Major city · Cambodia
Poipetប៉ោយប៉ែត
Treat Poipet as a border crossing, not a destination: cross in the morning, or sleep one cheap night if your bus leaves at dawn.
Poipet is Cambodia's busiest land border with Thailand, facing Aranyaprathet about 6 km away. Almost nobody comes for the town itself: it is a transport hub of casinos, touts and a single main street running southeast from the immigration roundabout. Use it to cross, to sleep one night before an early bus, or to reach Siem Reap and Battambang by road.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Nov–Feb (cool, dry)
- avoid Mar–May (hot, up to 35°C (95°F)+), Sep–Oct (wettest)avoid Mar–May (hot, up to 95°F (35°C)+), Sep–Oct (wettest)
- Airport
- none
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Cambodia ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra. Some nationalities can also get a visa on arrival.
- Cambodia ↗Angkor Wat and other active temples enforce a dress code: shoulders and knees covered, or you are turned away at the gate.
- Cambodia ↗US dollars are used for most tourist prices; carry clean, undamaged small notes and some riel for change under one dollar.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Poipet117 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Poipet, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?US dollars for hotels, tours and restaurants; riel (KHR, about 4,000 to the dollar) for change and small street purchases.Cambodia-wide
- SIM or eSIMSmart, Cellcard and Metfone sell tourist SIMs at the airports with passport registration; a week of data costs a few dollars.Cambodia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Cambodia-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or leave US$1–2 where no service charge is added.Cambodia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/G. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Cambodia-wide
- SafetyPoipet is a border town built on separating travellers from their money.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, restaurants and at the Angkor ticket office and main temples; squat toilets with a hose or scoop on the road.Cambodia-wide
- Emergency numbers117 police · 118 fire · 119 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany shops close for Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben; government offices close all public holidays; Angkor temples open every day.Cambodia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- Airportnone Poipet has no scheduled flights (Nearest practical airports: Siem Reap (REP) about 2.5–3 h by road…
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable; a motodop anywhere in town costs 500–1,000 riel.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealStreet meal (rice or noodle dish)US$1–3
- Beercan at a shop / barUS$0.75–2
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi to Siem ReapMonopoly cartel asks US$25 per taxi; negotiate in dollars.about US$30
- Metro or bus rideBus to Siem Reap (town office / monopoly terminal)US$5
- Budget bedBudget guesthouse room, a night, per roomUS$7
- Mid-range bedBudget guesthouse room, a night, per roomUS$12
- High-end bedBudget guesthouse room, a night, per roomUS$20
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$20 · Mid US$35 · High US$70
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- none Poipet has no scheduled flights (Nearest practical airports: Siem Reap (REP) about 2.5–3 h by road, or fly into Bangkok and cross at Aranyaprathet.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Feb
Best
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Mar
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Apr
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
May
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jun
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Dec
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Dec (20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C) low), wettest Sep (19 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Poipet: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
1 rd
Feb
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
2 rd
Mar
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
4 rd
Apr
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
7 rd
May
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
18 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
19 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15 rd
Nov
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
6 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable; a motodop anywhere in town costs 500–1,000 riel. Tuk-tuks and taxis to Siem Reap or Battambang are the main long-distance options, and the border area has a police-enforced transport cartel (see Watch out).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 2.5–3 h
Bus from town offices (about US$5) or taxi (about US$30); the monopoly terminal charges US$9 by bus
The Angkor base; most travellers are heading here, not staying in Poipet.
Door to door: 2–3 h
Bus from town offices, about US$4
Countryside temples and colonial streets; a natural next stop west.
Sisophon
goDoor to door: 1–1.5 h
Bus, shared taxi or pickup truck on National Hwy 5
Road junction where Hwy 5 meets Hwy 6; change here for Battambang or Siem Reap.
Banteay Chhmar
overnightDoor to door: 3–4 h
Via Sisophon, then onward by road
Remote temple complex; too far for a comfortable return day.
Anlong Veng
overnightDoor to door: 4 h+
Road via Sisophon and Samraong
Khmer Rouge history sites near the Thai border; sleep one night.
Koh Ker
overnightDoor to door: 5 h+
Long drive via Siem Reap or Samraong
Better done as a day trip from Siem Reap.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Main street near the border roundabout
Guesthouses and hotels within 1 km (0.6 mi) of immigration; walkable with bags, or 500–1,000 riel by motodop.Guesthouses and hotels within 0.6 mi (1 km) of immigration; walkable with bags, or 500–1,000 riel by motodop.
Casino strip
Hotel-casinos with pools and restaurants; a step up in comfort, still a short ride from the border.
Aranyaprathet (Thai side)
About 6 km (3.7 mi) away; better food and rooms if you are heading into Thailand, but you must clear Thai immigration.About 3.7 mi (6 km) away; better food and rooms if you are heading into Thailand, but you must clear Thai immigration.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- US$15–25 excl. bed
- Mid
- US$25–45 excl. bed
- High
- US$45+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Budget guesthouse room1 × 1 night × US$7 | US$7 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$20 | US$40 |
| Cambodian visa on arrival2 × US$30 · e-Visa US$36 online; 100-baht fee sometimes demanded | US$60 |
| Bus Poipet → Siem Reap (town office)2 × US$5 | US$10 |
| Taxi Poipet → Siem Reap1 × US$30 · Monopoly cartel asks US$25 per taxi; negotiate in dollars | US$30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$10 | US$20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$17 |
| Trip total≈ US$92 per person per day, bed included | US$184 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; riel is used for change at about 4,000 per US$1. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Guesthouse room (fan / air-con)Prices vary; ask before you take the room. | US$6–15 |
| Street meal (rice or noodle dish) | US$1–3 |
| Beer: can at a shop / bar | US$0.75–2 |
| Motodop within town | 500–1,000 riel |
| Bus to Siem Reap (town office / monopoly terminal) | US$5 |
| Taxi to Siem ReapMonopoly cartel asks US$25 per taxi; negotiate in dollars. | about US$30 |
| Cambodian tourist visa on arrivale-Visa US$36 online; a 100-baht fee is sometimes demanded. | US$30 |
| ATM withdrawal feeCanadia about US$4, ANZ about US$5 (check). | US$4–5 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The transport monopoly: free 'government' shuttles from immigration run to an out-of-town terminal where buses and taxis are overpriced. Walk away from the roundabout and arrange your own ride.
- Visa touts on the Thai side may send you to a fake 'consulate' charging 1,000–1,400 baht (≈ US$35–45); the Cambodian visa on arrival is US$30 (e-Visa US$36 online).
- Anyone offering to change your money to riel is likely scamming; use the fixed street rate of about 4,000 riel per US$1.
- Do not start negotiating with a driver while a policeman is standing next to you; police intervene to take a cut.
- Casinos and late-night bars: keep valuables on you and agree the total before you sit down.
- Check your government's current travel advice for the Cambodian–Thai border area before you travel.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 117
- Fire
- 118
- Ambulance
- 119
Pocket card
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Poipetប៉ោយប៉ែត
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
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ទៅអាសយដ្ឋាននេះTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police117
- Fire118
- Ambulance119
Embassy
No embassies in Poipet; the US and most countries have embassies in Phnom Penh (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Motodop in town: 500–1,000 riel
- Bus Poipet → Siem Reap (town office): about US$5, 2.5–3 h
- Taxi Poipet → Siem Reap: about US$30; cartel asks US$25 per taxi
- Pickup to Sisophon: 10,000 riel inside / 5,000 riel outside
Say or show
- សួស្តី — Hello (sue-saw-day)
- អរគុណ — Thank you (awkunh)
- ថ្លៃប៉ុន្មាន? — How much is it? (thlai ponman)
- ថ្លៃពេក — Too expensive (thlai pek)
- ខ្ញុំមានទិដ្ឋាការ — I have a visa (khnhom mean tidtheakar)
- ស្ថានីយឡានក្រុងនៅឯណា? — Where is the bus station? (sthaney lan krong nov ae na)
Border hours are 07:00–20:00; there is no time difference between Cambodia and Thailand.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Poipet. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb (cool, dry) · avoid Mar–May (hot, up to 35°C+), Sep–Oct (wettest) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Border-crossing contract: Thai immigration, Cambodian visa room, arrival card, and the walk past the tout zone, field-checked.
- Transport rungs: monopoly terminal vs town bus offices vs shared taxi vs pickup truck, with prices and cut-off times.
- Sleep pages with verified rates for the main-street guesthouses and the casino hotels.
- Money and SIM fixtures: ATM fees, riel rate, and where to buy an eSIM before you cross.