Thailand Closes Land Border with Cambodia Amid Escalating Dispute
Thailand has closed its land borders with Cambodia as tensions continue to rise following a border skirmish in May that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier. The announcement on June 24th was sudden, leaving many tourists, workers, and locals stranded on the wrong side of the border.
This is the latest retaliation in an escalating border dispute between the two countries that will have significant consequences for locals, business owners, and tourists in the region.
The Thai/Cambodian Border Clash of 2025
Thailand and Cambodia have been at odds over their official borders since they were drawn up during the French occupation of Indochina over 70 years ago. Tensions over which country has sovereignty over small portions of the border have flared up frequently over the decades, and the border dispute has often been used as a political tool by both sides. By rallying patriotic sentiment or dissatisfaction with certain administrations due to their mishandling of the situation, the persistent border conflict helps achieve unrelated political goals.
This ongoing dispute has regularly led to armed clashes between the Thai and Cambodian militaries, and at least 28 people have died as a result of these skirmishes since 2008. Despite the recurring conflict, locals living on the border cross daily to work, study, conduct trade, or seek medical treatment.
The latest clash flared up in April 2025 after the Thai Air Force reported that Cambodian soldiers had encroached upon disputed territory and built a military outpost. The armed clash that took the life of a Cambodian soldier occurred not long after, in May.
Another contributing factor to the hostilities is the proliferation of so-called “scam centers” operating out of Cambodia. These criminal enterprises target tourists and Thai locals, operating online and phone scams from facilities not far from the border. Cambodia’s failure to sufficiently address this problem in recent months is often cited as a major factor in this escalation.
Thai Military Closes Land Borders with Cambodia
On June 24th, 2025, the Thai military made a sudden announcement that the land border checkpoints with Cambodia were to be sealed off until further notice due to national security concerns. These crossings are located across Buri Ram, Sa Kaeo, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
Initially, all traffic was closed off without explanation, leaving unsuspecting tourists, day workers, students, and other local residents stuck on the wrong side of the border. In some areas, riot police were dispatched to prevent unlawful crossings.
After an initial uproar, the military has now announced that it will be allowing crossings by humanitarian workers, medical patients, students, and those conducting “activities necessary to the people’s everyday life.” Local military units have been granted discretion over who to allow across the border.
Despite these allowances, all vehicles, tourists both foreign and Thai, and all forms of trade are barred from crossing the Thai border into Cambodia. This closure has greatly affected the local economy on both sides, with grocery stores, transport companies, and other businesses that rely on the open border shuttering their doors until crossings are permitted again. Some business owners report that the impact is worse than the travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guidance for Travelers Between Cambodia and Thailand
Travelers are largely barred from crossing into Cambodia overland, but air travel remains unrestricted between the two nations. Thais, Cambodians, and foreigners are all still able to acquire visas and travel between the two countries as normal, at least for now. No announcement has been made on when the land borders will reopen or if further restrictions will be put into place, and tensions between both countries remain high.
If you have plans to travel between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025, stay abreast of current diplomatic relations and immigration policies between the two nations. If you are unsure about your plans or need professional assistance with acquiring a visa, contact Siam Legal.
We are a full-service law firm and visa consultancy that has been helping travelers to and from Thailand acquire the necessary paperwork swiftly and smoothly. Our experienced visa agents and legal advisors can provide advice on your travel plans and guide you through the application process for the visa that best meets your needs.
Category: Travel to Thailand
