Vietnam forum

Cambodian Visa In HCMC - Visa at the border?

aarondl

newbie
Posts: 3

My wife and I visited the Cambodian consulate in HCMC to try to avoid any issues at the Cambodian border. First, they close at 11:30 until 2 pm, so we were out of luck at 11:35. Anyhow when we returned, we were told that visas would cost 500,000 dong each (they don't accept USD). I told him I was positive that it was only $20, or 360,000 dong; he replied that it would a rush, since it was after noon and so would cost 100,000 dong more. Obviously the extra 140,000 dong each were destined for his pocket, so we got his name from the application (which he didn't like) and assured him that we'd report him when we get to Phenom Phen, which we probably won't. We were just trying to get him to cave. After that, his english diminished until he didn't speak a word.

Anyhow, we didn't the visas, we refused to pay his bribe. I have been assured by several Vietamese people that there will be no problem getting a Cambodian visa on the border. Is this true? Am I going to have to fight for a good price, which I unsuccessfully had to in Laos? What a bunch of crap.

#1 Posted: 31/10/2009 - 17:57

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sayadian

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no problem at all getting a tourist or a business visa at the border for the correct price.There's a small scam involving the bus.Theyll collect all the passports and tell you it's much quicker for them to do it en bloc and charge you an extra $5 for the service.There's no need to give them your passport you can do it yourself and save the $5.They'll make you wait until last but the bus can't go until all the passports are done so it makes no difference.In my case the immigration officer, looking very sour, asked me why I wanted a business visa.Believe me that is an unusual question for a Cambodian immigration official to ask and was obviously his only ploy to get revenge for losing his commission.I replied.'For business.''oh' he said and duly stamped my passport.

#2 Posted: 1/11/2009 - 03:27

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