Border areas near Cambodia see tightened security amid regional tensions

The scam-compound crackdown that Thailand and Cambodia have each pursued through 2026 has been accompanied by rising diplomatic and border tension between the two countries, including a temporary large-scale displacement of residents near the frontier earlier in the year. While Thailand's main tourist destinations (Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, the islands) are unaffected, travelers with itineraries that cross into Cambodia by land — including at Poipet — should check current conditions before departure, carry extra time for border crossings, and monitor Thai MFA and embassy advisories. Overland border-hopping visa runs into Cambodia, once common among long-stay travelers, are advised against for the time being.