Cambodia - Getting In

A passport is required. An airport visa valid for a 30-day stay is available upon arrival at Phnom Penh's Pochentong Airport from the Ministry of National Security for US$20. You can also apply to:

http:// www.embassy.org/cambodia/

General Direction of Tourism

Chief of Tour Service Office

3 Monivong Street

Phnom Penh

Tel: 855-23-24607 or 23607

Fax: 855-23-26164 or 23-26140.

You will need to send the following: full name, passport number, photocopy of the front section of your passport, date and place of birth, arrival and departure dates and itinerary. They will confirm receipt of application. Visas will then be issued on arrival at Pochentong Airport. You will need two passport-sized photos. Visas are good for stays up to 30 days.

Visa extensions can be applied for, but not necessarily granted, in Phnom Penh at the following:

http:// www.cambodia-web.net/

Foreign Ministry

240 Street and Samdech Sothearos Boulevard

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tel: 24641 or 24441

General Direction of Tourism

3 Monivong Street

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tel: 855-23-723607

Fax: 855-23-426164 or 426140

Phnom Penh Tourism

313 Samdech Sothearos Boulevard

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tel: 723949, 725349, or 724059

Fax: 885-23-426043

You can also arrange for visas in Vietnam. Allow three to five days for issue. Various Saigon tour operators run boats up the Mekong River from Vietnam to Phnom Penh. However, occasionally, these excursions are canceled due to lawlessness and bandit attacks on river-going vessels.

From Thailand

Entry by land from Thailand is legal at the Aranyaphrathet/Poipet checkpoint and at Trat in the corner of Thailand's southeast. The Poipet checkpoint is becoming popular with adventure-type backpackers seeking to go overland to Siem Reap and the temples at Angkor. Pickup trucks packed like sardine cans make the grueling sunrise-to sunset-journey to Siem Reap along dilapidated National Route 6. Visitors in Thailand can also briefly enter Cambodia from Sisaket along Highway 221 to the ancient, mountaintop Khmer temple of Preah Vihear on the Thai-Cambodian border; but visitors cannot proceed any further into Cambodia. Between Preah Vihear and Siem Reap is the most heavily mined swath of Cambodia.

From Vietnam

Crossing into Cambodia from Vietnam is very popular with budget travelers. There are several border checkpoints, but at the time of this writing, only one is usable by foreigners: the Moc Bai-Bavet checkpoint on Route 1. A bus leaves at dawn daily except Sundays from both Phnom Penh and Saigon; it's a hellishly crowded affair, and very slow with frequent stops. Once the bus reaches the border there can be a wait of several hours while the authorities on each side pour over travel papers, visas, and every box and basket on the bus in search of contraband. Total travel time is about 12 to 13 hours, if the bus doesn't break down. Verdict: not recommended.

A better way is to catch a "share taxi" to the border from either side; from Phnom Penh the fare can be as low as US$5 per person if the car is full. Upon arrival at the border, simply walk to the other side and stick your thumb out for the next taxi or private car willing to ferry you the rest of the way. This cuts a good four hours off the bus trip, and is usually much more comfortable. Be sure the price is agreed upon before getting into the car.

From Laos

At press time, there are no border crossings open to foreigners to Cambodia from Laos. This is probably because the northeast of Cambodia is mostly thick jungle with little population, no infrastructure and no roads connecting the region with Phnom Penh. Theoretically it should be possible, but again you would be entering illegally if your visa (assuming you had one in advance) was not stamped. If you must do it legally, the best route would be along the Mekong River, as there is sure to be a checkpoint for the locals, or along a well-traveled logging road.