Sporadically fought between 2008 and 2011, the Little War – as it is sometimes known – had an enormous impact on Cambodia-Thailand relations that still rankles to this day. Even now, the border crossing at the foot of the temple’s steps remains closed and the 11th century ruins are off limits from the Thai side.
The area was once a lucrative business zone. Thai tourist operators boasted a perfectly sealed highway all the way to the border and the temple’s footsteps, and dodgy tour guides in Bangkok would even erroneously claim there was no access at all from the Cambodian side.
The only way up, they said, was through their border gate at Pha Mor E Daeng.
In full: https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/thai-mps-urge-talks-with-cambodia-over-access-to-preah-vihear/
