The Phnom Penh Visitors Guide 62nd

By Road

Visas

International Borders

To visit Cambodia, a visa is required for most nationalities. One-month visas are AVAILABLE ON ARRIVAL at the airports in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and at most border crossings. Tourist (T): US$30. Business/Ordinary (E): US$35 Tourist visas can be extended one time for 30 days. Ordinary visas can be extended up to one year at a time. Most travel/tour agents offer visa extensions at competitive prices. To DIY, go to the Immigration office opposite the Phnom Penh International Airport. Tel: 012-581558 At overland international border checkpoints with Thailand, visa prices are often set in Thai baht making them significantly more expensive than the official visa price in US dollars. Cambodia shares international border crossings with all neighboring countries. The Bavet/Moc Bai crossing with Vietnam is the most convenient crossing to Phnom Penh. Southern Cambodia is most easily accessed via the Koh Kong crossing with Thailand and the Prek Chak crossing with Vietnam. The nearest international crossing to Siem Reap is the checkpoint with Thailand at Aranyaprathet/ Poipet. Cambodian visas are available on-arrival at most border crossings. Border with Vietnam Bavet Checkpoint: Moc Bai, Vietnam / Bavet, Cambodia (National Route 1 to Phnom Penh) Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border. The Moc Bai crossing is the most convenient to Phnom Penh. The road is in good condition, including the new bridge over the Mekong River at Neak Loung City. No more waiting for the ferry! Bus: Several bus companies offer direct a/c service between Phnom Penh and HCMC for $10-$12, taking 6-7 hours. Deluxe buses such as Giant Ibis are more expensive but offer superior comfort and safety. In HCMC, most of the bus stations are in the Pham Ngu Lao area. International Borders

Ving Xuong, Vietnam/Kaam Samnor, Cambodia: ‘The Chau Doc Crossing’ Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border The ‘Chau Doc crossing’ on the Mekong River also offers direct access to/from Phnom Penh, and is interesting, in part, because it requires at least some river travel. From Phnom Penh there are three options. All can be purchased as package tickets. 1) Direct Ferry - Speed ferry from the Phnom Penh Port (map area E-11) to Chau Doc. 5 hours. $25-$30. 2) Bus and Boat - Bus from Phnom Penh to the border at Kaam Samnar in Kandal province and then a river ferry the rest of the way to Chau Doc. ($15-$20). 3) Slow boat (the old route) - Bus to Neak Luong, where Route #1 meets the Mekong (2 hours). At Neak Luong transfer to a local boat (5 hours to the border) then catch a motorcycle to Chau Doc. Phnom Den, Takeo, Cambodia/Tinh Bien, Vietnam Availability of Cambodian visas unknown. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border From Phnom Penh, take a shared taxi from Phsar Domkor to Phnom Den in Takeo province. Walk across the border to Tinh Bien. From Tinh Bien, take a motorcycle or taxi to Chau Doc about 10km north. Prek Chak, Cambodia/Xa Xia, Vietnam Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border This border crossing provides easy access between the coastal towns of southern Cambodia and the southern most part of Vietnam and Phu Quoc island. It is most directly accessed from Kampot/Kep.

Bus Schedules: PP-HCMC Giant Ibis (Deluxe a/c buses, $18/pax) PP-HCMC : 8:00, 12:30 HCMC-PP : 8:30, 12:30 Kumho Samco Bus line ($10/pax) PP-HCMC : 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 13:00, 15:00 HCMC-PP : 7:00, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 Phnom Penh Sorya Transport ($10/pax)

PP-HCMC : 6:45, 8:45, 12:45, 14:45 HCMC-PP : 6:45, 8:45, 12:45, 14:45 Sapaco Tourist ($16/pax)

PP-HCMC : 6:00, 7:30, 8:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00 HCMC-PP : 6:00, 7:30, 8:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 14:00 See bus companies and stations on page 79

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