| Asia Travel | | | | checkpoint (Bavet, Cambodia/Moc Bai, Vietnam). |
| Asian travel, particularly the independent kind, can | | | | Chau Doc is often used on Mekong river trips and, |
| not only broaden your horizons but also expose | | | | as you might have guessed, is close to Chau Doc |
| you to out-of-the-ordinary sights, | | | | on the Vietnam side. From Chau Doc it is about |
| | | | five or six hours by minibus to HCMC. The Bavet |
| Since I was backpacking during my first trip | | | | route is a common crossing for bus and taxi trips |
| through Cambodia, air transport was not an | | | | between Phnom Penh and HCMC. It usually takes |
| option. So I entered by boat from Vietnam using | | | | six to eight hours by bus and is a good option if |
| the four-day Mekong delta tour from Ho Chi Minh | | | | you want to go straight to HCMC. The main bus |
| City through Chau Doc and up the river to Phnom | | | | companies start and stop in Pham Ngu Lau in |
| Penh. It is sitll in operation and highly | | | | district 1, HCMC. |
| recommended). | | | | To/from Kampot or elsewhere in southern |
| I left Cambodia by boat from Sihanoukville to Koh | | | | Cambodia there are also two main crossings. |
| Kong (now no longer operating), then took a | | | | Phnom Den, Takeo, Cambodia/Tinh Bien, Vietnam |
| moto from the dock to the Thai border. Until | | | | is closer to Kampot than Phnom Penh and also |
| cheap flights from Bangkok began, I generally | | | | close to Chau Doc in Vietnam. In mid-2007 the Ha |
| used overland crossings and still do on occasion. | | | | Tien crossing (Prek Chak, Cambodia/Xa Xia, |
| Whatever, it all goes to show that if you do a bit | | | | Vietnam) opened for foreign travellers. |
| of research, going overland can be an enjoyable | | | | Thailand: the main northern crossing to/from |
| experience and is often cheaper, more scenic and | | | | Phnom Penh or Siem Riep is Poipet |
| include stops in communities that don't get much | | | | Aranyaprathet, Thailand. This route is notorious |
| in the way of tourist traffic. | | | | for officials and transport people overcharging |
| However, these crossings can be fraught with | | | | travellers, so do your research and stay calm. |
| difficulties. So find out ahead of time if entry visas | | | | Many travellers book packages through tour |
| are available at your crossing and be in a position | | | | ncompanies to simplify this trip, but it is not |
| to dispute arbitrary fees at the crossing. Knowing | | | | difficult to arrange for yourself. It has to be said, |
| the "standard" prices can make a big difference. | | | | though, however, the packages are often |
| The standard process usually involves checking | | | | cheaper. On the Thai side, a train takes you easily |
| out of one country and getting to the entry | | | | to or from Bangkok. |
| station of the next. At some crossings the | | | | The main southern crossing used to/from Phnom |
| stations are a short walk, but at others you need | | | | Penh or Sihanoukville, is the Cham Yeam |
| to have transport. There are numerous crossings | | | | checkpoint (Koh Kong, Cambodia/ Had Lek, |
| between Cambodia and Laos, Thailand and | | | | Thailand). With recent road improvements on the |
| Vietnam. | | | | Cambodian side and the bridge to the border, this |
| Vietnam: to/from Phnom Penh the two most | | | | is a more manageable trip and my preferred |
| common crossings are Chau Doc (Kaam Samnor, | | | | crossing. |
| Cambodia/Ving Xuong, Vietnam) and Bavet | | | | |