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What is the best country for border bouncing by air from Thailand—Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, or Malaysia?

border runsvisa requirementsMalaysiaLaosCambodiaVietnamairfare comparisonThailand immigration
Jun 14, 2023
a year ago
Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
What is the best country to border bounce by air from Thailand? Is it Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or Malaysia?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When considering the best country for border bouncing by air from Thailand, Malaysia is frequently recommended for its ease of entry and no visa requirement. Other countries mentioned include Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, but travelers need to be mindful of visa costs. The discussion emphasizes checking airfare and the required cash proof for entry into Thailand upon return, with advice varying based on personal experiences.
Paul *******
Laos or Cambodia but only fly to the nearest domestic airport to the border then cross by land. For example, Nakorn Phanom. Or Udon Thani. Or Ubon Ratchathani. Or Chiang Rai. Or Loei. Or Nan. The closest to the border out of all of these is Nakorn Phanom.
a year ago
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Janne ***********
danang was very nice,,stayed there 5 nights, very nice beach too, and very inexpensive
a year ago
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John *******
Vietnam free entry book flight day return month in advance cheap as chips I believe

Expats in danang say
a year ago
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Todd *********
We flew back from KL direct to Krabi (nice new terminal is now open). They asked for nothing
a year ago
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Mani ******
Laaos Border run best
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
Malaysia probably. Laos and Cambodia you need to buy a visa. Vietnam is ok depending on your passport.
a year ago
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Michael ********
I would say malaysia, no cost for visa you dont lose a page of your passport in stamps. Singapore also good depends on airline deals
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 if you go back to thailand from malaysia what are the requirements they will ask?
a year ago
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Graham ******
Always have the "3 proofs" - proof of accommodation for at least your first few nights (hotel booking or a letter of invite from a Thai)

- proof of onward travel (international travel ticket leaving Thailand within your initial entry stamp exit by date)

- proof of funds (20,000 Baht or equivalent in any major currency in CASH per individual, or 40,000 for a family)
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 if he doesnt have any bank is it okay to show the 20k baht?
a year ago
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Michael ********
@Mellicent **********
 you have to have the cash any major currency will do.

They dont accept bank statements or showing apps
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 is it in thailand immigration? Because I worried when they come back to thailand from malaysia the Immigration in thailand will deny their entry at the suvarnabhumi because he have 2 border run already from cambodia and now he need to fly to any neighboring country to have a new stamp so he can stay in thailand for another 30 days.
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Mellicent **********
, that is a risk. Otherwise, an onward ticket in 30 days is the most common requirement being asked for. But they could also ask to see 10.000 THB and proof of accommodation. Or just deny entry.
a year ago
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Michael ********
@Henrik ***
 It says
*****
baht for Single traveller on official sites but years ago when i used to do border runs they actually asked to see
*****
baht
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Michael *******
, 10k THB is the official requirement from MFA, but some embassies will tell you 20k THB.
a year ago
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Michael ********
@Henrik ***
 Thought we were talking about immigration officers at airport not embassies. Personal experience IO always ask to see 20 k
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Stuart ********
, what do you say?
a year ago
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Stuart *********
@Henrik ***
 not quite sure what you’re asking.
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Stuart ********
, it is about the money to be shown on arrival on visa exempt/waiver - 10k or 20k THB?
a year ago
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Stuart *********
@Henrik ***
 I think the actual law states 10k per person, or 20k per family. Except that has always been interpreted as the amount for visa on arrival. For visa exempt if they ask you it’s going to be 20k per person or 40k per family. You won’t get any sway trying to cite the actual law.
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Stuart ********
, I remember from before that the Washington Embassy says 20k (40k) but the MFA site says 10k (20k). But what happens in real life is what is important.
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Michael *******
, seems strange.
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ***
 Just want to do a border bounce
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Mellicent **********
, how many border runs did you do already this (calendar) year?
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ***
 2 times in cambodia
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Mellicent **********
, ok, then you may or may not but unlikely run into problems doing a border run by air. Pls. note below what
@Mitchell ******
 says about the need for a visa to the country you visit.
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ***
 no problem about the proof of accomodation because he has an apartment and also he has a 10k show money.
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Mellicent **********
 20k for Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 what airport they ask for 20k? Suvanarbhumi or Don Mueang?
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Mellicent **********
 All. Visa on Arrival is 10k and Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa is 20k, airport or land border.
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Mellicent **********
, then the only risk may come from being doing border runs many times already this year, if so? There are no official limits to visa exemptions by air.
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 thank you for the info I thought they want bank statement
a year ago
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Michael ********
@Mellicent **********
 bank statement is only when applying for a tourist visa.
a year ago
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Michael ********
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Jeremy ********
Malaysia is the easiest and cheapest, Vietnam depending on what passport you hold you will have to buy a visa so that increases the cost, Laos and Cambodia you will have to buy a visa so this increases the price ...other good ones are HK and Singapore
a year ago
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Rei ***********
@Jeremy *******
 as a Filipino passport holder, you don't need to buy a visa to Cambodia. Been there last week back and forth, no prob
a year ago
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Jeremy ********
@Rei **********
 that’s a plus and cost savings
a year ago
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Jeremy ********
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
 what are the requirements in malaysia if you go back to thailand?
a year ago
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Jeremy ********
@Mellicent **********
 have a plane ticket for onward travel if you don't have a valid visa....they might ask when you try to check in for your flight back to Thailand...digital is ok to have
a year ago
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Jeremy ********
@Mellicent **********
 best low-cost airline in my opinion to use for the border bounce...
*****************************
a year ago
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Jeremy ********
@Mellicent **********
 I have done border bounces where I have departed the plane, went through immigration, departed the arrival terminal walked to the departure terminal and checked in for a flight back to DMK all within 5 hours of landing, it was a day trip for me....I could have done a shorter border bounce but I planned for anything that could delay me (Immigration Queues, check in Queues, planes being late etc)
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
 what are the requirements in thailand? Did the IO ask you something?
a year ago
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Jeremy ********
@Mellicent **********
 the official answer is there is no limit on the amount of times one can fly in, however depending on the I/O and your history of 30 day visa exempt stamps you could be questioned, or they will say welcome to Thailand…nobody knows
a year ago
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Jeremy ********
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Henrik ****
Laos is expensive. The three others are more or less the same price.
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ***
 what are the requirements from the 3 countries?
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Mellicent **********
 I guess that depends on what passport you hold
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 I have philippines passport
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
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Brandon ************
@Mellicent **********
 you need to look that up yourself based on your nationality
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 i have philippines passport
a year ago
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Henrik ****
@Mellicent **********
, as Filipino you are entitled to visa exemption. So if this is your plan, then it is all about airfares, which are expensive to Laos but more or less the same for the three others.
a year ago
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Henrik ****
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Brandon ************
Wherever is cheapest when you take into account airfare and possibly a visa to enter the other country.
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thank you
a year ago
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Mellicent ***********
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