided by two main criteria: budget and the number of days of your vacation. It is an indisputable fact that passport control and customs will take you longer if you cross the border by land.

BORDERS

Thailand and Vietnam are the most convenient and most popular border crossing points with Cambodia. This is mainly due to the fact that between Russia and Thailand/Vietnam, there is an agreement on visa-free entry for up to 30 days.

WATER ROUTES

You can cross the border with Cambodia by river and sea.

Water boundary between Thailand and Cambodia lies on the southern coast near the island of Krong Koh Kong.

Cham Yam – Hat Lek

The opening hours of the point are from 7:00 to 20:00.

From the small border town there are high-speed boats to the village, which is rightfully considered the best resort in all of Cambodia. This scenic route runs along the southern coast of non-tourist Thailand and captures the breathtaking landscapes of the Cambodian islands. Unforgettable sensations and stunning photographs that will be the envy of everyone are guaranteed.

In order to enjoy all the delights of this route you need:

2. From Bangkok to Sihanoukville

2.1 In Bangkok, buy a ticket for the route Bangkok - Sihanoukville and be sure to specify that you want to get to Sihanoukville by sea! (*Last price was approximately $35-45 for the entire route).

2.2 Another option, for seasoned travelers: buy a ticket in Bangkok at the Trat bus station, which is located in the eastern part of the city (*the cost of a ticket to the border is approximately 210 baht, and the travel time is from 5 to 6 hours). Buses run regularly from 6:00 to 23:30. The bus leaving at 23.30 arrives at the Krong Koh Kong border quite early, which means you will have enough time to catch the ship that leaves at 8:00 for Sihanoukville.

2.2.1 Another option is to leave Bangkok early and spend the night on the coast, in the town of Koh Kong, which is replete with inexpensive guest houses and beautiful views of the islands. There you can rent a motorbike and begin to discover the life of the villagers, as they say, “without censorship.” Rent a moped for a day approximately $3

Important: this route is only possible during the rainy season or immediately after it ends. Also, when choosing option 2.1, do not forget that you will have to spend the night in Koh Kong. As a rule, a room in a mini-hotel is already included in the ticket price, but it would be a good idea to check with the seller in advance.

Cambodia and Vietnam connected by the Mekong River.

Border point - Kam Samnor – Vinh Xong open since 2000.

At the moment, this particular point is the most popular among independent travelers. Needless to say, traveling through the Mekong Delta on a fast boat is much more interesting than languishing on a bus. Typically, this route covers two cities: Phnom Penh and Sha Doc [Vietnam]. This route will reveal to you all the wonders of the authentic life of river settlers, and the terracotta Mekong and the thickets of tropical jungle along its banks will paint your vacation photos in the colors of the Indiana Jones hits.

In order to discover all the wonders of this route, you need:

1. Buy a ticket from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City

2. In Ho Chi Minh City, buy a bus ticket to the town of Sha Doc

3. Stay overnight at a hotel or guest house**

4. Ask the guest house administrator to book a ticket for the route Sha Dok – Phnom Penh, and also clarify that in the morning you will need a transfer to the pier. (Last price approximately $35-40 + (possibly) $2 for transfer to the pier).

Customs service at the border checkpoint Kam Samnor – Vinh Xong known for her slowness. Be patient and go through the bureaucratic red tape. The entire journey will take you approximately 4 hours.

If you find yourself in Sha Dok before dark, then after staying in a guest house, don’t be too lazy to take a walk around the city. This walk will allow you not only to get acquainted with the way of life of the local residents and enjoy culinary delights in the cafe, but will also allow you to understand what prices for this route are from other sellers and will give you the opportunity to get your bearings and find out where the local port is.

water boundary Laos – Cambodia.

House Kralor - Ven Ham is the name of the border point.

Opening hours: from 7:00 to 17:00.

Making your route from Laos to Cambodia along the river is generally a good idea. It is absolutely true that the life of river inhabitants is very interesting and very different from the rest of the population. However, it is worth noting that you will have to pay a lot for this route. Traveling on water is not a budget-friendly pleasure. And in the case of crossing the Cambodia-Laos border, this especially hits your pocket.

Important: this route is only possible during the rainy season or immediately after it ends. It is also important to note that cases of robbery have been observed at this border.

LAND ROUTES

Not so long ago it was believed that crossing the border with Cambodia by land was unsafe, but this opinion has long since sunk into oblivion. Posts are now open on the borders with Vietnam, Thailand and Laos, and crossing the border is not a difficult or dangerous undertaking. However, it is important to note the fact that despite the abundance of border points on the borders of these states, some of them may be closed to foreigners. For the latest and more accurate information, we recommend that you look at this resource

The most common type of transport for traveling by road is a bus. Of course, you can take any of the routes listed below by any other ground transport: taxi, motorcycle, bicycle, etc. However, we will focus on the description of travel by bus, because... in general, the procedures will be the same for both.

Laos – Cambodia
House Kralor - Ven Ham– the border point is the same as when traveling along the river. Next by minibus to Phnom Penh.
Important: cases of robbery have been observed on this border (Laos - Cambodia).

Thailand – Cambodia

Poipet – Aranya Prathiet

The transition is convenient for those who are planning to visit.

Opening hours: from 7:00 to 20:00.

The Poipet – Aranya Prathiet border remains the cheapest border crossing point between Thailand and Cambodia. The bus route passes through the eastern part of Thailand and the western part of Cambodia. The experience of this route is guaranteed to be unforgettable.

1. Buy a ticket from Moscow to Bangkok

2. From Bangkok to the border with Cambodia, or rather to the border point Poipet – Aranya Prathiet, you can get there using the following options:

2.1. Buy a bus ticket along the route Bangkok – Siem Reap. The cheapest tickets in Bangkok can be booked in the Banglampu area and, of course, on Khao San Road. A ticket for this route costs approximately $25-30 (The price includes: payment for a Bangkok-Siem Reap bus ticket, the services of an English-speaking consultant, visa applications and drinking water).

2.2. You can reach the border by train. It departs from Bangkok Central Station twice a day. A one-way train ticket to the Thai border costs 48 baht and takes approximately 6 hours. If you want to cross the border between Thailand and Cambodia in one day, you need to catch the train, which leaves at 5:55 am.

2.3. For the most experienced, we can suggest a route used by the majority of the local population. From Mo Chit (central bus station) you can get to the northern part of Aranya Prathet and then take a tuk-tuk * directly to the Poipet - Aranya Prathet border point.

3. There are three main tourist destinations from Poipet: Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and Battambang. Let's stop in the direction of Siem Reap.

You will get to Siem Reap when it is already dark. We recommend that you make a reservation in a hotel or guest house in advance, because... The bus driver will take you to the hotel with which he has an agreement. As a rule, these are not very clean and not very nice places, and also with inflated prices for accommodation. The presence of such a fact is not a cause for concern. Tuk-tuk drivers will take you from the place where the bus will take you to your chosen hotel or guest house without any problems.

Tuk-tuk is a local vehicle, which is a motorcycle or moped and a stroller attached to it.

You can easily purchase bus tickets for all of the above destinations in Poipet. However, we strongly recommend that you provide yourself with tickets in Bangkok to avoid becoming a victim of scammers.

Important: The company that sells you tickets for the destination Bangkok – Siem Reap, should offer you assistance when crossing the border. Typically there is an additional $10 fee for this service. For those who do not feel very confident or are visiting Cambodia for the first time, we strongly recommend using help. Company employees are required to assist you directly at the border checkpoint, indicate directions of movement and coordinate the actions of your group. Try not to lose sight of them. You will immediately feel the flavor of Cambodia and the resonance in comparison with Thailand. You will be transported throughout Thailand on a comfortable, double-decker bus with air conditioning and a toilet. Roads in Thailand are in excellent condition. However, as soon as you set foot in Cambodia, the world around you will turn upside down. You will spend the road to Siem Reap on a completely different bus. And the road itself still leaves much to be desired...especially during the rainy season. But if you decide to go to Cambodia and get a lot of impressions, then this road is exactly what you need!

Vietnam – Cambodia

Bavet – Mok Bai.

Unfortunately, this route is not very picturesque or vibrant. The road mainly passes through flat terrain. But, despite this fact, this transition is very convenient, because the road from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, including all passport and visa control procedures and customs, will take you about 5-6 hours.

To follow this route, you need:

1. Buy a ticket from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City.

2. In Ho Chi Minh City, buy a ticket for the bus following the route Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh. You can book the cheapest tickets in the Pham Ngu Lao area. The average price ranges from $9 to $12 and depends on the services provided (escort at the border, consultation with an English-speaking guide, availability of drinking water, etc.) and the quality of the bus.

Choose the bus departure time from Ho Chi Minh City - the earlier the better. This will allow you to arrive in Phnom Penh before dark, which will simplify your movements around the city in search of a temporary location. Of course, you can book a hotel or guest house in advance.

OTHER BORDER POINTS:

We will briefly talk about other points.

There are rumors about the imminent opening of another checkpoint on the Cambodia-Vietnam border. It will connect the Cambodian coastal towns of Kep or Kampot with Phu Coc Island in Vietnam, meaning independent travelers will have the opportunity to discover truly divine views of both islands.

Not long ago, the Prek Chak [Cambodia] – Xa Xia [Vietnam] point opened. When traveling from Kep or Kampot to Vietnam, this point is the best option. This route is not only convenient, but also very interesting, because... combines the picturesque coast of Cambodia and the most beautiful views of the island of Phu Kok. Due to the fact that this point has opened recently, there is still a risk that there may be problems with regular transport. That is why we advise you to use the services of a motorcycle taxi, the cost of which will be: from Kampong Trach $3, Kep $6 or Kampot $9, directly to the border crossing point, and then, already in Vietnam, take a motorcycle taxi and get to the nearest town Ha Tien, which, like Sha Doc, is located in the Mekong Delta. The price for the entire journey from the border to the city will be approximately $2.

Also, the relatively new point O'Yadau [Cambodia] - Le Tan [Vietnam] connects the Cambodian province of Ratanakiri and the central highlands of Vietnam. The journey can take you more than 5 hours and is quite tiring.

In the west of Cambodia there are several points connecting, to put it mildly, little-known cities that are not even always marked on maps. These are the points Trapeng Plong [Cambodia] - Xa Mat [Vietnam] and Trapeng Sre [Cambodia] - Loc Ninh [Vietnam].

Xa Mat is likely to be convenient for those traveling from or to Ho Chi Minh City and want to discover the Cao Dai Temple. Also, after roads were restored in both countries, this route will be popular among those traveling between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap.

The point on the Banteay Chakray [Cambodia] – Dong Thap [Vietnam] border is located far from the usual tourist routes. It is not popular among foreign tourists.

Transit air ticket – an air ticket for a transit flight. A transit flight, in turn, is a flight that involves a transfer at an intermediate airport.

There are several options to get from Koh Chang to Cambodia:

• you can go to (via Aranyaprathet city)
• you can go to (via Koh Kong).

In any case, you will first have to get to the pier, then take a ferry to the mainland, and then take a bus to the Cambodian border. And then it all depends on whether you travel through a local agency or buy all the tickets separately yourself.

• Through an agency or online. You buy a single ticket, drive to the border, cross the border yourself, and on the other side the necessary bus is already waiting for you, which will take you to your destination (Siem Reap or Sihanoukville). Everything is the same if you buy a single ticket via the Internet (you can see prices and buy on this website).
• On one's own. Each time you buy a ticket for only one part of the journey - you drive independently from your hotel on Koh Chang to the pier, buy a ferry ticket, go there to the city of Trat, buy a ticket to the border, cross the border, on the Cambodian side you buy a ticket to the desired city.

In general, it is obvious that buying a single ticket is much easier, and you don’t need to constantly worry that you won’t make it somewhere - they will always be waiting for you.

2. Features of obtaining a Cambodian visa

In general, I’ve read various horror stories about the Cambodian border, how everyone is trying to deceive you, get more money, they don’t take you on the right bus, so you have to take a taxi, etc. In general, of course, I was a little afraid to go, but with fears I need to fight, and I still really wanted to go to Cambodia for a long time, so I decided to try everything from my own experience.

The first unpleasant moment, which all independent travelers from Thailand to Cambodia write about, is that at the border, instead of the required 20$ for Cambodian visa first in some left office they demand 40$ (where they are brought specially by bus under the guise that only here you can get a visa), and then (if you did not buy into the persuasion and went straight to the border), the border guards will still demand some additional money from you (usually 100 baht above). All this information bothered me, I decided to minimize the risk of any conflicts at the border, so I applied for an electronic Cambodian visa in advance.

You can apply for a visa at an official Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Visa cost 25$ plus $3 for registration via the Internet (or for payment by card, I don’t remember, we applied for it back in Moscow so that I could immediately take a printout with me). By the way, there is such a feature in Southeast Asian countries: often if you pay for something on the Internet with a visa/mastercard from foreign banks, a commission is charged. For example, when purchasing tickets for airasia.com I was charged an additional commission.

As a result, the cost of the visa turned out to be more expensive than the standard price 20$+100baht, but I was calm and saved my nerves, and as a bonus I saved space in my passport, because... The electronic visa is not pasted in there, but the regular one takes up the entire page :)

The peculiarity of the e-visa is that it is not accepted at all Cambodian borders, as for the borders with Thailand, accepted only here:

• Cham Yeam (Koh Kong);
• Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey)

Therefore, there was no particular choice, I went through Poipet. The route plan was to first go to Siem Reap, look at, and then to Sihanoukville by the sea, and from there return to.

3. Where to buy a ticket to Cambodia on Koh Chang

It is convenient that on Koh Chang you can immediately buy a ticket to Siem Reap, which includes travel through Koh Chang to the ferry, ferry, travel to the border, change of bus and then on another bus to Siem Reap. You can, of course, get there on your own by transfer, buying tickets at local bus stations, but in my opinion it’s not worth it, and, oddly enough, it will be more expensive. Therefore, the easiest way is to buy the entire ticket.

There are a lot of tourist offices on the island, I chose at random the one that was on the way to the beach. Interestingly, the girl from this office happened to have a book of reviews with Russian reviews :) I paid for the ticket 300 baht, very good price for such a long distance. I bought my ticket three days before the trip; the day before, you must come up and confirm that you are definitely going.

You can also buy such a ticket online, for example, on this website. You don’t need to go to an agency; you can even buy it at the travel planning stage.

Departure was promised at 7 am, and arrival in Siem Reap at 19.00, which I didn’t really believe, because... Reviews on the internet told a completely different story.

4. The road to the border of Thailand and Cambodia

On the appointed day, I checked out of the hotel and 6.55 I saw a minibus near the hotel (like our regular minibus), where I went to find out if they had come for me. There were several minibuses, I just approached the drivers, showed my ticket and asked if it was my bus. After some time, the right one was found, and I booted into 7.05 we went. Also on the minibus was a family of strange foreigners (maybe Swedes?) and a German. We drove to other hotels, collected more passengers and went to the pier.

IN 8.00 arrived at the pier. The minibus remained on the first floor, all passengers rode on the second, where you could also buy some food (all sorts of snacks, instant noodles, etc. I didn’t feel like eating at all, it seemed like I had been poisoned the day before, I don’t know.

At 9.20 We arrived by ferry to the mainland, again loaded into the minibus, and drove on. Interestingly, we stopped at the station where I had already been, and picked up several passengers there.

At 10.10 stop in Chanthaburi for a snack and toilet. It’s like I’m having deja vu :) Probably, the last time I was there, someone was also traveling to Cambodia...

At 10.30 We drove on, there were no more stops for food, we drove straight to the border. First, however, we stopped at a cafe, where everyone was given forms to fill out for a visa. But I said that I already had a visa, they gave me an immigration card, stuck a sticker on me instead of a ticket and put me in a songthaew.

Stop at Aranyaprathet to fill out visa documents

5. Passage of the Thai-Cambodian border

Approximately at 13.30 stopped in front of the border from Thailand. In general, everything is intuitive, where to go, there are signs and inscriptions everywhere, so it’s difficult to get lost. The only thing that bothered me all the time was that I didn’t know how to go further, because all the passengers with whom I was traveling stayed somewhere there, in a cafe... But it’s amazing that every time I came to the right place, and they showed me where to go, which bus to take to get to Siem Reap.

Checkpoint on the border from Thailand

The clock says 14.05. In half an hour I crossed the border of Thailand, they pulled the immigration card out of my passport, put a stamp, and I went out into the city. Again, everything is clear, there is a sign to the right, the official issuance of visas (for those who don’t have one yet), straight ahead - the road to the border.

After this arch, the territory between the two states begins, this is not Cambodia yet, we have not yet passed the Cambodian border:

At 14.16 I stood in line at the border; there were a decent number of people.

The surroundings immediately changed, there are no longer so many bikes, but there are full of carts that the Cambodians pulled directly on themselves.

Wow, that's a load!

No one asked me for money, although I saw how a young lady with a child accosted some foreigner. He just passed by, no one chased him or demanded anything :)

At 15.16 I finally crossed the Cambodian border and reached a stop where there were a lot of people with backpacks. Again I asked where I should go if I wanted to go to Siem Reap, they told me to wait. In general, along the entire route there are people who show that they are engaged in transferring tourists across the border. And there is always someone who identifies your sticker and tells you to follow him :) So there’s nothing to worry about, you can be calm, you won’t get lost, the main thing is to ask and be visible.

6. Road from the Thai border to Siem Reap

At 15.36 gathered people into a bus, which took us to the stop. There we already boarded the bus to Siem Reap and at 16.06 go.

Here the bus was completely ordinary, not a minibus, but a large one, with air conditioning and a TV (movies were shown in English all the way).

Unlike the reports that I read before the trip, the wait everywhere was very short (someone wrote that they waited an hour and a half for a bus, that they were told that there would be no more buses, etc.). Maybe I was lucky, I don’t know, but everything went pretty smoothly. There was no need to pay anything extra anywhere. Although before boarding the last bus, the guy who gathered everyone on this bus asked for 100 baht, I asked why, he didn’t ask for anything else :) Apparently, just in case, they’ll suddenly give it :)

At 17.53 We arrived at the restaurant, the menu is:

I still didn’t feel like eating, and I had food with me (bananas, bread, juice) that I never ate. We sat there for a little less than an hour, it was already dark.

I read that a tuktuker should take you from the station to the hotel for $1, and for this amount he can take you to several hotels if nothing has been booked in advance. But it so happened that I was almost the last one to get off the bus, and most of the tuktukers had already been dismantled. One didn’t take me (I don’t know why), and the other told me for a long time how far my hotel was, that it would take me only for $3. We made a deal for $2 if he would then take me around Angkor. The next day I just wanted to relax and not get up at 5 am, so we agreed on a day later, and we weren’t talking about any specific route, but just for the whole day around Angkor. The reports wrote that $15 is the normal price for a tuktuker to ride all day around any temples you like. Therefore, without hesitation, I agreed. Read about what came of it