Complete Guide to Do a Visa Run From Bangkok to Cambodia - Cheapest Way
Just recently, I discovered a cheaper way to do a visa run without the need of an agency. With this, you will be totally on your own. Consider it a travel adventure. It will be an advantage if you speak a bit of Thai, just enough to get by. You must leave from home at 4:30 a.m. if you want to be back in Bangkok in the afternoon as the first bus leaves at exactly 5 a.m. The next bus will be quite full and will return late. So tendency, you will get jammed by the heavy traffic of Bangkok. Just follow the steps below carefully and you'll be fine:
- From your home, take a cab and tell the driver to bring you to Central Bangna.
- The bus going to Cambodia is parked in front of the Big C mall. There is only one bus and you will see people outside the bus but there will be one Thai (normally a lady) holding a ticket with a belt bag. Approach her and she will give you the ticket right away (the 2-way ticket). Pay her the 300 baht and you can get in the bus. Be mindful of the schedule stated in the ticket what time the bus leaves from Cambodia to Bangkok. There are 2 schedules. The first one is at 11 a.m. and the other one is at 1 p.m. If needed, ask the ticket lady. Choose your seat, relax and enjoy the 4-hour road trip. The bus will arrive at the border at 9am.
- Upon arriving at the border, just follow the crowd from the bus heading to the Thai Immigration Office. Fall in line and give your passport to the officer where the line says (Foreign Passports).
- Now, welcome to Cambodia! For your own sake, please do not talk to anybody but only the man in uniform (the Policeman). Ask them the way to the Cambodia Immigration Office. Do not be surprise if a guy will follow you and tell you they will give you the stamp or they have a taxi or whatever. You do not need a ride. Don't mind them and just go straight to the immigration office. From the Thai Immigration, it will be about 300-500 meters walk to the Immigration Office of Cambodia.
- The fee is only 200 baht (may vary depending on nationality). You must pay to the officer who will provide you the stamp and not to somebody who will tell you they will give you the "V.I.P stamp" and such. If you have the non B visa, the officer might ask you if you still want to go inside Cambodia or go right back inside Thailand. If you want to catch the 11 a.m. schedule, I would recommend you to just get the stamp and go back right away.
- Once you get your Thailand Visa stamped, walk back to the same direction but upon entering the border, go in the opposite side of where you first get in. You will see signs anyway.
- Now it's time to look for the bus. It will not be parking on the same place where you went out. But on that same place, just look around and you will see a big sign "Car Park". Go in there and look for the passenger's waiting area. Now that you know where the bus is, you can go to the market which is just outside the Car Park and have your early lunch or buy something to eat later while on the road.
Jose Darrel Bella works as a Consultant for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, London, Los Angeles, Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin. Email Siam Legal or call +66 (0) 253 8100 to learn more on how to obtain a 1 Year Thailand Visa
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