Introducing Poipet
Long the armpit of Cambodia, notorious for its squalor, scams and sleaze, Poipet (pronounced poi-peh in Khmer) has recently applied some deodorant, at least in the casino zone adjacent to the Poipet–Aranya Prathet border crossing with Thailand. Based mainly on the custom of Thais, whose own country bans gambling, eight casino resorts with names like Tropicana and Grand Diamond City are helping turn the town into the Las Vegas of Cambodia, though outside the casino zone it’s still a trash-strewn strip mall sprinkled with dodgy massage parlours. In a sign that Poipet is starting to attract Khmers, it has begun hosting outdoor concerts of Khmer pop music.
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Poipet offers a lively, chaotic welcome to Cambodia, the Khmers’ gentle side little in evidence, but don’t worry – the rest of the country does not carry on like this.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: e-visa for Cambodia, works well on Poipet crossing?
by sushiside 08 September 2011
Hi, I came back. Bangkok but expecially Cambodia were amazing, best trip evere :) About e-visa: it worked, no scam, but I don't know if…
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RE: Bus to Angkor Wat from Bangkok
by gearsau 07 September 2011
#14, The taxi takes two hours from Poipet to Siem Reap.. Cant see any of those buses doing in that time. I did the return trip last year…
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RE: e-visa for Cambodia, works well on Poipet crossing?
by gearsau 06 September 2011
Agree.. I will be going through on my 5th visit in 18 months. Always eVisa.. Can take them out when finished. My current passport has…
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