Laos-Cambodia border corruption
After leaving Don Det and the 4000 islands in Laos we wanted to head to Siem Reap, Cambodia. We hopped on a bus and headed for the Dom Kralor border crossing. The corruption on the border is far worse than expected. We expected to pay US$20 for the Cambodia visa with a "processing fee" of US$1-2. This is WAY off!
We arrived at the Laos border and were requested to pay US$2 per passport to stamp out. A little more than we would have liked to pay for the bribe but there wasn't much choice (although we did short change the guy and gave about US$3 for both of our passports).
We then enter Cambodia and are required to pass through a health inspection. To get our passports back we had to pay US$1 per passport. Again, we cheated and I slipped the guy only US$1 for both passports and walked away quickly.
Next to get our visa. Again, it is known that the Cambodian visa costs only US$20. On this border crossing they wanted US$23 per visa. We were a large group of people and we started to argue the price difference. The border officials then started bargaining with us and offered US$22! We laughed at them and the price was immediately raised back to US$23.
A few of us decided to stand our ground and pay only the official price. We were just ignored! In the end we had to cave-in and pay their "special" price. Gadi and I got away with paying US$45 for both passports so we saved an additional dollar. A small defeat.
You'd think that it was all over, but no. Once we got the visa we stood in another line-up to get the visa stamped. Guess what? They wanted another US$1 per passport! At this point I said I had no more money left. I whipped out my wallet and showed them the empty folds. They agreed to do it for free for me. Another small defeat and another US$2 saved.
Finally got our Cambodian visa
After the whole ordeal we boarded the bus again. We looked out the window at the health inspector just in time to catch him pocketing the cash. It is just infuriating!
In the end, the visa which should cost only US$20 turned out to cost much more. If you payed all the requested bribes the Cambodian visa costs US$27! Be prepared to have extra cash and it is best to bring US dollar bills.
I wish you all the strength and patience!
November 23rd, 2009 - 03:27
thx for sharing your experience. we were wondering how our land border crossings would go.
enjoy Australia!
c & j
February 3rd, 2010 - 03:55
At the Koh Kong Thai / Cambodian border, visitors entering Cambodia are routinely charged an entry fee of 1200 baht (approx $30 US). This is outrageous corruption and the officials there will also refuse to accept payment in US Currency.
There is also a bogus ‘quarantine health check’ where an official will take your temperature by means of insertion of a digital thermometer into your ear. You will then be presented with a certificate confirming you are free of H1N1 virus and be expected to pay a further 20 baht for this health check. Once again outrageous corruption which also may pose a health risk to travellers as the ear thermometer is sterilised after each use by wiping it on the officers trouser pant leg.
April 20th, 2010 - 03:16
I recently went to Cambodia for the first time via the Koh Kong border. After paying the usual corrupted fees i asked one of the many scammers how i could get to Sihanoukville. There were no buses to my ultimate destination so the only way was for me to hire a taxi for 4000 baht ( why in baht when i was in Cambodia i wondered ? i should have smelt a rat then ) I asked about a hotel and bus from Koh Kong to Sihanoukville the next day but his reply was, you guessed it ‘Not Have’ it was getting late and i was frustrated so i took the taxi at the discounted price of $100 US for the 4 hour trip. Two weeks later on the return trip to the border on a bus i asked Jeff who sat next to me what he paid for his taxi to Sihanoukville. He replied ” i stayed in a hotel at Koh Kong for the night and caught a bus the next day for $10″ , my face dropped.