Entry ban for passengers from six counties extended

Hi Joe - I think travellers also need minimum $50k health insurance, to be shown when applying for a visa. Although it would be difficult finding an airline flying internationally at the moment anyway....

The 50k insurance is a requirement to obtain a  visa. How it works for long term extension of stay holders like ER,  EB,  EG is not mentioned in this statement.

There is another tricky thing: if you read it well it concerns passengers from those countries,  not citizens.  So theoretically a German expat stuck in Vietnam could enter Cambodia as he is not a passenger coming in from Germany.

But I wish anyone good luck in explaining this to an immigration officer.

Cheers

Joe

Thanks Joe. It seems for someone that is residing in Vietnam but is American might be able to enter whereas someone departing from America may not. Is that how you read this? It raises questions as well as where would someone get the medical form if they do live in Vietnam but are American or whatever. I assume from Vietnam? Yet I am not Vietnamese. Like we discussed before now is not the time to do any traveling. It just seems daunting and complex with many edge cases depending on how the language is interpreted.

I'm a US citizen. But I've been in the Philippines since February.   I would be traveling direct from the Philippines to PP.  Would I still be denied entry ?

Am American with KH Business Visa expires Sept 2020. Have hotel receipts proving I've been in same place since Arriving in Kuala Lumpur on 10-March-2020. My apartment is in SHV.

What can I expect if-whenever can obtain a flight to Phnom Penh? Any bus or Taxi going to SHV? Normal or upgraded fares? Any info appreciated.

If you read the current restrictions on entry it's like what Joe said earlier. It lists 5 countries or so where there is a block on entry. Some would interpret this to mean travelers arriving from the country and others those with the passport from the country. I heard back from tue movetocambodia website and they believe it's based on the country that issued your passport and not where you have been. Joe wrote about this too. I had same question. I am in Hanoi Vietnam. I'd like to go to Cambodia. I'm a US citizen with US passport. I've been in Vietnam since February. I don't believe I can enter because my passport is from the US. If anyone can prove by entering with a passport from one of the countries but not traveling from that country I'd love to hear the story. I don't believe it's possible. I would wait so I am. Until when? I don't know.

Hello.

Back in Cambodia things are as usual regarding travel to SHV.  Choose either a bus or a taxi and pay the usual price.

There is no lock down,  no curfew,  no alcohol ban. Just social distancing,  wearing a mask and getting temp measured at some malls and restaurants.  Also stay home as much as you can is due.

Bars,  clubs,  most restaurants,  massage salons are closed  but enough restaurants open and others offer delivery or take away.

There have been no new cases in the last 3 weeks so it seems the situation is under control.

Hope this helps.

Cheers. 

Joe

Yeah. I'm in Cebu at the moment. I'm going to go to Manila.  When I get there I am going to go to the Cambodian Embassy and talk real nice.   Hopefully they will give me a visa.     Worth a try.

KUALA LUMPUR may allow travel to KH or VN soon. I'm happy to get back to OP in SHV or Ha Tinh if can get into VN. Would love to get to the Pier in SHV for awhile.

It's not KL that is important,  it's Cambodia or Vietnam that lets you enter the country or not.

As you're US I doubt you would be permitted to enter either country.

But worth a try.  Let us know how it worked out.

Cheers 

Joe

Very Interesting! My Visa says I left Hanoi to KL and have been here since. Now I'd like to return so can afford to attempt to fly when flights become available. Maybe will be sent back here to KL if even allowed to fly. Will see what happens when can locate a flight. Thanks again for your response.

I know things look pretty tough right now, but it's only been a month and a half since it all kicked off. Airlines have started talking about how to make travel safe, airports are talking about how they can screen people at departure, I reckon in another six weeks,  mid June,  countries with low infection rates like Cambodia  Vietnam,  Australia,  New Zealand will allow limited international flights - although the US and Europe will take longer. Their problem is lack of discipline.  The people wont do what they are told, unlike the Asia Pacific countries.  And they will pay the price for it.

I've heard those Americans are suspicious of the Doctor having funded the Wuhan research & Mr Gates who has lots of videos under "depopulation via vaccinations". There are even social media petitions objecting to forced vaccinations for coronavirus.

I want out of Malaysia and have not one but two 12 month retirement Visas, one for VN and the other for KH. Planning to attempt to ride from K.L. up to TH and see if can enter then get train/bus to KH border. Have you heard of any info? Will post my experiences online here.

What I have heard :

You won't be able to enter Th
You won't be able to enter Kh

Stay where you are,  in 1 month time it might be all easier than it is now.

Cheers 

Joe

It's not possible to enter Vietnam either. I'm curious about your Vietnam retirement visa though. Can you tell me what visa this is you have for Vietnam? I have never heard of a retirement visa for Vietnam and I'm living in Hanoi now. There is no entering Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia  on land or air international borders. Why not just wait and see what happens in weeks or a month? I'm not planning on leaving for Cambodia until August. That's when Joe will buy the first beer for me 😀

It could be a while yet before International flights start moving.  Airlines , hotels & tour operators are “talking” it up for a quick start.

Quarantine issues will be the biggest hurdle.  Vietnam & Cambodia have those in place,,BUT from what's happening in Vietnam , the quarantine centres are NOT done right.   They are using dormitory's accommodating up to 8 people in one room.    That's ridiculous.

The testing on arrival uses “kits” that are unreliable & wont detect early infections anyway.  Usually 3 to 5 days before the virus becomes detectable.

So....if 8 people are stuck together in a room , presumably all testing negative on arrival , if one is actually carrying the virus in the early stages , the others are screwed as well after 14 days confined.   Testing is done 4 times ,,,days 1,5,10,14.   

The 72 hour medical certificate is bullshit  as well.  You've got 3 days including  standing in a crowded airport to catch a virus.  You'll probably test negative on arrival tho.   

The insurance is worthless too. Once the pandemic was declared NO insurance will cover costs in relation to it , if the policy was purchased after that date.

Be careful buying advertised tickets from struggling airlines .  If they go “belly up” so does your money.  They were advertising tickets on their websites with NO permission to fly on those dates.    They have bills to pay with zero cash flow. 

I could imagine the quarantine centres in Cambodia wouldn't be too flash.     

Regular passenger flights won't resume until the quarantine situation is sorted out , or got rid of.     Nobody wants to travel under those circumstances unless it's absolutely necessary.

Will the airlines fly near empty planes.????

I flew in from Kuala Lumpur in mid March.......22 passengers.  About 200 empty seats.   They can't keep doing that.

Don't know what the answer is.....if there's a second wave of infections we could all be marooned for a lot longer.   Personally I don't mind provided they make allowances for visa extensions.

Good luck

Yep! I'm staying in Vietnam for 2 years starting in June this year. I found that path today. I'm not counting on anything and expecting nothing. I had hoped perhaps the countries would open land borders first since trade happens a lot on those corridors. It just seemed easier to manage land borders. I'd love to get to Cambodia in August and get a new retirement EOS. Truth is I am very happy now in Vietnam. Hanoi has everything I need. It may be travel does not normalize until end of the year if a second wave occurs and then another wave in winter. Who knows. Seems to me visas or visa free entry and the normal country hopping I love which used to be go to Malaysia, go to Laos, go to Singapore and other nice and friendly countries is not going to be like it was last year ever again. So I will just stay in Vietnam. I can still go where I want. I feel safer in Vietnam so will just stay put.

Two years......You must have got a TRC ...temporary residence card. 

I thought they put those on hold until this border situation clears up.

IATA travel centre.com

I'd that link worked ,,it's the IATA travel centre.com  website that gives the latest border restrictions.  It's apparently updated daily.

Ok looking at this DL category Visa valid from 25 August 2019 until 25 August 2020 purchased in my resident town of Sihanoukville, KH. Of course, it permits multiple entries.

I use it in combination with my multiple entry ER type Extension of Stay issued in Phnom Penh valid 31 January 2020 until 31-Jan 2021
I was in the process of establishing a 2nd residence, when "a friend" invited me to spend a few days in Malaysia. Didn't even bring a change of clothing and got locked down here.

What's up Doc..😆

That DL visa you mentioned......are you sure it isn't the DN 12 mth business visa , multi entry??.   The US citizens get a different deal on the 12 mth DL tourist visas.   

Reason I ask is.....the DNs were trouble for anyone that got them.

Anyway, hope it works out.    If your not stuck in KL , try and get to Langkawi....it's nice & relaxed .

I'm not sure about all the types. My path to get a retirement EOS was to get an ordinary visa in PP and then look up an agent that was suggested. She got me a one year retirement EOS. Joe helped with that process a few years ago. In Vietnam I got the one year tourist visa which requires visa runs every 90 days. I cannot do the visa run so I extended the stamp for 90 days. Later will get the TRC for two years and just stay in Vietnam.

..

In the upper right corner it says Category DL, expiring 25-Aug-2020 with multiple entries.
I also have a couple of Category DL single entries expired after 30 days.
I'm USA, aged 71, pensioner with SS & VA.

To leave KL on public transportation requires a written Polis clearance paper and some "service fee" payment. It would be possible for me to remain here adjacent to Petaling St another month. I would be looking for a larger room, faster Wi-Fi and close to shopping & food. This particular location is RM 800 when paid 30 days in advance.

Don't know about the other class of Visas for VN. Was in a hotel in Ha Tinh that now has my belongings in storage. Usually required the electronic language translator when interfacing with Desk Clerk.

You've got the DL...that's better.

Cambodia  Visa system is the best with regards to retirees.   12 mths, multi entry, renewable in country & reasonable price.   I think when Sihanoukville returns to some form of normalcy , the place will become very popular with retirees .

Flights into SHV & new facilities & accommodation will eventually see it move ahead of surrounding countries.    There's too much indecision & uncertainty with Vietnam & Thailand for retirees.

Cambodia seems to be more stable with their visa policy.

It's getting hard to make a “home” in places that keep moving the goal posts with regard to visas.

Yep. I let the retirement EOS lapse last year when I left for some months. Did not know then about the challenges now. Here in Hanoi just found the right answers to questions. You can change to the TRC without leaving first. It would have been easier to have the Vietnam visa without 90 day visits. If you are in KL and can't leave there are places closer to downtown I've stayed numerous times. I like the area around KL Sentral a lot. If you can go Georgetown is also nice. I had nice Airbnb's there. Melaka is pretty nice too. Georgetown is my favorite for food, fun, history and culture. Closer to Thailand too.

Ontheroad57 wrote:

You've got the DL...that's better.

I was moving up just a few hours south of Hanoi, into Ha Tinh mainly because SHV is like a catepillar going into a caccoon. Construction everywhere. I've been living in the OP - 02 area for coupla years so am comfortable there. But too much construction dust, dirty air, and related complaints. But those 108+ new casinos they're building will indeed change the character of future tourists. Some of those Casino Resorts cost $350/nite. Can you imagine what type of people you'd meet there? I began building an online casino directory over at sihanoukville-casinos.com and wanted to know about who has free food and at what times, where are tournaments being held and how much is at stake,  Amongst other features.

The way things are now in SHV, almost anyone can do almost anything. Loan sharking, prostitution, drug trafficking, "protection / security" I mean you name it. Except online gambling. I believe using arial drones outdoors carries a few restrictions, too. For meeting women that will accompany you that is one of the easiest tasks, simply walk along the beach beginning at the Pier. Hundreds living in tents or just hanging out. They all have "a friend" if you're into that. Beer at .50c a can is "affordable" and nobody goes hungry. Sihanoukville allowed me to begin building a Real Estate empire with an investment of less than $100 due to quality connections. Can't wait to return.

Wow Doc. Hope you get back soon. Sounds like a great life You have there. I'm pretty happy with having nothing. No empires for me.  Sounds like you have done very well for what you want. Hope you find the way to get back.

Sounds like SHV has come a long way...

The ladies are living in tents & drinking 50 cent beers.😆    Obviously the high rollers from the casinos haven't been throwing much cash in their direction.

The high rollers in SHV arrive in limos and leave in tuk tuks. From my Khmer friend in Otres village. Lol.

Ontheroad57 wrote:

The ladies are living in tents & drinking 50 cent beers.😆    Obviously the high rollers from the casinos haven't been throwing much cash in their direction.

Great opportunity here, right? Go to a 2nd hand store and dress up a couple of ladies, bring them with you for free food at some casinos, be friendly with the guests, and see what happens. Sure, the more agressive women hang out in front of nearby Casinos, but if all you want are pretty faces to keep you company at a reasonable fee man oh man this is a fantastic opportunity. And we all know there are lots of shy men unable to hold conversations with local women. Try language teaching as an opener for your ladies. Just an idea or two for entrepreneurs, IMHO

mpmilestogo wrote:

The high rollers in SHV arrive in limos and leave in tuk tuks. From my Khmer friend in Otres village. Lol.

  Just think of how if you could arrange to be "a friend" they referred their friends to, telling their friends to contact YOU as the man to go-to. Tourists want to have fun, so you need to provide what they consider to be fun and entertaining. IMHO