Thread: Visa Run to Chong Chom ( Kap Choeng ) Surin

O.K. , if you're tired of Ban Laem and have other business in Isaan ( visiting ruins etc ) then a visa run to Chong Chom is a very easy option. Been 3 times now and each time I've been the only falang. Hordes of Thais going to gamble though but they don't need visas and won't get in your way much.

If you do go, try to avoid the weekends as the crowds of Thais block up the carparks and you are better parking on the road. In fact, I drove into the muddy and pot holed car park where some Cambodian twat wanted to charge 100 baht to mind the car so I drove out again and parked on the road despite the 300 yard walk involved.

For those without wheels you can take the regular mini bus ( air con ) from Surin or if you are staying in Buriram you can use the visa run service of Buriram expats who will do it all for you for 2000 baht.

A google view gives you an idea as to where the border is in relation to Surin And Prasat



So....the approach to the border looks like this :






As you walk up to the border you check out at the Thai immigration office :





Then its a short walk into Cambodia. Ignore the touts offering their help and go and get your visa from the building in front of the Casino :






Now cross the road ( 30 metres ) and get your entry stamp. If you are leaving straight away they will also give you your exit stamp at the same time. The ' Bung " requested from these people is stiffer than Ban Laem. They asked for 300 baht but after a few minutes of haggling I got it down to 200..

Yes....I know....I am only encouraging them but I had a freting Ms Bangyai waiting for me and didn't want to be fooked around. If you have higher principles, you can of course refuse to pay. You will get what you want in the end with a caveat that it might take longer.

Another option is to just get the entry stamp then go into the duty free shops in the casino resort for a while. Come out later for your exit stamp and plead poverty due to bad luck at the tables. Up to you and good luck with it.

Once the paperwork is done you can admire the view into Cambodia.




Then either check out the cheap fags and booze in the duty free shops or walk back into Thailand.



And back to the car where Ms Bangyai is squirreling away 200 Marlborough lights she got in the bushes on the Thai side for 170 baht to give to her friends ( for a mark up natch ).




If you are heading for Anlong veng in Cambodia you might be interested to know there is another border crossing about 50 K away further East at Chong Sangnam but the Thai side is not yet developed and there is no public transport there. A casino is being built here though and the road to Anglong Veng on the Cambodian side is very good. A quick look at Google Earth shows the border and a strange square road network being built on the thai side ?? New Casino ??




Finaly......if you are tired and looking for a place to stay not too far away I recommend Surie guest house in Prasart :
https://teakdoor.com/north-east-thail...art-surin.html (Surie Guest House ( Prasart , Surin ))

I'd travel an extra 100 km's to go there as oppose to Aranyaphratet (fucking ghastly place) - I've rarely seen other foreigners passing through at Chong Chom. Best border in the world...ever...

Question: Is it possible to drive your own vehicle into Cambodia with the proper insurance and Thai registration?

Originally Posted by Bangyai

about 50 K away further East at Chong Sangnam but the Thai side is not yet developed

You can say that again- the 'border infrastructure' consists of a bamboo boom gate, and a couple of portacabins basically. But it gets the job done, and there is the usual small border market as well. No doubt the road on the Thai side will improve once the casino is completed.

I did a trip to Siem Reap/ Angkor recently- crossing at Chong Saignam, and returning via Chong Chom. It's kind of neutral which route you take- the road to the Chong Sainam crossing is awful on the Thai side, but the road to Chong Chom is awful on the Cambo side. In both places it's easy to organise a car onwards to Siem Reap, but Chong Chom does have the advantage of a mini bus service to/from Surin & Prasat, if you're not fortunate enough to be dropped at the border by a compliant wife.

Originally Posted by ltnt

Question: Is it possible to drive your own vehicle into Cambodia with the proper insurance and Thai registration?

Well, I knew an Aussie bloke who rode his Honda wave to Phnom Penh , but that was a while back. Pretty sure its possible but not sure about the exact procedure. Do some google digging and you're sure to find the info you need or else you can start your own thread here and pose the same question.

Have recently returned from a drive on my motorbike through Cambodia, went in via Hat Lek and returned via Chom Chom

Park bike outside immigration on Thai side

Need green book and passport and a couple of photos. I also make photocopies of greenbook, passport, drivers license ect, and let them take what they want, and have had no problems getting into Cambodia

In Cambodia, park bike outside Customs, and give immigration the Thai paperwork and they will process it (does not take to long) and have had no problems

However, last time (about 2 months ago), when I was stopped by the police in Shinoukville I had some problems until i negotiated a fair settlement ($50 down to 10)

I discovered Cambodian immigration did not give me any paperwork (only had Thai)

It was explained that I could only drive in the Kok Kong province, also explained that my license and license plates are Thai and this is Cambodia (smart fellas)

Have since made a Cambodian license in Phnom Pen (only costs $35 and takes a week, paid $45 at my hotel. May save some money in Shinoukville next time

Then I left through O smack (Chom Chom) without any problems

Have also left via O samgan i think (Sisaket border) again without any problems

12 months ago I drove from Thai to Cambodia and then into Laos (may have had paperwork from Cambodia then but not sure). Did cost me $10 for the Laos immigration

Basically have never had any problems and the roads are good and getting better all the time

Am off to the border now to renew my Cambodian girls visa

Any questions and i will be happy to answer when i return

Juinque, Thanks for the info. I'm going to try this. Wonder what it would take to get through Cambodia and on into Viet Nam? Thanks to all respondents.

Just as a matter of interest for anyone heading up that way, another border checkpoint in this area will be opening on september 14th offering further choice. Looks pretty ptimative but you could be the first to cross if you plan ahead now !

...........................................



Buri Ram to Open New Border Pass with CambodiaUPDATE : 5 September 2011A new border pass with Cambodia will open in Buri Ram Province on September 14.

Buri Ram Governor Thanee Samartkit said a new temporary border pass called Chong Sai Taku in Chanthop Phet Subdistrict in Buri Ram's Ban Kruat District, opposite to Am Pun Subdistrict in Udon Meechai's Ban Tia Am Pun District of Cambodia, is expected to open on September 14.


He noted that both Thailand and Cambodia have vowed to extend their cooperation to prevent and suppress cross-border crimes and drug smuggling, as well as improve collaboration among local government officials to increase efficiency to tackle shared problems.

The governor added there will be more clarity about goods to be distributed at the border pass after the upcoming discussion between soldiers and local administration officials of the two nations.







Thai-ASEAN News Network

Duty free shops ?



Hello,


Can you show a photo of what is available at duty free shops or tell me if many shops are opened there ?
Also, how much for hotels around the border in case someone wants to spend the night ? (any website ?)



Thanks.

Originally Posted by buycondojomtien

Duty free shops ?

Can you show a photo of what is available at duty free shops or tell me if many shops are opened there ?
Also, how much for hotels around the border in case someone wants to spend the night ? (any website ?)


Thanks.

No photos because at the entrance to the casino and the duty free shops there is a security check. No hats or cameras allowed. I wasn't about to hand over my moderately expensive camera to the guard to stick in his drawer so I didn't go into the shops themselves but a glance through the windows showed the sort of stuff you might find at Ban Laem. Booze and fags . Don't know about drugs but was told some are available ( Viagra xanax. ).

As for accomodation there was a link earlier that you missed :

https://teakdoor.com/north-east-thail...art-surin.html (Surie Guest House ( Prasart , Surin ))

Rooms here 500 baht. 30 k from border in prasat, the nearest main town.

My wife's family live about 3/4 hours drive from Kap Choeng, but I prefer to drive 6 hours from Hua-Hin (where I live) to Ranong rather than be at the mercy of those Cambodian immigration sharks!
On each visit to the actual border-crossing they want more and more money for them selves..1st 1000b, next time 2000. If you refuse them they simply ignore you & leave you to stew..or submit & pay. I refused, swore I had no money & they stamped me in & out after 1hr wait...making sure both their stamps were smack in the middle of 2 pages in my passport..TWATS..no, never again.
(As a footnote..my wife asked a local there why so many hand-carts pushed to one side & not used..?? his answer was "here, before was a busy market daily..but Farangs get sick of cheating border officials, Farang now not come..now no market").
I think the bulk of visitors to this crossing are Thais, there purely to visit the casino.

One more thing to note..if you only need a 90-day stamp, the immigration office in Kap-Choeng village has a Thai lady there that is warm-hearted, & really helpful.

but if I drive(or find another way) to Cambodia's Kap Chong Village, I can get a 90 day visa in ___ hours, for ___baht because there is a Thai lady there who is friendly and won't stiff you for additional money or papers, etc.?
This is my first attempt at getting this info, so bear with me.

Originally Posted by usual suspect

One more thing to note..if you only need a 90-day stamp, the immigration office in Kap-Choeng village has a Thai lady there that is warm-hearted, & really helpful.

The immigration office Kap Cheong is closed, and has been for some time. The warm hearted lady now works in Korat immigration, and isn't so warm hearted, unless money crosses her palm.

Originally Posted by usual suspect

My wife's family live about 3/4 hours drive from Kap Choeng, but I prefer to drive 6 hours from Hua-Hin (where I live) to Ranong rather than be at the mercy of those Cambodian immigration sharks!

Yes, those Cambodians do like their baksheesh but if you get angry with them , then as you say , they will probably fuck with you. This was one of the reasons I used to enjoy doing a visa run to Burma at Mae sot before they closed the border. Absolutely no paperwork on the Burmese sign and your pen never leaves its pocket . In and out in 5 minutes.

As for Ranong , I have considered it but a long way from Bangkok and as I understand it you have to take a boat over to Victoria Point . Not something I fancy in the rainy season.
Next time you go down there take your camera and do us a favour of posting a report on it. Would be interesting for visa runners looking for new options.

As for the border market, still there but moved further into the Thai side. That Thai guy was stretching the truth a bit.

if ur traveling to Ranong u can also take the casino boat over to the casino, have lunch and come back
No need to take the long tail to Burma

Originally Posted by Phuketrichard

if ur traveling to Ranong u can also take the casino boat over to the casino, have lunch and come back
No need to take the long tail to Burma

Have heard about this but not looked into it yet so not sure where to embark or what the cost is. Shame the two countries can't get their heads together and open a land crossing further up the estuary. That would be very handy.

Originally Posted by Phuketrichard

Lat time i went ( a few years ago)
it was 500 baht . They give ya about 4 hours at the island and then u come back
easy to find and they have their own pier and thai immigration and all

Youcan also spend the night it was like 1,800 baht ( don't go weekend
this is a report about it

Thailand Expats - Visa run to Andaman Club (Ranong) report

Thanks for that link PR. Very useful report , especially the maps. Might give that a try for my next visa run. Bored with cambodia now

Last time I was down there in Ranong.. I met an ex-pat couple from BKK. They come down on the No.1 bus every 90 days, but book into a spa/hotel for the night after doing the visa-run late afternoon. Then after hotel breakfast next morning..catch the bus back to Bangers..sounds like it might be OK if you don't mind the bus journey.

Hi,is the visa in and out 300,- Bath no additional cost?? i might go down instead going to Nong Khai ,from Khon kaen. i have only 3 Pages left in my Passport ,the Lao Visa take's a whole Page. thanks for any answers.

Just got back from here yesterday.. Its my local crossing .. Takes me usually ten minutes in and out but had 3 ladies with me yesterday so visited the casino for 3 hours before travelling back... Only farang in casino and you only see the odd few at the crossing normally.. Nice relaxing border run with no hassles

Originally Posted by somtamslap

I'd travel an extra 100 km's to go there as oppose to Aranyaphratet (fucking ghastly place) - I've rarely seen other foreigners passing through at Chong Chom. Best border in the world...ever...

Has been for a time.
That could soon change though....