The border town of Aranyaprathet
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Many roads lead to aranyaprathet, a place on the border of Thailand with Cambodia. Within a few hours, the place is easily accessible from, for example, the coastal towns of Chonburi, Pattaya, Rayong and Chanthaburi.
Traveling via this last place, the 317 goes straight to Sa Kaew, a distance of about 160 miles. From there to Aranyaprathet you drive on road 33 for about 60 kilometers to the border with Cambodia. If you travel by private transport, don't forget to make a short stop at Watthana Nakhon, located between Sa Kaew and Aranyaprathet.
Opposite the district office of this town is a beautiful park that hardly attracts visitors and is worth a visit. The entrance is free and from the main road your attention will certainly be drawn to the beautiful large animals made of a kind of boxwood plant in the shape of a tree and surrounded by lots of flowers.
Imense market
Driving further you arrive at the border for freight transport and at that place you turn left towards the border (Border is indicated) for private traffic. The place enjoys great fame for its immense market that is held daily. You can find everything you like for cheap prices and if you have mastered the handshake a bit, you can really make your move. Bags, shoes, watches, clothing, tools, household and you name it all. And not to forget all the well-known 'World Brands', fake or real, that's up to you, for a fraction of the real price.
You will also be amazed by the wide range of second-hand clothing and shoes, which can hardly be distinguished from new. On the edge of the market you can find the 'recovery workshops' where the old stuff undergoes a real metamorphosis before it ends up on the market. Unbelievable where it all comes from. Not wanting to walk much is not a problem in this market either, because you can rent a green vehicle that runs on a battery everywhere.
Anchor Wat
While relaxing in one of the restaurants, it is a joy to watch the busy freight traffic between the two countries. Piles of goods, packed in large bales, regularly go by cart, pulled and pushed by a number of youngsters, towards the border.
If you are interested in making a trip to, for example, Siem Reap to see the world wonder Ankor Wat, this border post is a good base. You can go there by bus and for a little more baht travel you with several people per taxi. If you have a little more to spend, you can go there with a private taxi. You can get a visa at the border. Incidentally, there are also buses from various places to Aranyaprathet and the immensely large market is, if the destination is not Cambodia, still a nice trip.
Nice piece, how far is that from Bangkok, can you also book that at a travel agency in Kao San Road??
want to go there sometime, can anyone recommend a hotel ??
gr Harry
There are daily buses to Aranyaprathet from Northern Bus Station (Morchit) in Bangkok. Departure 5.55am arrival 11.35am and next bus departure 13.05pm arrival 17.35pm Price about 200 baht. See also: www.travelfish.org/feature/71
An excellent hotel in Aranyaprathet is the Aran Mermaid price incl breakfast 950 bht.
Of course, those buses mainly drive to bring the Thais to the casinos in Cambodia. There are a few other border crossings in the same region … with a casino in Cambodia.
The market at the border is very large, and if you want to do some shopping there are banks with ATM's. Are you tired? There are coffee shops and restaurants. Watch out for pickpockets because there is quite a bit of Cambodian scum around there on the market and at the border crossing.
Hotel in Aranyaprathet? In the town (which is a few km from the border) there are a few simple hotels, on the edge of the town is the “IndoChina Hotel” where I once spent a night myself and I liked it fine (although it is a somewhat older hotel is).
Border crossing to Cambodia is easy and straight forward. Make sure you have US$ with you to pay for the visa and make sure you have passport photos with you. Ignore all the "touts" who want you. Taxi ride from the border to Siem Reap takes about 90min to 2hrs and costs 1500thb.
Please note that if you do not have a Thai visa, you will only receive a 15-day visa exception when you return to Thailand.
Chang Noi
Chiang Noi, please fill it in ... And please note, if you do have a visa, that you apply for a Re-Entry Permit if you do not have a Multiple Entry.
Very nice to do
but watch out there are many visa and exchange tricks going on
And don't buy tax-free cigarettes at the border, they are much cheaper in Cambodia itself
easy to do from Bangkok by bus or car about 3 hours away. Beware of exchange tricks and make sure you have cash with you.
In the large towns of Siem Riep and Phom phen you can use your ATM card everywhere.
I found the partial 3-lane road a crime. Pay attention if you were going to overtake or that of the other
side was going to happen! I liked the casinos. Music and the occasional free snack and drink.
Everyone could play along for little money. The payout was a ritual in itself.
First call a lady that you had won something. She noted that. Then a boss was called,
you had to sign a form there and then a 3rd person came to pay.
Lots of poverty in Cambodia! A maximum of 2 cartons of cigarettes per person, customs are strict on this, as is the amount of alcohol. Just some experiences with visits to Cambodia from Jomtien.
Sincerely,
Lodewijk
Aranyaprathet is just the place where my eldest brother-in-law his son lives with his family. Maybe you don't know, but in the vicinity (about 20 km above that city) you will also find the emerald triangle (the Emerald triangle): the three country point between Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.
Does anyone know how it is in Aranyaprathet right now?
LOUISE
The sun is shining.
I have lived there for almost 6 years. At the border there is indeed a huge market where everything and anything is sold. You just have to be careful there, because you are constantly approached by sellers of fake mobile phones and branded glasses. The resort is about 3k before the Cambodia border! hotel called Holland Vila, and it looks very nice and modern, although I have to admit that I have never stayed there.