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Konglishman

Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject: Cambodia and Safety |
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At the end of this month, I am going to take a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. After that, I am planning on taking an overland trip through Cambodia to Thailand. I plan on crossing over to Thailand near the area of Angkor Wat. Has anyone on this forum done this before? What are some scams that I should watch out for? |
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thrylos

Joined: 10 Jun 2008
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 3:59 am Post subject: |
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Not any worse than Vietnam or Thailand. Except at the border. Get yourself an E-visa online for an extra $5 (20 for visa, 5 for 'processing' and save yourself the hassle of 'visa helpers' or 'mistakenly overpriced visa fees" at the overland borders. If you fly in, no worries. If you fly out, then you pay $25 'departure tax'.
See, no scams. In Cambodia, you just pay "admin fees".  |
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Drew345

Joined: 24 May 2005
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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I have traveled all through SE Asia backpacking solo, but for the one trip you are talking about, I would recommend going with a tour. I took a tour from HCM city up through the Maekong Delta that crossed the border and then took us by speed boat up to PP, Cambodia. The tour was great, 3 days, with an extra day "homestay option" for those who wanted. Can't remember the company, cause it was so long ago, but you can find in the tourist area of HCM.
From Thailand to Cambodia is infamous when going from Thailand to Angkor Way, but pretty painless when going from Angkor wat to Thailand (the way you are going). I think that will go smooth for you. In Siem Reap you can find lots of cars and trucks wanting to get back to the Thai border and you can get a ride that direction pretty fast and cheap. They make their money bringing the tourist back from the Thai border to Siem Reap. |
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Konglishman

Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:05 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the information, guys. By the way, I was reading that there is a now a direct bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Riep which takes about 12 hours. |
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definitely maybe
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:12 am Post subject: |
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rough ride and some schemers at the border, but nothing that someone with a level head can't get through unscathed. |
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Morgen

Joined: 02 Jul 2008
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 6:19 am Post subject: |
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The Cambodia-Thailand border crossing has actually gotten a lot easier very recently. The road out of Cambodia used to be infamous for potholes and dust and pushing the definition of "road," but now it's sealed and won't rattle your molars out. It's only about 90 minutes to the border now.
Is the e-visa functional again? The system was down for a while. |
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chris_J2

Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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rowdie3
Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Location: Itaewon, Seoul
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Don't take that 12 hour bus!! The busses are horrible. Very hot and no leg room. Very uncomfortable. I took one for six hours across Cambodia and thought I was going to throw up the whole way. Spend the hundred bucks and fly! www.airasia.com |
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Konglishman

Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:12 am Post subject: |
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rowdie3 wrote: |
Don't take that 12 hour bus!! The busses are horrible. Very hot and no leg room. Very uncomfortable. I took one for six hours across Cambodia and thought I was going to throw up the whole way. Spend the hundred bucks and fly! www.airasia.com |
I decided not to due to the heavy rain that was being reported. Apparently, after the typhoon landed in central Vietnam, the left over storm weather went into Laos and then into Cambodia. Fortunately, south Vietnam was spared from the after effects of the typhoon although there was a little bit of light rain on a couple of days. Anyways, I skipped Cambodia altogether and flew back to Thailand. |
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jmuns
Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Location: earth
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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you missed out...cambodia is the best country in se asia |
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Konglishman

Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:09 am Post subject: |
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jmuns wrote: |
you missed out...cambodia is the best country in se asia |
Don't worry. I am going to go to Angkor Wat for a few days at the beginning of December. |
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Morgen

Joined: 02 Jul 2008
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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There's a lot more to Cambodia than that. You're really missing out if you only go to Angkor. |
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Konglishman

Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Morgen wrote: |
There's a lot more to Cambodia than that. You're really missing out if you only go to Angkor. |
Yes, I am aware of that, but after I finish working at my job in Chiang Mai, I will only have about a week before I head back to Korea and then the USA for the holidays. |
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