No Entry at Poipet

W

windrider

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2011
Hi all ,,
tried to enter Cambodia at Poipet this afternoon,

No go ,

Did all the right stuff ,,out of Thailand no issue but got collared by a Cambodian Immigration guy and told that I MUST go to the Customs office before I leave town!

So I did and was advised that I could not take a Thai bike into Cambodia via Poipet unless I had a carnet or a government clearance document that cannot be issued on the spot,

Well I thought this was just a tea money issue ,,but I tried all angles and got a definite NO!!!

What the guy did tell me was that the smaller entry points are still ok ,,just not Poipet!!

Would like to hear from anyone else who has got through recently??

All was not bad as I was only going in for a visa run anyway ,,but if you want to do some touring then suggest that you confirm first or avoid Poipet.
 
If you were going in again would you be able you be able to avoid the customs situation ?


windrider said:
Hi all ,,
tried to enter Cambodia at Poipet this afternoon,

No go ,

Did all the right stuff ,,out of Thailand no issue but got collared by a Cambodian Immigration guy and told that I MUST go to the Customs office before I leave town!

So I did and was advised that I could not take a Thai bike into Cambodia via Poipet unless I had a carnet or a government clearance document that cannot be issued on the spot,

Well I thought this was just a tea money issue ,,but I tried all angles and got a definite NO!!!

What the guy did tell me was that the smaller entry points are still ok ,,just not Poipet!!

Would like to hear from anyone else who has got through recently??

All was not bad as I was only going in for a visa run anyway ,,but if you want to do some touring then suggest that you confirm first or avoid Poipet.
Click to expand...
 
Guess you could avoid it by not going to the office ,,but the immigration guy that is at the exit when you stamp in, suggested rather forcefully that I must go there and even to the degree of pointing out the building ,,(which is a big white one on the left down about 150 meters as you head out).

I must admit I didnt expect any issue ,,as have been in before at Koh Kong and Pailin several times with no issues!!
 
I'll let LivinLOs tell the story about our entry in through Poi Pet with his car little over two weeks ago....
Interesting...
 
any better news about crossing in Poipet lately? thnx
 
Dont get caught by the customs office at the roundabout.. If in doubt.. Gas it ;)

They only chase you for the first 50 kms or so !!
 
eheh nice one! :lostnah doesn't sound like the smoothest crossing mate..
seriously where should we cross..i am reading a bunch of 'no crossin/restrictions' here n there.......wtf

LivinLOS said:
Dont get caught by the customs office at the roundabout.. If in doubt.. Gas it ;)

They only chase you for the first 50 kms or so !!
Click to expand...
 
People were reporting O smach / Chong Jom being successful (they were given the same 'only this province' but no one took their papers)...

But the whole thing is a crapshoot these days it seems.. Not taking no for an answer goes a long way in cambo, same when the cops want fines, just refuse and wait em out.
 
mmh..a bit out of the way but will see..tell u what ,could give it a try in poipet then take it from there..see what happens.and definetly not takin no for an answer...:lol3 at end of the day is them losing visitors' cash. thanx


LivinLOS said:
People were reporting O smach / Chong Jom being successful (they were given the same 'only this province' but no one took their papers)...

But the whole thing is a crapshoot these days it seems.. Not taking no for an answer goes a long way in cambo, same when the cops want fines, just refuse and wait em out.
Click to expand...
 
I crossed into Cambodia at Poipet with my bike on 29th of December. They refused to to let us in unless we went to customs first. Customs said "NO!". Went back and paid the guard $20 and then they shut up about customs and opened the gate. It is all about bribes.

It used to be possible to cross via an alley used by casino staff. It may be shut nowadays but could be worth checking out if you want to save bribe money, and who doesn't? When they start harping about customs after you have stamped in you say you want to check out some casinos first...
 
class NR ..well done.let-s see how I feel .coming from bkk i could also avoid the crowd&hassle at poipet and give it a shot at Pailin first. there is also ko kong ..otherwise if they really don't want us ,z*ck Cambo and detour to K chang..

Nightrider70 said:
I crossed into Cambodia at Poipet with my bike on 29th of December. They refused to to let us in unless we went to customs first. Customs said "NO!". Went back and paid the guard $20 and then they shut up about customs and opened the gate. It is all about bribes.

It used to be possible to cross via an alley used by casino staff. It may be shut nowadays but could be worth checking out if you want to save bribe money, and who doesn't? When they start harping about customs after you have stamped in you say you want to check out some casinos first...
Click to expand...
 
At Poipet my system is always to leave Thailand.. Park in the casino, right up at the Cambo border point.. Go clear all passport formalities like a foot passenger.. Get stamped legally into Cambo. Go back and get the car.. As you come back over the border in the vehicle wave and show your passport.. Then you have 2 choices, either go over the roundabout and blast hell for leather for a long way, not stopping or looking back.. At a healthy pace, or.. Go fast through town and duck a side Rd (theres not many) and stay hidden in one of the hotel spaces for 30 mins until any attention has passed.

As said its purely about bribery and hassle.. There is no system.. There is no formal control in or out..
 
looks like I may ask for troubles in poipet .may try my luck crossing at Pailin and then up to Battambang,see the temples there ,phnom Sampeau& Banan .then Siem Reap/Angkor.get up the Elephant statue if possible throu Svey Leu trail.. any other trail/ride you may suggest ?looks like you guys are very familiar with the area.cheers
 
I dont have a lot of tail info, I was mostly highway as I used to commute monthly back and forth to PP..
 
Forest/Rider said:
looks like I may ask for troubles in poipet .may try my luck crossing at Pailin and then up to Battambang,see the temples there ,phnom Sampeau& Banan .then Siem Reap/Angkor.get up the Elephant statue if possible throu Svey Leu trail.. any other trail/ride you may suggest ?looks like you guys are very familiar with the area.cheers
Click to expand...

If you cross at Ban Pakkhad/Prom (Pailin) use the VISA fixers sitting behind the Thai immigration. Make sure to tell them you want to ride your bike into Cambodia. They will help you deal with Cambodia's customs as part of their service.

I was in that area about a year ago:
http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/cambodia-ride-reports/3428-around-battambang-cambodia.html
 
thanx guys ..ride on!
 
Went to Cham leam but was useless.Told me to go to Pakkard/Prum ,so i did.The Thai side slightly disorganized ,sent me back to customs a couple of times for form's
Copies but done with it drove in cambo.was quiet late which helped .very quiet .noone in front of me.the visa guy tryed to overcharge me $25. But after a couple of times I
Firmly told him the embassy in bkk said was 20 he gave up.i gave him my best lookin 20 bucks note a pic .done.but At some point a guy had the brilliant idea to say :u go custom for bike? But they looked on the other side office ..dark n prob shut.. N gave up to 'customs' too..so someone made me write where i was going n plate numb on a loose piece of paper.i wrote pailin casino..n drove off. Now chewin on popcorns n sippin a Angkor.checkd in at diamond crown or somethin.$15, fair enough.in the bathroom there is even a spare comb n toothbrush!but beware the bumgun is lethal! :annie
 
Forest/Rider said:
Went to Cham leam but was useless.Told me to go to Pakkard/Prum ,so i did.The Thai side slightly disorganized ,sent me back to customs a couple of times for form's
Copies but done with it drove in cambo.was quiet late which helped .very quiet .noone in front of me.the visa guy tryed to overcharge me $25. But after a couple of times I
Firmly told him the embassy in bkk said was 20 he gave up.i gave him my best lookin 20 bucks note a pic .done.but At some point a guy had the brilliant idea to say :u go custom for bike? But they looked on the other side office ..dark n prob shut.. N gave up to 'customs' too..so someone made me write where i was going n plate numb on a loose piece of paper.i wrote pailin casino..n drove off. Now chewin on popcorns n sippin a Angkor.checkd in at diamond crown or somethin.$15, fair enough.in the bathroom there is even a spare comb n toothbrush!but beware the bumgun is lethal! :annie
Click to expand...

Excellent.
 
Well done, as you can tell, there is no system, each point simply makes it up based on the days mood, dollars, if they are awake, etc.
 
So true! was 8-9pm.. after dark they all were in a 'whatever' mode.altho the guy that made me write the info on the lose piece of paper did try lightly to squeeze some cash for the bike,i played dumb ,said pailin pailin (twice) n left him a bit disappointed :D

LivinLOS said:
Well done, as you can tell, there is no system, each point simply makes it up based on the days mood, dollars, if they are awake, etc.
Click to expand...
 
Hi all,

I'm planing a ride to Siem Reap from Singapore.
the initial plan was to enter Cambodia via Koh Kong (Cham Yeam Border checkpoint) , but due to delays and having to meet up someone in SR.
I may have to cut short my riding time by entering via Polpet.
is it still as fussy as above replies ?
 
Yo Arthur!
Yeah that's one option. But it's further away! I will have to do another 19hrs ride to reach!! ;)
I can only leave on coming Monday, to rush to reach SR by Friday, taking in accounts for any surprises at the border. I'm reconsidering this ride since I know I don't enjoy rush rush ..
 
Let say you move out from SG on Monday morning. You will reached Hatyai on that day itself in the afternoon. Tuesday make your way to Hua Hin. Est 700+ km. So you will also reached on the day itself. Wednesday make your way to Surin 600+km. Thursday on to Siem Reap 100+ km... You have enough time. If it is still too rush, I suggest fly there.


Let's just ride....
 
wango said:
Yo Arthur!
Yeah that's one option. But it's further away! I will have to do another 19hrs ride to reach!! ;)
I can only leave on coming Monday, to rush to reach SR by Friday, taking in accounts for any surprises at the border. I'm reconsidering this ride since I know I don't enjoy rush rush ..
Click to expand...

Why not cross at Ban Pakkhad? Sure is faster than PoiPet.
 
Damn!! Why didn't I see this crossing last year? Might had save my rack, top case and belly pan from that previous trip!! Hahaha would had seen more of Laos then... Lol


Let's just ride....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom