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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
2 years 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.
2 years ago
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Janne ***********
danang was very nice,,stayed there 5 nights, very nice beach too, and very inexpensive
2 years 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
2 years ago
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Todd *********
We flew back from KL direct to Krabi (nice new terminal is now open). They asked for nothing
2 years ago
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Mani ******
Laaos Border run best
2 years ago
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Mitchell *******
Malaysia probably. Laos and Cambodia you need to buy a visa. Vietnam is ok depending on your passport.
2 years 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
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 if you go back to thailand from malaysia what are the requirements they will ask?
2 years 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)
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 if he doesnt have any bank is it okay to show the 20k baht?
2 years 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
2 years 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.
2 years 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.
2 years 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
2 years ago
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Henrik ****
@Michael *******
, 10k THB is the official requirement from MFA, but some embassies will tell you 20k THB.
2 years 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
2 years ago
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Henrik ****
@Stuart ********
, what do you say?
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Henrik ***
 not quite sure what you’re asking.
2 years 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?
2 years 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.
2 years 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.
2 years ago
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Henrik ****
@Michael *******
, seems strange.
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ***
 Just want to do a border bounce
2 years ago
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Henrik ****
@Mellicent **********
, how many border runs did you do already this (calendar) year?
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ***
 2 times in cambodia
2 years 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.
2 years 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.
2 years ago
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Graham ******
@Mellicent **********
 20k for Visa Exempt or Tourist Visa
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 what airport they ask for 20k? Suvanarbhumi or Don Mueang?
2 years 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.
2 years 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.
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 thank you for the info I thought they want bank statement
2 years ago
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Michael ********
@Mellicent **********
 bank statement is only when applying for a tourist visa.
2 years 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
2 years 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
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Rei **********
 that’s a plus and cost savings
2 years 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?
2 years 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
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Mellicent **********
 best low-cost airline in my opinion to use for the border bounce...
*****************************
2 years 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)
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
 what are the requirements in thailand? Did the IO ask you something?
2 years 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
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
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Henrik ****
Laos is expensive. The three others are more or less the same price.
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ***
 what are the requirements from the 3 countries?
2 years ago
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Graham ******
@Mellicent **********
 I guess that depends on what passport you hold
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 I have philippines passport
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
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Brandon ************
@Mellicent **********
 you need to look that up yourself based on your nationality
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 i have philippines passport
2 years 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.
2 years 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.
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thank you
2 years ago
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Mellicent ***********
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