Poipet, Cambodia/Aranyaprathet, Thailand, on National Highway 5—Thailand - Border Crossings on Waymarking.com

Poipet/Aranyaprathet is the main, very busy, noisy, dusty, and some would say dirty, land border crossing between Cambodia and Thailand. Lying ~300kms to the east of Bangkok, and ~350kms west of Phnom Penh, the crossing sees an immense amount of traffic pass through each day.

On the Thai side there is a town and large border market, where, it is possible, though not always certain, that bargains in a wide range of goods can be had, while the Cambodian side is marked by an abundance of casinos. Thais love gambling, but gambling is illegal in Thailand, thus there is a strip, maybe 500kms wide, between the two countries check points, which Thais can freely cross into and gamble.

While there is no danger from direct violence, this crossing is replete with beggars, pickpockets, fast moving trucks, cars, broken roads and footpaths. So take care. The area, particularly the Cambodian side, seems to be continually under going renovation. Thus the process of moving through the various Thai and Cambodian procedural stations to get your passport stamped, bags checked, visa obtained, exit/entry paperwork, invariably seems confused and needlessly delayed, and ever changing. All great fun. Just keep smiling.

There is a plan underway to refurbish the Bangkok to Phnom Penh rail line, which will pass through Poipet (it would be a great rail trip). The waypoint was made outside the Thai side offices.

Type Of Crossing: Country Where is the border located?: Interstate Welcome Center/Facilities: No

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