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What are the experiences and challenges of crossing from Poipet, Cambodia into Thailand?

Poipet border crossingThailand immigrationvisa rulesborder run experiencestourist visaE-visamulti-entry visavisa exemptionCambodia bordertravel tips
Feb 12, 2024
9 months ago
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I traveled to Poipet, Cambodia for a border run today. I drove there with my wife and friends who stayed on the Thailand side. Arrived at 1:00 pm. It took about 2 hours from exiting Thailand to entering Thailand. The only complication was exiting Cambodia, the Customs Agent wouldn’t stamp my passport until I talked to the Customs Officer at a nearby desk. He simply warned me that if Thailand doesn’t let me back in, then I could have a problem . I thanked him, got my stamp and proceeded to Thailand Immigration without any issue.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Many users shared their experiences and challenges regarding the Poipet border crossing into Thailand. Some travelers successfully navigated the border with proper documentation and a tourist E-visa, while others recounted difficulties and long wait times. Concerns about the unpredictability of Poipet were raised, with some suggesting other more favorable border crossings. Tips for crossing include dressing appropriately, having sufficient funds, and understanding the limitations on border runs. The discussions underscore the varying degrees of success at this border, especially for those attempting to enter Thailand with a visa-exempt status.
Benny ***********
Military 👨‍✈️
9 months ago
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Tom *********
Cambodia is the worst crossing point except for Myanmar. I've used every country bordering Thailand except Malaysia. Nong Khai/Vientiane Lao is my favorite border run. Always smooth. No problems with 2 turn around entries.
9 months ago
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Stacey ****************
I did NOT have the same experience. Went into Cambodia paid for visa, shopped for a couple hours and when I went to leave Cambodia they warned Thailand immigration views it as an immigration law violation and had routinely been not accepting people back in on same day travel. Sure enough, was detained at the border for several hours and told I was violating Thai law. They sent me back to Cambodia. Fortunately Cambodia officials canceled my exit stamp after holding me for a couple hours and did not make me pay for a new one. I got a hotel 1.5 Km from border as my wife stayed across the border in Thailand in another as she didn’t have her passport with her (5 hours from our home in Thailand).

I was on a tourist visa at that time.
9 months ago
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Graham ******
@Stacey ***************
 Were you really doing a (Multi-entry) Tourist Visa re-entry to get a new 60 days entry stamp or were you re-entering to get a new Visa Exempt 30 day entry stamp?
9 months ago
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Stacey ****************
@Graham *****
 it was on a tourist stamp last year
9 months ago
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Stacey ****************
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Robert **********
Poipet is a nightmare. Ban Pakkad is a breeze. And a lot more scenic trip both sides.
9 months ago
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Andreas *********
he would most probably not have succeeded if he did a border bounce by himself without a visa. Trying to enter Thailand visa-exempt in Poipet on yourself is not recommended. You should pay a "Visa Run Agency" to take you there and back. They grease the wheels at the border. . . . in case he re-entered on a multi entry visa, then no wonder it was kinda streamlined, because this is what these visa-categories are created for
9 months ago
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John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andreas ********
 not a multi-entry visa. I had a single-entry 60 day tourist e-visa. I just remained calm all the way through the process. I considered it as an adventure.
9 months ago
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John *********
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Alex *******
If you were on a tourist visa you were extremely lucky to have made back.

The border bounce success rate in Poipet is ZERO.
9 months ago
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Jhon *******
@Alex ******
 not according to many comments on this post.Do you have first hand knowledge?
9 months ago
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Frazer ******
@Jhon ******
 We had to spend the night in Cambodia before returning to Thailand.
9 months ago
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Jhon *******
sorry to hear, i crossed there many years ago , wasn;t a particularly pleasant experience, only thing that had then changed were the Khumer Rouge uniforms the officers were wearing.
9 months ago
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Jhon *******
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Heidi *****
Now after reading all these comments, I'm worried. We are due to cross the border from Poi Pet on Thursday as tourists. Should we rethink where we cross???
9 months ago
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John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Heidi ****
 there was no problem doing a “border run” at Poi Pet on February 12,2023. Advise to dress properly (no tank top or super short shorts. Don’t speak first, let them speak first. I was in Cambodia for 15 minutes. Total time for border crossing was 2 hours. You are allowed 2 land border runs every year. If you need more in a year, you have to fly to another country and return by air. You can do unlimited flights out/in for any given year, but only 2 land border crossings per year.
9 months ago
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Stéfan ********
@Heidi ****
 I cross that border 4-5 times a year. Never a problem. It’s people doing border runs and living in Bangkok (as it’s the closest border to that that city) on visa exemptions who encounter problems.
9 months ago
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John ********
@Heidi ****
 yes laos or if you're in hua hin Myanmar
9 months ago
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John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 Ratchaburi immigration recommended avoid Myanmar land border crossings although others have done it recently.
9 months ago
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Billy *******
@John *******
 How is Myanmar these days?
9 months ago
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Stéfan ********
@Billy ******
 only opened to Burmese and Thais
9 months ago
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John ********
@Stéfan *******
 not true I went there 4 days ago
9 months ago
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Stéfan ********
@John *******
 what’s not true? You mean Myanmar is now open to all?
9 months ago
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John ********
@Stéfan *******
 I can show u ou my stamp from saturday
9 months ago
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Stéfan ********
@John *******
 that's great news then. Good for you!
9 months ago
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Stéfan ********
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Heidi *****
@Jo**
 I'm currently in Cambodia was heading to Battambang and thought about crossing after that
9 months ago
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John ********
@Heidi ****
 I only have experience w poi prt and it is the armpit of Cambodia. If you c a n afford it fly out of the airport
9 months ago
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Billy *******
@John *******
 I heard Thais and Cambodians just walk back and forth for markets, that it was loosey goosey. No?
9 months ago
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Heidi *****
@Jo**
 unfortunately its a little too expensive for our budget this trip. Should we perhaps go from Battambang to Palin then onto Chanthaburi instead?
9 months ago
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Heidi *****
We made it through Poi pet without drama and it didn't take long at all
9 months ago
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Stephen *********
@Heidi ****
 maybe better. I had no problems at Chanthaburi. No ATMs at border though. Get Thai baht in Cambodia
9 months ago
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Andreas *********
@Heidi ****
 you can use Ban Pakkad or Ban Laem easily to get back into Thailand. Or if you are far up north Cambodia, cross at Chong Chom. Easy and friendly border. Poipet is treacherous for same-day border bouncers, but since you have stayed in Cambodia for a holiday, you needn't worry about not getting back to Thailand
9 months ago
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Heidi *****
@And****
 so since we've been in Cambodia and can show proof of departure from Thailand we should be fine? Sorry if that sounds silly, since I'm travelling with my son I'm fiercely over protective
9 months ago
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Andreas *********
@Heidi ****
 yes, it is always good when you enter Thailand coming from Cambodia, without a visa for Thailand, if you can show 20,000.- THB/ 40.000.- THB for a family, in cash (or equivalent in another currency) and proof of accomodation for the next 2 days and a proof of onward travel out of Thailand within the 30 days you will get stamped into Thailand . . .you CAN be asked or you won't be asked. It is up to the discretion of the Immigration officer. I would not worry too much. You will be fine, nobody will harass you at the border as you are a "normal" tourist who travels South East Asia with her son
9 months ago
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Maxim ***********
@Heidi ****
 Any Cambodian border not named Poi Pet is very easy to leave from and enter Thailand.
9 months ago
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Maxim ***********
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Augustinas ***********
Poipet is not so good immigration border.

One time I had to stand in line for 3 hours and then got almost denied entry to thailand, they questioned many questions .

Gladly they let me in in the end…
9 months ago
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Andy **********
What did you do exactly?? Have you already got a visa?? Did you do a border bounce for a free visa exempt stamp?? A lot depends on your situation.
9 months ago
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John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy *********
 Activate a 60 day tourist e-visa. I am a US citizen, senior citizen and wearing proper clothing (not dressed as if I am at the beach). First land border crossing in years. No problem.
9 months ago
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Andy **********
@John ********
 that's why it was easy for you, I believe it's only a difficult border you have got a questionable history.
9 months ago
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Andy **********
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Frank **********
Congratulations. You just made a run at the worst border crossing. Glad you made it.
9 months ago
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Andreas *********
John N Kwan . . . you didn't mention it, however it would be helpful for other readers to know if you were on some kind of multi entry visa, or activating an E-visa, or entered Thailand visa-exempt
9 months ago
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John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andreas ********
 I arrived at Suvarnabhumi on November 1, 2023 on a visa waiver, extended for 30 more days. Flew to Korea for a week, applied for e-visa and received e-visa 2 weeks after arriving back in Thailand. Got a 30 day visa waiver at Suvarnabhumi. Got a 30 day visa extension. Then, land border crossing to Poi Pet and activated my 60 day tourist e-visa and in 2 months I’ll go to immigration to get a 30 day extension, then back to the US for 6 months. All done with no problem, except the e-visa took weeks to be approved.
9 months ago
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Andreas *********
@John ********
 everything by the book! Feel welcome
9 months ago
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Andreas *********
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Jonathan **************************
Lucky.

Poi Pet is regarded as the* worst possible place for border bounces.

The number of stories from Poi Pet of people getting rejected out of hand, including people who are blatantly genuine tourists with stays in multiple countries, is ridiculous.

Glad you made it back ok though.
9 months ago
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Jonathan **************************
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