Parking Car at Moc Bai Vietnamese Border Crossing ?

[tomtaylor1]

I would like to drive my Thai registered car, to The Vietnamese border crossing at Moc Bai, or other suitable location before crossing over into Vietnam for up to 2 weeks, where would be a safe place to park if any.

I am given to understand that driving into the Country will not be possible.

Thank you.

Regards Tom

[johninbkk71]

Thought driving a Thai car into Cambodia was a real problem. A friend of mine tried and was told he could only drive in the province the border crossing was in.

[rfukata]

I've been to Moc Bai several times back in 2006 as well as the opposite Cambodia side of Bavet. at that time, I had a Vietnamese

driver but we never attempted to cross into Cambodia over by car, we always walked across.

The Moc Bai side back then did have parking around the border and several development projects were going up.

[Tomtomtom69]

Thought driving a Thai car into Cambodia was a real problem. A friend of mine tried and was told he could only drive in the province the border crossing was in.

Cambodian customs officials will tell you that driving beyond the border province you entered (for example Koh Kong) is not allowed because there is no cross-border transport agreement between Thailand and Cambodia covering private vehicles. In reality, you simply agree with customs and continue on your merry way, as I did in April when I drove to Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh. I wasn't the only one; I saw a number of Thai registrations in Sihanoukville, though none in Phnom Penh. I have however seen Thai registrations (other than the daily Bangkok-Phnom Penh bus, which runs under an official agreement) in Phnom Penh on previous visits.

The Thais also had the same restrictions on Cambodian cars coming here, but from time to time I would see Cambodian cars in Bangkok, even in unlikely places like Prachuab Khiri Khan coming up from the south. This is because the Thais didn't actively enforce the driving across provincial boundaries law - I think the only requirement was to re-enter Cambodia at the same crossing.

This however changed on June 27th (Monday last week). Cambodian vehicles intending on traveling beyond the border province entered need advance permission to enter Thailand and go on a tour. All Cambodian vehicles MUST enter and exit Thailand at the same crossing, unless an exemption has been sought and granted. Whether the Cambodians will now actively patrol their provincial boundaries in order to prevent Thai vehicles from "sneaking" out of the province entered remains to be seen. I suspect they won't be, at least not for now, but it's always good to have a back up plan just in case.

To answer the OP's question, I too have thought of doing the same thing. Although I would rather park my car at my usual hotel in Phnom Penh, before catching one of the many direct buses to Ho Chi Minh. However, the casinos at the border will probably look after your car, for a fee. I am not sure how much English they speak, so if a Vietnamese or Cambodian translator can be found, it would be best to relay your intentions to said person.

[Tomtomtom69]

I heard that driving into Vietnam, provided you have prior permission obtained at least 15 days in advance and request this permission through a travel agency is fine. I have seen Thai plated cars driving in Vietnam as part of a caravan on one occasion.

Perhaps you should make some enquiries via a Vietnamese based travel agency to see what this involves.