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Poipet, Cambodia Border Crossing – The legendary scam route in South East Asia
Several years ago, I embarked on an overland journey from Bangkok city (Thailand) to Siem Ream (Cambodia). The entire journey turned out to be an absolute nightmare and I was left completely gutted as I was being ripped-off left, right and centre. To put it mildly, this experience left a bitter taste of my visit to Cambodia.
Left discontent with the situation, I decided to re-attempt this journey again in hope that things will be better this time round.
In this episode of One Last Stint, Lyvonn and I will be making this very same journey together. Starting with a train ride in the wee hours of the morning towards Aranyaprathet, then a short tuk-tuk ride to the border of of Thailand. From there we cross over to casino city Poipet (Cambodia) and then a taxi ride straight to Siem Reap. All in all, the journey is expected to take anywhere between 8 -11 hours.
In getting to our destination, we dealt with 2 major scams. In contrary to my previous experience, I was ripped off even from Bangkok city. I suppose things has gotten better, in a way. First scam, the visa application to enter Cambodia, The second scam – which I have to admit is something new, the Government Bus otherwise known as "The company".
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you mentioned border crossing scams? But you give very little information as to what they are all I seen was people trying to sell food and taxi rides? I will be traveling to Thailand and was thinking about going to Cambodia. the local scams I’m not to worry about. I was wondering if there was more political government scams? thank you
Hi Rodney,
Here are some of them to watch our for.
1. Getting a tuk tuk ride – typical of Asian countries, there are no meters, even if there is one, they’ll choose not to use it. So expect to haggle. Acceptable fare for this short 20 mins journey is 40-60 BHT (yes I overpaid).
2. The tuk tuk ride to the border – they will without a doubt take you to the supposed “visa processing office”. Visa are issued either online or on arrival once you’ve crossed the border to Cambodia side)
3. The bus company supposedly financially backed by the government hence known as the “Government bus”. They’ll pick you up and drop you at a bus station few kilometers away from the border. Once there, your only choice of transportation will be their overpriced bus or taxi services. In addition they will not drop you directly into the heart of Siem Reap. More details available in video interview “Poipet, Cambodia Border Crossing – An Interview with a local ” (search on it)
Name the Company you chicken..
Hi Danny, you can find the further details about the “Company” via my subsequent “Poipet, Cambodia Border Crossing – An Interview with a local ” video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOGIcjnD5og
G’luck and I hope you’ll find the information you’re after.
Cheapest way to get to Poipet from Bangkok is to take one of the gambler’s buses. They’ll take you directly to the casino zone on the border. They don’t really cater to foreigners, but indicating an interest in the casinos got me on board.
Back in 2007, I had this same incident happen to me, man what a headache it was!. Overall, Cambodia is a beautiful country and I would go back in a heartbeat!.
I think some parts of your video needs subtitle as I can’t really hear the words you said due to the noisy audio from the raw video.. Anyway thanks for the informative video. Wish me luck, I’m going there next week.
-from Singapore
Hi there. Appreciate it’s hard to make out the words with the background noise. I’ve taken the liberty of subtitling the video. You’ll just need to use the close captions function.
im English and i live in Cambodia and done that crossing lots of times,boy you did every thing wrong man,from getting the train to crossing the border,who ever told you to do it that way scammed you,
tony tig from.what i see the guy is right..it seems like u are the one that is misinformed..i been to cambodia and i wouldnt want to live there…well i got scammed with currency…when u get a bus from khao san road and when one reaches the cambodian border these khmer assholes will board the bus claiming theres no atms in siem reap or cambodia..well i was silly i did change my money and the bloody atms in siem reap u can actually take out usd…well thats one scam…and simce u live in cambodia how do u explain the black market counterfeit notes on the streets in phnom penh…well maybe times have changed as this was almost 10 years back but cambodia lol..way way way far from development
BEWARE OF SCAMS…THANK U FOR YOUR INFO…Its trife all round from the whole of indonchina and possibly all SE Asia….from a very experienced SE Asian traveller…all countries visited most in detail
tony tig what he did was correct its aranyapratet the thai border and then poipet…so how is he wrong..other option is to yravel by bus either from tour minibus from a tour agency and transfer to some crap bus that is ready to fall apart anytime in cambodia…or he can get public coach bus…what else could he have done hike,hitchhike,car rental,fly,crawl..so u answer me how the bloody hell is he wrong with route?
tony tig whats wrong with train to Aran?
Matt Baseley theres a bus from Mo Chit bkk now,totally kosher no bus change I think.Iv seen utube of it.Better than those Khaosan boys
Very interesting.
Hello please help me with is info. Is that train you took available sundays? Frontier is also open sundays? thank you!!
Try http://www.seat61.com/Cambodia.htm#.V6gbjJMrJE4. I think they do operate everyday since a lot of local does go to the border to gamble. There is no casino in Thailand so they have to go to the Cambodia border. When I went, I took a bus, it cost me about 212 baht and the bus have AC. The only reason I took it because it was faster than train and the people at my hotel was confusing me. Asking me why I want to go there (this was a 5 stars hotel). They were helpful though. Try asking your hotel front desk for some info, they will make a call to the bus or train station for you.
Normal price for Tuk-Tuk from train station to border is THB 50.
Good thing I didn’t find a bus agency you’re talking about when I went in 2011. I did saw a bus stand after exiting visa entry processing house. FYI to whoever going to the visa entry building (Cambodia side), put like 35 baht under or over your visa paper. You’ll get to exit faster. I saw bunch of local doing it. When it was my turn I just turn in my visa and they kept looking at me for a long time. Make me fill out some paper work. I waited like 10 mins for them to finish up. If you need visa, do e-visa ahead of time. The tuk tuk divers are instructed to have foreigner drop off at the visa scam building. Even if the driver understood you, they won’t listen to you. Most likely they are afraid of the gangsters running the scam. Once you’re on the Cambodia side negotiate taxi fare to Siem Reap. I shared with 2 other Foreigners and cost about $10 a piece. I think it’s about 3 hours drive. So if you’re on the Bus or Train going to Poi-pet, find someone to share tuk tuk & Taxi to Siem Reap.
thanks , and good for you , it’s best to do the husseling, than to be husseld. …
You have a really good, natural, on camera presence. I wish you much luck with your endeavors!
Brilliant video…thanks for the insight.
kinda curious about what happened to them.. last videos were of vietnam? supposedly a rtw trip.
we crossed border at Poipet into Thailand with Intrepid travel and it was a breeze, all sorted we had to walk a fair distance, but the cold beer at the restaurant in Thailand was worth it
Awesome Greg! Glad you made it in a breeze. Nothing beats a cold beer at the end especially in the sweltering heat!
YEP!