Scoobydoo1

Hi, Could anyone inform me as to whether the minivan still operates from Robinson Chanthaburi to the Ban Pakard border checkpoint? I used to use this one frequently several years ago but the last couple of times I arrived at Chanthaburi Bus Station they diverted me to the counter which goes to the Ban Laem crossing. I found Ban Pakard much quieter than Ban Laem but seeing as it has been several years since I last went, is it still a smooth crossing or does Thai Immigration now insist that you spend a night over the border in Cambodia? I can turn around and come back the same day with my Non-O Multiple entry visa at Ban Laem but I know that this isn't necessarily the case at all border checkpoints. Thanks in advance.

I was dreaming of a smooth transition but was not convinced that this would be the case, hence the reason I posted. On that note, Chanthaburi bus station has a shuttle service going to Ban Laem but seemingly not Ban Pakard. The Thai border at Ban Laem is always smooth entering and exiting but the Cambodian side isn't the easiest to deal with. Is there a route to Ban Pakard from either Bangkok or Chanthaburi that you are aware of? Thank you.

Hi, Although many years ago I frequently used the above checkpoint to do my border hops, I have heard of late that it's not a recommended one. Is this true? I have a Non-O multiple entry visa based on marriage, so literally have to cross over and come straight back. I heard a rumour though that they are making people spend a night in Poipet, can anyone clarify this? For the past three border hops, I have gone to Ban Laem which takes a long time to get to from Bangkok. I know Aranyaprathet is much closer but just want the easiest and smoothest trip. Thanks in advance.

Cheers, appreciate this.

Ah ok, thanks for the heads up.

Hi all... I'm on a Non-O Multiple Entry Visa, I leave every three months, turn around and come straight back. I usually head to Cambodia but as you know, their visa takes up a full page of the passport plus costs 1500 baht. So I was planning on heading to the Kanchanaburi border this time around, to Myanmar. I understand that I have to make my way to Kanchanaburi and then catch another bus to another town/border checkpoint from there? Is it easy to get a connecting bus there from Kanchanaburi Station or will it require a taxi journey? And is there a fee to pay on the border? Any advice would help, thanks in advance!

Thanks for the reply. I have done the Thai/Cambodian border crossing tons of times over the years, both with tour groups and by myself and have never once been told I need to stay overnight.

So I just got back from the Pong Nam Ron/Kamrieng border. Haven't been there since 2020 and there used to be loads of farangs doing the hop, but this time around I was the only one there. It looked like mainly Cambodians doing the crossing. Indeed, when it was my turn to get my passport stamped, the Thai immigration officer seemed surprised to see a non-Asian. After taking my passport and looking through it, instead of scanning and stamping it, he called someone over to him from outside, a heavily tattooed man with no uniform, who I think was Cambodian. After saying something to him, he then handed the guy my passport, who in turn asked me if I wanted to use him to get my Cambodian visa, which would cost 2000 baht. I replied that I could go and do it myself, to which he replied that if I used him, I could come back to Thailand the same day, whereas if I did it by myself I would have to spend a night over the border until I was allowed to return the next morning. I found this odd, as I had never heard of this before but I told the guy I'd take the risk. My passport was then handed back to the immigration officer, who scanned and stamped me out of the country. The Cambodian visa actually cost me 1500 baht ($43) but on the visa it read that I had paid $30 for it, so it actually should have been around 1000 baht. After stamping in and out of Cambodia, I then got back into Thailand with no issues whatsoever. Moral of the story is, they try to rip you off on both sides of the border so I would advise changing money into dollars and taking 30USD with you if ever you take this visa run. Happy travels.

Hi, I just bought a weed plant home and my daughter told me I have to download an app and register it. Googled and Plookganja is the only one I can see. Is this the correct one? Plus, it's all in Thai, I can't seem to see an English tab. Any advice? Thanks