Entering Thailand from Cambodia — Border Crossings Guide
Two main land crossings connect Cambodia to Thailand — the busy Aranyaprathet/Poipet route to Bangkok and the coastal Hat Lek/Koh Kong crossing to the Gulf coast. Both have specific scam risks worth knowing in advance.
Quick Answer
Which Cambodia–Thailand crossing is better for Bangkok?
Aranyaprathet/Poipet is by far the most used — it sits on the direct Bangkok–Siem Reap overland route. From Poipet on the Cambodian side, buses and shared taxis run to Siem Reap. From Aranyaprathet on the Thai side, minivans and the train connect to Bangkok (around 4–5 hours). Hat Lek/Koh Kong is better if you are heading to Koh Chang or the eastern Gulf coast.
Aranyaprathet / Poipet
This is the main overland route between Bangkok and Siem Reap. On the Thai side, Aranyaprathet is a quiet border town around 250km east of Bangkok, reachable by train (the Eastern Line, about 5–6 hours) or minivan from Ekkamai bus station (around 4 hours). The crossing opens at 7am and closes at 8pm. The Thai immigration hall is modern and efficient; the Cambodian side at Poipet is more chaotic.
After clearing Cambodian immigration, board a taxi or bus to Siem Reap (around 3 hours on a good day, longer with slow traffic near Siem Reap). Book through your accommodation or a reputable agency — do not use touts who approach you immediately after the crossing.
Travellers returning to Thailand via this crossing report a straightforward process if they arrive with all documents ready and ignore touts. The Thai side stamps quickly. Have your Cambodian departure card and passport ready before reaching the counter.
Hat Lek / Koh Kong
This crossing at the southern end of the Thai-Cambodian border connects Hat Lek in Trat Province to Koh Kong in Cambodia. It is the best option for travellers heading to or from Koh Chang island (about 1 hour from Trat). From Koh Kong, boats and buses connect to Sihanoukville (around 3–4 hours) and Phnom Penh.
The crossing is open daily. Be aware that the boat service across the estuary on the Cambodian side may not run in rough weather. Koh Kong town has limited onward transport compared to Poipet — confirm your onward connection in advance.
Scam Warning at Poipet
Visas and Entry
Thailand: most Western nationals receive a 60-day visa exemption on arrival. Cambodia: most nationalities can get a tourist visa on arrival (USD 30) or purchase a Cambodian e-visa online in advance at evisa.gov.kh (USD 36 including processing). The e-visa is strongly recommended to avoid the VOA queue and reduce exposure to touts.
Returning to Thailand: the 60-day exemption resets on each entry. Thai immigration has tightened scrutiny on back-to-back land border crossings — travellers who cross repeatedly may be questioned or refused entry. If you plan to stay long-term in Thailand, a proper visa is advisable.