Visa run to Poipet, Cambodia

[khunsanuk]

It's that time... Visa Run. You only have one day and you need to be back in Bangkok for an evening dinner date. Can you do it? Sure... No problem.

 

There are a few alternatives about how to travel, but the bus is probably the most reliable and comfortable. So this article will concentrate on this mode exclusively.

 

First go to the Mor Chit Mai (New) Northern bus terminal. It's very close to the JatuJuk (Chatuchuk) Weekend Market. Bus #77 from Mor Chit BTS (skytrain) will take you there. It's the last station on the northern BTS extension. (Station N8 on the BTS Tourist Map.) Or, you grab a taxi and tell him "Mor Chit Mai - Bus"... He'll understand.

 

When you get there, go to the ground floor ticket booth #30 or #31 and get a RETURN ticket to Aranyaprathet for B295 (10% discount for the return, B164 single). If you take the 8:30 am bus, you will be in Aranyaprathet by 12:30. You do not have to commit to a return time and can book it when you get there. I got the 2:30 PM bus back and arrived back at Mor Chit by 7 PM. Obviously, if you can get the 6:30 bus you can get back to Bangkok that much earlier.

 

NOTE: In Aranyaprathet, the return bus leaves every hour, on the HALF-hour. So time yourself so that you won't end up missing a bus by 2 minutes like I did... If you do, you will have to sit around the Aranyaprathet bus station for an hour.

 

When you arrive at Aranyaprathet, you can take a Tuk Tuk for B50 to the border. No need to bargain, as the price is well known, so don't let them try and charge you more. You just get into the Tuk Tuk, tell the Driver "Cambodia - B50". That should cut off any attempt to over-charge you.

 

At the drop off from the Tuk Tuk, which is at a large border market, look down far to the right and you will see a bunch of Thai flags, which indicate the Thai end of the border.

 

The border is a bit of a shitty area. It's full of amputees, beggars and kids of 2 and 3 years old that are perfectly capable of picking a Farang pocket. There is a fairly good market for basic stuff with good prices, but the kids begging and following you around will spoil that for you.

 

Watch out for all those little kids... They will crowd up to you, looking for any kind of handout or anything they can steal from you. Don't be afraid to wave them away... and NEVER give any of them ANYTHING... Not even a candy. It will make you a target. Just NEVER PUSH OR HIT any of them... If they shove an open umbrella at you or your girlfriend just push it away on the umbrella stem. Don't touch the kid. Keep walking and don't look or talk with them... and don't let them get too close... Watch your pockets and bags. They will eventually get the message and look for another "Mark".

 

Pass through the Thai Immigration exit on the Left. DON'T FORGET TO GET AN "EXIT" STAMP. You will need to pay any Late Fine you may owe, at this time. Next you enter a scruffy 50 meters or so 'No Man's Land' between the 2 countries.

 

Soon after you cross over this bit of road, you will see an office on your right side (Cambodia drives on the right, like the USA) and there you apply for the Cambodian visa. Some guy will approach you to provide you with the forms and help you fill them out. He will then ask for B1100. The visa is B1000 (about US$20) but there is a well-entrenched B100 surcharge.

 

From the B1,100 quoted above:

The B1,000 is the Cambodian Visa. The B100 is a tip to the guy who tries to help you fill out the forms... (I just gave him B20 for using his pen.) BTW, he keeps the forms hidden under his papers in the corner of the counter... He will also make sure you fill out both the Visa form and the Arrival/Departure form correctly. Better to pay him something then to hassle with trying to find them... Or pay him the B100 and save yourself any problems about filling out the forms wrong. BTW - Don't forget you need a photo for the Cambodian Visa form.

 

You then go a further 40 meters or so to the Immigration entry point into Cambodia. Here the Cambodian Immigration guy will also want another B100 fee (???) for quick turn around at the Cambodian Entry Stamp window. If you refuse to pay it he will threaten to keep you at the border until 5 PM. If you just pay it there is no extra hassle at the Departure window... (If you don't pay it then they will try and get it when you present yourself to get your Exit Stamp.) Just remind yourself that it takes B500 to get out of Bangkok by air... so this little added charge is cheap in comparison.

 

BTW... if they do hold you in Cambodia until 5 PM, YOU ARE SCREWED... The Thai side Visa office closes at 5PM. So you will be stuck in Cambodia until the next day. Pay the B100 baht... it's not worth the frustration and hassle... Remember these guys are in control of your life... Don't fuck with them. You'll regret it later.

 

You then cross the road, turn around, STOP at the Cambodian Immigration Office on this side and get your EXIT STAMP. Finally you exit Cambodia. Walk the 50 meters back to the Thai entry gate, which is on the left, fill out the forms (have a photo handy, just in case) and then you are back in Thailand having had a 30 second holiday in Cambodia.

 

NOTE: CHECK THE DATES on your new Arrival Stamp BEFORE leaving the Thai Immigration Window. They screwed up once and only marked it for a 1 Month Tourist Visa instead of for the 3 Month Non-Immigrant "B" status I was entitled to. Luckily I caught it and they fixed it immediately. If not, I would have been stuck paying a 2 month Over-Stay Fine.

 

Pay the Tuk Tuk another B50 back to Aranyaprathet and you can try to catch the 2.30 pm bus, or an earlier one if you got an early start out of Bangkok.

 

Last piece of advice... Bring a girlfriend along with you to cuddle with on the trip... it's a better idea then sharing a seat with a stranger who can't talk with you.

 

Total cost of the trip... approximately B1,595 - depending on your choices, not including food or girlfriend.

 

I hope this helps anyone thinking of doing it.

 

CosmicSurfer