Laos - Cambodia border crossing informaton needed

[Dodraugen]

Seeking information Laos to Cambodia border crossing with motorbike at Nong Nok Khien - Dong Kralor.

I am a norwegian citizen for the moment in Thailand on a norwegian registred motorbike which I own myself. I am planning to ride a loop into Laos and Cambodia and would like to know more about the abovementioned bordercrossing. Is it doable for me? Will they let me cross into Cambodia from Laos with my bike? Whats the experiences do you guys have?

I recently talked to a another norwegian guy who did a similar loop a month or two ago and he told me he was turned down at this border. The border guys on the cambodian side told him needed permission from authorities in Phnom Phen to enter by motorbike at that border. He had already stamped out of Laos so it was quite inconveniant for him to go back and try to explain this to the Laos border staff. (But the did eventually help him and stamped "cancelled" on his "left" stamp on the Laos visa side in his passport) He was on a thai registred motorbike he owns himself, 500 ccm. Eventually he got into Cambodia by crossing from Laos into Thailand at Chong Mek and then from Thailand into Cambodia in Si Sakhet or Surin province of Thailand somewhere in the direction to Siam Reap.

Is there any problems going the opposite way, in case this border really is closed for motorbikes without the correct paperwork? Its no major problem to start the trip in Cambodia. Just dont want to have any unpleasant surprises....

Thanks in advance!

 

[blackwolf]

Yes, going from Cambodia to Laos by motorcycle or car is fine. In the other direction it might be OK, might not be. Start in Cambodia and THEN go to Laos.

 

[rhiekel]

Laos to Cambodia is not a problem . The last time I went through I was pulled
aside and made to pay a 5 dollar fee to a guy in a little customs shed, or the
immigration guy would not process the passport. Clearly they were working
as a tag team. Cambodia into Laos should be a piece of cake as well.
Here is what that Cambo - Laos road looked like ten years ago...It is a
bit better now....

 

[kchow24]

Hi guys,

Any idea about the security in Cambodia? Is it safe, if we leave out helmet or jacket on the bike, and go for short or long call?

 

[rhiekel]

Fairly safe, but no need to tempt poor people with expensive gear laying around.
For my helmet I use a small wire cable with loops at each end, and lock the
helmet to the bars if I will be gone a long time.

 

[harrythefinn]

Safety is relevant to the location, in Phanom Phen your helmet and jacket will disappear pretty quick. Outside the major towns it is no problem, never even take the key out of the bike. But .....as always better safe than sorry,but not be paranoid about it, very hard to find a good large size helmet.

 

[cdrw]

As harrythefinn said...always lock your helmet to the bike when in larger communities.
I also often put a padlock on the front disc brake. Better safe than sorry!

As the photo of the border doesn't display in rhiekel's post, below are my photos of
the Cambo and Lao border checkpoints back in Feb 2007, when they were just shacks.
Both checkpoints buildings have been significantly modernized since then!!

I didn't have a problem checking out of Laos...after I bought a can of coke for the officer's wife!

The Immigration officer, unlike most all Khmer Immigration officials, was friendly and surprisingly totally fluent in English!
This made me wonder who he must have alienated and had him assigned to this lonely checkpoint.
He did charge me a mere $1.00 to process my check-in to Canbodia....

 

[Dodraugen]

Laos to Cambodia is a problem as I have talked to two different persons who confirmed to turned back at the border. They both stamped out of Laos but was turned back at the cambodian side. They both offeed to pay extra "teamoney" to get in - but even this didnt help.This was in november and december 2014. I also heard a unconfirmed story ditto at approx at the same time.

For those who have successfully or not successfully crossed or tried to cross this border it might be of help to tell when and what plates the bike you rode had and if you were turned back - did they give any reason for that?

 

[Volkov]

We did attempt on Thai owned Honda Click to cross border 3 weeks ago on august 18th (2015). We re refused by the reason of  no motorbikes from border-to-cambodia countries. We offered money - nothing. One of the officers offered us to sell our almost new scooter to him for 600$ and walk in. Damned, 320km just wasted

P.S. now we going to try to cross from Thailand. If you got some information about Thai-Cambo crossing please share in a thread I just opened. Thanks

 

[sgBikerBoy]

Hi everyone! I'm planning to do a motorcycle trip from Singapore through Malaysia and Thailand and into Cambodia. I noticed in some posts the mention of "processing fees". Are they in USD? Would they accept the local currency equivalent?

You see, I'd be travelling through Malaysia, Thailand, Loas and Cambodia. Was hoping to not have to carry too many different currencies where possible. Of course, I do know that USD seem to be accepted everywhere and I should bring some along. But to have to break a $10 for a $1 fee? Do these guys even offer change?

 

[phuketrichard]

Just a quick update,
you can still get Thai registered bike/.car into Cambodia thru Osmach ( south of Surin ) and Had Lek /koh kong ( east of Trat) Forget Poi Pet and Pailin

BUT lets hope that after June 27th (when the new regulations to not allow Chinese/Cambodia registered vehicles on thai roads stats if that changes)
finger crossed

 

[blackwolf]

Cambodian vehicles will still be allowed in without advance permission starting on June 27th as long as they travel only with the border province entered and exit back through the same crossing. This is intended to facilitate border trade and tourism.

Presumably, Thai vehicles will continue to be allowed into Cambodia under the same conditions (at Chong Chom/O'Smach and Hat Lek/Kong Kong). However, since the Thai side will actively be enforcing the rule that Cambodian vehicles can only travel beyond the border province if they seek advance permission 30 days before entering, it's possible the Cambodians will apply the same restrictions to Thai vehicles on their side. My hunch is however that the Cambodians won't change anything - simply because so few Thai vehicles travel beyond the border area anyway and just because Thailand changed it's rules doesn't mean the Cambodians need to follow suit.

This has already been the case for a long time - case in point is Thailand forcing Cambodian vehicles to take out insurance when entering, but it is not reciprocated by the Cambodians for Thai vehicles entering Cambodia.

Hopefully it may prompt the Cambodians to sign up to an agreement with Thailand. Anyway, we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

 

[sgBikerBoy]

I managed to cross from Laos to Cambodia at the Vuen Kham - Stung Treng border with my Singapore-registered motorcycle earlier today!

Here's what happened:

• Reached Laos' Vuen Kham immigration. Asked the immigration officer if I could enter Cambodia. He instructed me to go over to Cambodia and asked them. If they allowed, then come back to Vuen Kham immigration to process the exit.
• Rode up to the Lao's Vuen Kham border control barrier (approx 20m ahead). Told the Laos officer there that I'm going to ask the Cambodia's officials if I could enter Cambodia. I stressed that I have not stamped my passport for exit at Laos' immigration. If so, I will then turn back to exit Laos. He said okay, and allowed me through.
• Rode up to Cambodia's border control (approx 50m or so ahead). There is a tent on the left side for "Health and Quarantine Control". I spoke to the guy there and he pointed me to the immigration box just across the road.
• Crossed the road, walked over to Cambodia's immigration control, and asked them if I could come into Cambodia with my motorcycle. Again, I stressed that I'm enquiring and have NOT stamped out at Laos' immigration. They asked me to check with customs first.
• Left my bike at the immigration / health and quarantine area, and walked over to customs (approx 50m ahead). This is the part where it gets a little tricky.
• Customs asked for my bike registration forms (they referred to it as the "green form" - possibly referring to the Thailand registration papers). I gave them a printout of my vehicle registration details and explained to them that in Singapore, the records are all kept electronically with the Land Transport Authority, and this is a printout of the electronic record.
• The customs guy was a young chap. He said that he needed to consult his boss, and handed the registration printout to him. His boss (the very much older chap) took a look at it and frowned. He said that to come into Cambodia, I needed to get prior permission from Phnom Penh.
• I cooked up some excuse, saying that Singapore and Cambodia are part of ASEAN, and that Singapore-Cambodia ties are very strong. In fact, IIRC, apart from Cambodia passport holders, only Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore passport holders do NOT need a visa when entering Cambodia. So I told him that "Singapore and Cambodia are good friends."
• The customs officer then replied, saying that that may be the case for passport visa, but Singapore and Cambodia doesn't have a land transport agreement. He said he could "make secret" with me, but was afraid that I might have trouble when I'm inside Cambodia.
• At this point, I was ready to turn back. I told him I was here as a tourist, and shared with him the route that I've travelled so far (Singapore - Malaysia - Thailand - Laos). I told him that while I would very much love to visit Cambodia, I didn't want any troubles as a tourist and if it was gong to be difficult for him, I would had back to Laos, and then turn into Thailand and give Cambodia a miss.
• He then asked me which border I intended to exit from. I showed him a map on my mobile phone GPS, and told him the route I intended to take (Stung Treng - Phnom Penh - Siam Reap) and planned to exit at Poi Pet towards Thailand.
• Surprisingly, he then said, "okay."
  "No, no, no. I don't want you to say okay just for me. I don't want to get into any trouble if the police stops me."
  "Police only check passport. Not check motorbike."
  "What about exiting Cambodia? Will I have trouble?"
  "Exit Cambodia no problem. Only come in need customs papers. You exit Poi Pet okay."
• So with that final "go ahead" from Cambodia customs, I went back to Laos' immigration, and started the process all over again.
• Cleared Laos' immigration at the official immigration counter and got my passport exit stamp. Was asked a $2 / 20,000kip fee. Here, a tout stations himself with a table set up just in front of the immigration counter and claim to be able to assist with the passport paperwork. I've read that this is a scam. He's neither immigration nor customs officer. Not even in uniform. But he speaks good english and seem to project himself as an official immigration representative. I saw several tourists handing their passports (and some money) to him.
• After immigration, I was directed to Customs just across the road. Handed the green form (customs temporary import of motorcycle form) to the officer there. That's it! Wasn't asked for any fee.
• Rode over to Cambodia side. Immigration officer asked me to head to Customs to get customs form and chop.
• Walked over to Cambodian Customs. The boss said no need for any forms, and called up the Immigration guy from his cellphone. He then said, "okay" and wished me luck. No fees asked! I was surprised! At this point, after all the walking about, I was extremely thirsty. So I bought 3 cans of drinks - 1 for myself and gave the 2 to the Customs officer and his boss.
• Walked back to Immigration and tried to get my passport stamped. By then the "Health and Quarantine" guy came up to me and asked me to head over to his tent. I've read that this "health check" is also a scam and not all necessary. But I complied anyway.
• While filling up the "health and quarantine" questionnaire, the "quarantine officer" noticed I had a helmet cam and asked me if it was a video camera. I told him that it was for recording of my travels. I think he got scared and didn't ask me for a fee, gave me a "health advisory" slip and sent me off. I heard from some of the other tourists that they were asked for USD1.
• Walked back to immigration again. As I had a Singapore passport, I didn't need a visa. So, thankfully, no visa fees. But I was asked for USD1 for the stamp on my passport. I should have given him USD1 or 10,000kips. Unfortunately, I didn't have either, and ended up giving him 20,000kips (approx USD2.50). No change. Obviously.
• Approximate time to clear the border - just over 1hr. Partly due to the fact that 2 busloads of tourists arrived just as I was returning to Laos' side to go through the exit procedures.

Phew! I'm in Cambodia!

 

[DavidFL]

I managed to cross from Laos to Cambodia at the Vuen Kham - Stung Treng border with my Singapore-registered motorcycle earlier today!

Here's what happened:

• Reached Laos' Vuen Kham immigration. Asked the immigration officer if I could enter Cambodia. He instructed me to go over to Cambodia and asked them. If they allowed, then come back to Vuen Kham immigration to process the exit.
• Rode up to the Lao's Vuen Kham border control barrier (approx 20m ahead). Told the Laos officer there that I'm going to ask the Cambodia's officials if I could enter Cambodia. I stressed that I have not stamped my passport for exit at Laos' immigration. If so, I will then turn back to exit Laos. He said okay, and allowed me through.
• Rode up to Cambodia's border control (approx 50m or so ahead). There is a tent on the left side for "Health and Quarantine Control". I spoke to the guy there and he pointed me to the immigration box just across the road.
• Crossed the road, walked over to Cambodia's immigration control, and asked them if I could come into Cambodia with my motorcycle. Again, I stressed that I'm enquiring and have NOT stamped out at Laos' immigration. They asked me to check with customs first.
• Left my bike at the immigration / health and quarantine area, and walked over to customs (approx 50m ahead). This is the part where it gets a little tricky.
• Customs asked for my bike registration forms (they referred to it as the "green form" - possibly referring to the Thailand registration papers). I gave them a printout of my vehicle registration details and explained to them that in Singapore, the records are all kept electronically with the Land Transport Authority, and this is a printout of the electronic record.
• The customs guy was a young chap. He said that he needed to consult his boss, and handed the registration printout to him. His boss (the very much older chap) took a look at it and frowned. He said that to come into Cambodia, I needed to get prior permission from Phnom Penh.
• I cooked up some excuse, saying that Singapore and Cambodia are part of ASEAN, and that Singapore-Cambodia ties are very strong. In fact, IIRC, apart from Cambodia passport holders, only Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore passport holders do NOT need a visa when entering Cambodia. So I told him that "Singapore and Cambodia are good friends."
• The customs officer then replied, saying that that may be the case for passport visa, but Singapore and Cambodia doesn't have a land transport agreement. He said he could "make secret" with me, but was afraid that I might have trouble when I'm inside Cambodia.
• At this point, I was ready to turn back. I told him I was here as a tourist, and shared with him the route that I've travelled so far (Singapore - Malaysia - Thailand - Laos). I told him that while I would very much love to visit Cambodia, I didn't want any troubles as a tourist and if it was gong to be difficult for him, I would had back to Laos, and then turn into Thailand and give Cambodia a miss.
• He then asked me which border I intended to exit from. I showed him a map on my mobile phone GPS, and told him the route I intended to take (Stung Treng - Phnom Penh - Siam Reap) and planned to exit at Poi Pet towards Thailand.
• Surprisingly, he then said, "okay."
  "No, no, no. I don't want you to say okay just for me. I don't want to get into any trouble if the police stops me."
  "Police only check passport. Not check motorbike."
  "What about exiting Cambodia? Will I have trouble?"
  "Exit Cambodia no problem. Only come in need customs papers. You exit Poi Pet okay."
• So with that final "go ahead" from Cambodia customs, I went back to Laos' immigration, and started the process all over again.
• Cleared Laos' immigration at the official immigration counter and got my passport exit stamp. Was asked a $2 / 20,000kip fee. Here, a tout stations himself with a table set up just in front of the immigration counter and claim to be able to assist with the passport paperwork. I've read that this is a scam. He's neither immigration nor customs officer. Not even in uniform. But he speaks good english and seem to project himself as an official immigration representative. I saw several tourists handing their passports (and some money) to him.
• After immigration, I was directed to Customs just across the road. Handed the green form (customs temporary import of motorcycle form) to the officer there. That's it! Wasn't asked for any fee.
• Rode over to Cambodia side. Immigration officer asked me to head to Customs to get customs form and chop.
• Walked over to Cambodian Customs. The boss said no need for any forms, and called up the Immigration guy from his cellphone. He then said, "okay" and wished me luck. No fees asked! I was surprised! At this point, after all the walking about, I was extremely thirsty. So I bought 3 cans of drinks - 1 for myself and gave the 2 to the Customs officer and his boss.
• Walked back to Immigration and tried to get my passport stamped. By then the "Health and Quarantine" guy came up to me and asked me to head over to his tent. I've read that this "health check" is also a scam and not all necessary. But I complied anyway.
• While filling up the "health and quarantine" questionnaire, the "quarantine officer" noticed I had a helmet cam and asked me if it was a video camera. I told him that it was for recording of my travels. I think he got scared and didn't ask me for a fee, gave me a "health advisory" slip and sent me off. I heard from some of the other tourists that they were asked for USD1.
• Walked back to immigration again. As I had a Singapore passport, I didn't need a visa. So, thankfully, no visa fees. But I was asked for USD1 for the stamp on my passport. I should have given him USD1 or 10,000kips. Unfortunately, I didn't have either, and ended up giving him 20,000kips (approx USD2.50). No change. Obviously.
• Approximate time to clear the border - just over 1hr. Partly due to the fact that 2 busloads of tourists arrived just as I was returning to Laos' side to go through the exit procedures.

Phew! I'm in Cambodia!

Thanks for the detailed crossing info.
You've had a great trip so far - a real adventure with that bike.
Good luck for the rest of the journey.

 

[Motoroman]

Hi everybody, this morning I arrived to Vuen Kham-Stung Treng border-crossing with my Malaysia registered bike from the Laos side,
I stamped out from Laos, when I arrived to Cambodia side they told me that it's impossible to cross the border for my bike!

We stucked in no-mans-land for 3 hours, it was impossible for me to take Visa On Arrival for Laos because I'm Turkish citizen. The guys at the Laos immigration was so nervous and didn't want to listen me and said fuck-off goo away!! The only option for us was to leave the bike there and go to Phom Phenn to issue the temporary import paper.. We were about to cry with my girlfriend. Then I went to Visa on arrival officers and tell them everything, a nice guy took our passports and cancelled the out stamps in five minutes. The customs guy already gave my Lao temporary lmport paper back. So again we were back in Laos again...

We rode up to Thai border and crossed to Thai side. Now we are in Chong Mek.. That's today's summary...

I bought my bike from Malaysia, rode all the way up to Mae HongSon, crossed the border to Laos at HuayXai, then rode all the way to south Laos and today fucked-up in Cambodia border..

I was so polite at the border, also offered some money to the guys, asked him to call his boss also, because I read all the story that sgBikerBoy wrote here.. But noooo..

I was planning to leave my bike in Cambodia for one year, cannot ride again to Malaysia and cannot leave the bike in Thailand..

So I have to try Osmach or Had Lek? Need your advises and help...

 

[DavidFL]

Hi everybody, this morning I arrived to Vuen Kham-Stung Treng border-crossing with my Malaysia registered bike from the Laos side,
I stamped out from Laos, when I arrived to Cambodia side they told me that it's impossible to cross the border for my bike!

We stucked in no-mans-land for 3 hours, it was impossible for me to take Visa On Arrival for Laos because I'm Turkish citizen. The guys at the Laos immigration was so nervous and didn't want to listen me and said fuck-off goo away!! The only option for us was to leave the bike there and go to Phom Phenn to issue the temporary import paper.. We were about to cry with my girlfriend. Then I went to Visa on arrival officers and tell them everything, a nice guy took our passports and cancelled the out stamps in five minutes. The customs guy already gave my Lao temporary lmport paper back. So again we were back in Laos again...

We rode up to Thai border and crossed to Thai side. Now we are in Chong Mek.. That's today's summary...

I bought my bike from Malaysia, rode all the way up to Mae HongSon, crossed the border to Laos at HuayXai, then rode all the way to south Laos and today fucked-up in Cambodia border..

I was so polite at the border, also offered some money to the guys, asked him to call his boss also, because I read all the story that sgBikerBoy wrote here.. But noooo..

I was planning to leave my bike in Cambodia for one year, cannot ride again to Malaysia and cannot leave the bike in Thailand..

So I have to try Osmach or Had Lek? Need your advises and help...

Sorry to hear that. The Veun Kham border crossing has been problematic for awhile now & you've successfully reconfirned it all now.
You should be ok getting in elsewhere, but let the Cambodia experts advise you.

 

[sgBikerBoy]

Hi everybody, this morning I arrived to Vuen Kham-Stung Treng border-crossing with my Malaysia registered bike from the Laos side,
I stamped out from Laos, when I arrived to Cambodia side they told me that it's impossible to cross the border for my bike!

We stucked in no-mans-land for 3 hours, it was impossible for me to take Visa On Arrival for Laos because I'm Turkish citizen. The guys at the Laos immigration was so nervous and didn't want to listen me and said fuck-off goo away!! The only option for us was to leave the bike there and go to Phom Phenn to issue the temporary import paper.. We were about to cry with my girlfriend. Then I went to Visa on arrival officers and tell them everything, a nice guy took our passports and cancelled the out stamps in five minutes. The customs guy already gave my Lao temporary lmport paper back. So again we were back in Laos again...

We rode up to Thai border and crossed to Thai side. Now we are in Chong Mek.. That's today's summary...

I bought my bike from Malaysia, rode all the way up to Mae HongSon, crossed the border to Laos at HuayXai, then rode all the way to south Laos and today fucked-up in Cambodia border..

I was so polite at the border, also offered some money to the guys, asked him to call his boss also, because I read all the story that sgBikerBoy wrote here.. But noooo..

I was planning to leave my bike in Cambodia for one year, cannot ride again to Malaysia and cannot leave the bike in Thailand..

So I have to try Osmach or Had Lek? Need your advises and help...

@Motoroman, aww... I hate to hear stories like this, but I'm glad at least you managed to get yourself AND your bike back into Laos. I've heard even more horrible stories of motorcycle travellers getting stuck in no-man's-land and were allowed to re-enter the previous country sans bike.

But now that I see that you're back in Thailand, I hate to break another piece of news to you, (if you did not already know this) - from 31Dec2016 on, with the exception of Malaysians, all other citizens who enjoy visa-exemptions to Thailand (including Singaporeans and Turkish, amongst others) are only allowed TWO overland border crossings INTO Thailand within ONE calendar year. Beyond that, you'll need to apply for a visa to enter Thailand overland.

Assuming that you entered Thailand from Malaysia after 31Dec2016, you have now re-entered Thailand from Laos (2nd time), your year's quota seem to have been utilised. So if you have any plans of entering Thailand overland within the year, be advised to do the necessary visa applications before trying to cross the border.

More info here:
Summary of Countries and Territories entitled for Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival on Thailand | Royal Thai Embassy

 

[Thorsten S.]

March 2017: I can confirm that you cannot cross this border at Veun Kham / Stung Treng from Laos to Cambodia on a Vietnamese registered bike. At least no scams were tried on me, and all officers were very friendly and helpful. But I had to go back to Laos unfortunately and could not enter Cambodia.

 

[DavidFL]

March 2017: I can confirm that you cannot cross this border at Veun Kham / Stung Treng from Laos to Cambodia on a Vietnamese registered bike. At least no scams were tried on me, and all officers were very friendly and helpful.

You say " you cannot cross this border "but all officers were very friendly and helpful.
I'm confused yes or no you were able to cross from Laos into Cambodia successfully?
Or you were turned back on the Cambodian side by very friendly helpful staff?

 

[Thorsten S.]

You say " you cannot cross this border "but all officers were very friendly and helpful.
I'm confused yes or no you were able to cross from Laos into Cambodia successfully?
Or you were turned back on the Cambodian side by very friendly helpful staff?

Yes, Cambodian staff send me back to Laos. No way to enter Cambodia for me at this point.

Friendly and helpful in the way that Lao staff already warned me that I wouldn't be able to cross, and allowed me to give it a try without stamping me out of Laos. When I asked customs on Cambodian side if it is possible to cross the staff was very friendly again, but explained that I need some permission to import a bike which I can't get at this border.
Since I wasn't stamped out of Laos I could return without problem and no need to get a new visa or what so ever.

 

[DavidFL]

Yes, Cambodian staff send me back to Laos. No way to enter Cambodia for me at this point.

Friendly and helpful in the way that Lao staff already warned me that I wouldn't be able to cross, and allowed me to give it a try without stamping me out of Laos. When I asked customs on Cambodian side if it is possible to cross the staff was very friendly again, but explained that I need some permission to import a bike which I can't get at this border.
Since I wasn't stamped out of Laos I could return without problem and no need to get a new visa or what so ever.

Too bad you couldn't cross, but fantastic that the border staff were so helpful.
Thanks again for the update.

 

[max-pain]

did anyone recently go from cambodia into laos on a thai registered bike?
i am currently trying to get the +30day export extension but this seems to be the next problem.

 

[DavidFL]

did anyone recently go from cambodia into laos on a thai registered bike?
i am currently trying to get the +30day export extension but this seems to be the next problem.

How did you go?
Did you get across the border ok?

 

[max-pain]

How did you go?
Did you get across the border ok?

I changed my plans and went biking in Sulawesi instead. I didn't have much wiggle room for problems due to my visa situation, so decided to go somewhere else.
Which was a good decision as there were floodings in Laos during that time.

I did, however, phone with someone at the border point and asked about the +30 day extension and she told me I can get it at any Thai embassy. I wrote an email to the embassy in Laos but never got an answer.

 

[maxmaxmax]

I did managed to cross from Thailand's Ban Hat Lek border over to the Cham Yeam in Cambodia.
No hassles, went to the custom counter and they just ask me to go.

When I exit at the Stung Teng border in Cambodia to Laos, the custom officer told me it was wrong not to process any custom papers, but he let me go, without any penalty.

More details can be found on my blog -> Max's Motorcycle Diary