This deserted border town has no tourist infrastructure aside from a border crossing with Thailand’s Si Saket Province.
This crossing is the only reason for tourists to visit, and there’s no reason to stay overnight unless you are drawing some hot hands at a card table in one of the town’s two casinos.
From O’Smach it’s a short distance to Anlong Veng, where many Khmer Rouge leaders were based from the late 1970s until most were arrested or met their demise. Their homes and graves are the sole tourist attraction in the region. The countryside is attractive but riddled with land mines and holds little of interest for most tourists.
Those bound for Siem Reap can arrange transportation at the border in O’Smach. Be advised that border crossing fees vary, and there are numerous scams in place gouging tourists for extra fees and penalties. The price posted at the border is all that’s required by law but insisting on this will not expedite crossing.
Where to Go
Nearby attractions:
- Dangkrek Mountains: While venturing into the countryside is unwise, the road leading into these mountains is safe and littered with deserted tanks left by the Khmer Rouge.
- Anlong Veng: The town where Pol Pot lived and died has become a place of interest for those wanting insight into the leader of the Khmer Rouge.
Getting There
O’Smach is opposite Si Saket Province in Thailand, which is roughly 9 hours from Bangkok by bus (slightly longer by train). From O’Smach tourists can continue on to Anlong Veng, which is just a few miles away. Siem Reap is the universal destination for anyone in this part of the country and can be reached via a 4 to 6 hour ride by shared taxi. The international airport in Siem Reap is well connected to regional capitals.
Need to Know
- What to do: cross the border to or from Thailand.
- Best time to go: from late November to April when the weather’s dry.
- How long? As little time as it takes to cross the border.
- Trivia: O’Smach is part of Cambodia’s smallest province.