'Out-and-Straight-Back-In' border-hop at Chong Mek (with Multiple-Entry Visa)... any problems?

[raysunshineray]

I'm on a One-Year Multiple-Entry Visa based on marriage (from Savannakhet), and need to do a border-hop (out and back in again same day) on or before 3^rd October.

 

As I currently live in a village south of Det Udom, which is south of Ubon Ratchathani, I'm going to do what I did last time and go to the nearest border which is at Chong Mek, just over an hour's drive away.

Last time I did this, my wife and I actually stayed in Lao for a break – at Si Phan Don ('Four Thousand Islands'.)

Not this time, as the season has started, and accommodation rates have rocketed.

 

As I'm about to move semi-permanently to Pattaya straight after the border-run, it's just got to be an out and straight back in affair.

(Otherwise nearest place to stay a night would be Pakse, which we found to be something of a a characterless dump frankly.)

 

So... simple question:

Has anyone gone out and straight back in again at the Chong Mek border?

And by that I mean crossing into Lao and coming back – it can't be done otherwise obviously.

 

Please bear in mind that I have a valid one-year multiple-entry visa so there'll be no issue on that score.

Just a question of whether there's any objection to not staying in Lao.

 

OK, so while I'm here... another question.

When I need to do my next border-hop it'll be from Pattaya.

Last time I did this – when I was doing visa exempt – I drove to Ban Phak Kad / Phsar Prum Pailin, parked up and went out and back in, paying the 300baht (?) for the privilege of doing a turn around and not staying in Cambodia.

As the Cambodia border is the nearest to Pattaya, I'd want to do the same route, but I'm not up-to-date on the current situation.

 

Is it still the case that you cannot currently do this border-hop independently, unless you stay a few days (?) in Cambodia while they supposedly do ID checks on you?

 

Is it still the case that you can now only do the 'out-in' via an agency, whereby you book the minibus run in advance whilst the agent forwards your passport details to the Cambodian immigration authorities?

 

And if so, does this apply to all Thai-Cambodia land borders?

 

I suspect that this ridiculous situation is still ongoing, a big hassle for people such as me, who like to do things independently, and not pay agents or sit in cramped minibuses for hours!

 

If I have no other choice than to do it via an agency, - is Maneerat Travel on Soi 13 a reliable option?

Or any other you've used and can recommend?

 

Advice based on experience / knowledge rather than fact-free opinion appreciated.

Thanks.

[Caldera]

Shouldn't be a problem, Chong Mek is a very friendly, sleepy little border crossing. I've never seen any report of trouble there. 

[BritTim]

No problem with an in/out at Chong Mek.

 

Cambodian border crossings have many scams associated with them. They have leverage because of a Cambodian law that, in most cases, mandates that you stay at least one night in Cambodia. With determination, it should be possible to navigate the situation independently, but you must expect to pay bribes for a same day return. I suggest you initially express your intention of going to Pailin. Then, after a meal at the casino, return and tell them you have changed your mind and intend returning to Thailand. See what they say. React accordingly.

[raysunshineray]

8 minutes ago, BritTim said:

No problem with an in/out at Chong Mek.

 

Cambodian border crossings have many scams associated with them. They have leverage because of a Cambodian law that, in most cases, mandates that you stay at least one night in Cambodia. With determination, it should be possible to navigate the situation independently, but you must expect to pay bribes for a same day return. I suggest you initially express your intention of going to Pailin. Then, after a meal at the casino, return and tell them you have changed your mind and intend returning to Thailand. See what they say. React accordingly.

Brit Tim, - yes I did just that once before, and just ended up having to pay the 300 baht. I just thought that since then there's been new rules introduced preventing turn arounds, except via agents doing minibus runs, where copies of one's passport have to be forwarded in advance to the Cambodian immigration authorities. And it was this situation I was concerned about.

[raysunshineray]

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

Shouldn't be a problem, Chong Mek is a very friendly, sleepy little border crossing. I've never seen any report of trouble there. 

Yes it is... last time re-entering there, not only was the officer not in the usual militaristic uniform, but he was practically in a party mood, laughing and joking with me in a really friendly way - I could hardly believe it... seeing as a kind of grim menacing scowl is what we have all come to expect from border immigration officers.

[BritTim]

12 minutes ago, raysunshineray said:

Brit Tim, - yes I did just that once before, and just ended up having to pay the 300 baht. I just thought that since then there's been new rules introduced preventing turn arounds, except via agents doing minibus runs, where copies of one's passport have to be forwarded in advance to the Cambodian immigration authorities. And it was this situation I was concerned about.

The fairy tale about forwarding passport information to Cambodian immigration is just the justification for the scam. Obviously, it this was a real requirement, border officials would have no way of circumventing it. Also, the same rules would apply when entering by air, and it would be noted in the official regulations. Think about the logic: you can enter Cambodia, but if you want to leave you must wait until central Cambodian immigration verify you are eligible to enter Cambodia. It is nonsense, but resist the temptation to laugh at them.

[transam]

No problems, get yourself $40 US for Laos visa, save a few baht...????

[raysunshineray]

17 minutes ago, transam said:

No problems, get yourself $40 US for Laos visa, save a few baht...????

Yes good advice - it's not easy / not possible? to get hold of dollars from here - this is an absolute backwater.... I'll have another go though.

The thing is that the Lao border at Chong Mek are taking 2,000 baht for the visa on arrival, as opposed to 1,800 baht at Savannakhet, which is already pretty steep.

[raysunshineray]

26 minutes ago, BritTim said:

The fairy tale about forwarding passport information to Cambodian immigration is just the justification for the scam. Obviously, it this was a real requirement, border officials would have no way of circumventing it. Also, the same rules would apply when entering by air, and it would be noted in the official regulations. Think about the logic: you can enter Cambodia, but if you want to leave you must wait until central Cambodian immigration verify you are eligible to enter Cambodia. It is nonsense, but resist the temptation to laugh at them.

I have no doubt you're right.... I wonder why they were making such a big thing of it on this forum when the supposed rule changes came about?

Advising everyone not to try going there independently - perhaps some people have nothing better to do than create dramas on forums!

[transam]

3 minutes ago, raysunshineray said:

Yes good advice - it's not easy / not possible? to get hold of dollars from here - this is an absolute backwater.... I'll have another go though.

The thing is that the Lao border at Chong Mek are taking 2,000 baht for the visa on arrival, as opposed to 1,800 baht at Savannakhet, which is already pretty steep.

If you have a town nearby, or on route, there will be a money exchange.

 

I went a few days back, $40 cost me 1,425bht.....????

[raysunshineray]

1 minute ago, transam said:

If you have a town nearby, or on route, there will be a money exchange.

 

I went a few days back, $40 cost me 1,425bht.....????

Cheers.... that might have to be at Chong Mek itself - when I say I live in the sticks, I mean really remote... and the route up to Chong Mek, round the back of the vast  Sirindhorn reservoir is deep countryside, with little more than hamlets on the way.

But you're right - and Chong Mek, being on the border, should have somewhere.

[transam]

1 minute ago, raysunshineray said:

Cheers.... that might have to be at Chong Mek itself - when I say I live in the sticks, I mean really remote... and the route up to Chong Mek, round the back of the vast  Sirindhorn reservoir is deep countryside, with little more than hamlets on the way.

But you're right - and Chong Mek, being on the border, should have somewhere.

There are banks there which I used, but, a few years back it all stopped for foreigners buying $US.....

May have changed now, seems immigration didn't like farangy's saving money at their expense....????

[BritTim]

25 minutes ago, raysunshineray said:

Yes good advice - it's not easy / not possible? to get hold of dollars from here - this is an absolute backwater.... I'll have another go though.

The thing is that the Lao border at Chong Mek are taking 2,000 baht for the visa on arrival, as opposed to 1,800 baht at Savannakhet, which is already pretty steep.

I believe Superrich Orange has a branch these days in Ubon. They give a decent exchange rate. I assume you make it into town occasionally. When next there, make a point of stopping by Superrich and stocking up on clean, undamaged US$20 notes.

[FARANG KIWI]

Did exactly this a few months ago now at a Weekend.

They asked for 2,000 Baht....  ( Room for negotiation was not offered! )

Over and back within 40 minutes - No questions...

[Zapitapi]

bit off topic but does anyone know if the Phu Nam Ron/Kanchanaburi border is to be opened soon for tourists?

[raysunshineray]

4 hours ago, FARANG KIWI said:

Did exactly this a few months ago now at a Weekend.

They asked for 2,000 Baht....  ( Room for negotiation was not offered! )

Over and back within 40 minutes - No questions...

I think you're saying that the Lao visa-on-arrival was 2,000 baht.

That's what it was when I crossed over in June - $40 or 2,000baht is the visa fee.

(It was 1,8000 baht at Savannakhet.)

That visa fee would apply whether you stayed a while in Lao - as I did last time - or did a straight turn-around.

Visa fees are visa fees - they're not a negotiable item.

 

It's not like when - for instance - you have to pay 300 baht to do a turn-around when crossing into Cambodia.... that's really more like kind of 'tea money' and might, just might mind you, therefore be negotiable (though still doubtful.)  

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, Zapitapi said:

bit off topic but does anyone know if the Phu Nam Ron/Kanchanaburi border is to be opened soon for tourists?

It is very unlikely. Even Maesot and Maesai are currently closed.

[Zapitapi]

3 minutes ago, BritTim said:

It is very unlikely. Even Maesot and Maesai are currently closed.

ok ta