Thanks for the vid! Not too many vids about this border crossing, so this was a good find. I researched this crossing around years ago and even then, there wasn't much info about it. Turned out that I didn't do the trip that year. I did the TH-Cambodia trip the next year and I crossed the border at Aranyaprathet- Poipet. Not very intrepid but as a solo female traveller, I've found it better to do the "safe" crossings. From Poipet, I took a bus to Phnom Penh. Cheers and safe travels!
Thanks, Kitty, Yeah, it's still one of the most remote crossings in South-East Asia. You might have seen the photo I stuck in the middle which shows how it was about 12 years ago before they built the bridge on the Laos side just before the border crossing. Back then you had to cross by boat, then take a different van onward. The green valley of rice fields you see at the beginning of the video is just at the bottom of the mountains and hills and 12 years ago coming into Vietnam from the Laos side that valley looked like time had stood still since the 1960s or thereabouts. That valley still looks magnificent, but now it has a few small indicators of progress such as wooden electrical poles along the road. It really was a wild crossing 12 years ago!
@SeekeroftheWay-qt5kj thanks for the reply. I researched this crossing in 2014 and did my short TH-Cambo - VN trip in 2015. Based on what I've seen of vids, Cambodia has seen much progress. Sihanoukville has changed greatly (because of the Chinese) and I'm of mixed feelings about it. But if the Cambodians have a better life because of the investment, then good for them. Cheers & safe travels!
I'm glad to get some info online to help out those who are looking for a good place to cross over for visa runs or just traveling about the region! I try to show the real deal instead of the usual clickbait stuff most travel vloggers conform to.
fascinating this video for me 22 years here in Thailand in Sa Kaeo province which borders Cambodia see the arid conditions but a few days on and the rains have arrived
There are buses on the Cambodian side of the border, but it's hard to get info about them in places like Siem Reap. In some places people try to push foreigners to taxi services, & they don't want you to share a taxi with locals either. On the Thai side there is only the van that stops at the border and goes to Surin bus station. I wanted to hitchhike! Sometimes it's faster, and it's a good way to meet interesting people! :)
@SeekeroftheWay-qt5kj Thank you for the reply. You mentioned that you had an interview with the immigration officer. I was a little surprised as I read good things about that border crossing but things sometimes may change. May I ask how long you stayed in Cambodia and how many re-entry to Thailand you had in your passport at that time? I try to figure out if I have a problem crossing the border there with my travel history. I know Poipet is a place to avoid.
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Thanks for the vid! Not too many vids about this border crossing, so this was a good find. I researched this crossing around years ago and even then, there wasn't much info about it. Turned out that I didn't do the trip that year. I did the TH-Cambodia trip the next year and I crossed the border at Aranyaprathet- Poipet. Not very intrepid but as a solo female traveller, I've found it better to do the "safe" crossings. From Poipet, I took a bus to Phnom Penh. Cheers and safe travels!
Thanks, Kitty,
Yeah, it's still one of the most remote crossings in South-East Asia. You might have seen the photo I stuck in the middle which shows how it was about 12 years ago before they built the bridge on the Laos side just before the border crossing. Back then you had to cross by boat, then take a different van onward. The green valley of rice fields you see at the beginning of the video is just at the bottom of the mountains and hills and 12 years ago coming into Vietnam from the Laos side that valley looked like time had stood still since the 1960s or thereabouts. That valley still looks magnificent, but now it has a few small indicators of progress such as wooden electrical poles along the road. It really was a wild crossing 12 years ago!
@SeekeroftheWay-qt5kj thanks for the reply. I researched this crossing in 2014 and did my short TH-Cambo - VN trip in 2015. Based on what I've seen of vids, Cambodia has seen much progress. Sihanoukville has changed greatly (because of the Chinese) and I'm of mixed feelings about it. But if the Cambodians have a better life because of the investment, then good for them. Cheers & safe travels!
I’m going to pass here soon, thank your for the insight
Glad to be of assistance! :)
very nice iam here in Kao Hinson since 25 years 50 km from Aranyaprathet Cambodia Border
Take care Sawasdee
Thanks, you too!
Thanks for sharing your experience at the border. Glad you didn’t have to pay a bribe.
I'm glad to get some info online to help out those who are looking for a good place to cross over for visa runs or just traveling about the region! I try to show the real deal instead of the usual clickbait stuff most travel vloggers conform to.
very clear picture bro, what camera are you using if you don't mind ?
You can email me if you want to talk tech. ;)
fascinating this video for me
22 years here in Thailand in Sa Kaeo province which borders Cambodia
see the arid conditions but a few days on and the rains have arrived
Great!
Hi are there any buses from Siem Reap to O Smach Border?
When I'm walking up to the border crossing there are a couple of bus companies in the video, so it would seem so.
Why taxi didn't drop you at the boarder but so far from the boarder? Are there any buses on thai side to bigger citis like Surin etc
There are buses on the Cambodian side of the border, but it's hard to get info about them in places like Siem Reap. In some places people try to push foreigners to taxi services, & they don't want you to share a taxi with locals either.
On the Thai side there is only the van that stops at the border and goes to Surin bus station.
I wanted to hitchhike! Sometimes it's faster, and it's a good way to meet interesting people! :)
@SeekeroftheWay-qt5kj Thank you for the reply. You mentioned that you had an interview with the immigration officer. I was a little surprised as I read good things about that border crossing but things sometimes may change. May I ask how long you stayed in Cambodia and how many re-entry to Thailand you had in your passport at that time? I try to figure out if I have a problem crossing the border there with my travel history. I know Poipet is a place to avoid.
@@SeekeroftheWay-qt5kj Please reply to my question when you have time. I would really appreciate.Thank you.