Visas, borders and practical travel in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Getting across
Border crossings: which visa works where
This is the table we wished existed when planning overland: every land and river crossing between Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos that foreign travellers use, what each side accepts, reported hours, and the source for each line with the date we checked it.
Contents
How to read these tables
Each row is one crossing, named on both sides. The columns answer the two questions that decide whether you get through: does the country you are leaving let you out here, and does the country you are entering let you in with the document you hold.
- Vietnam e-visa: whether the Vietnamese gate is on the government list of e-visa ports. "Since 2023" means on the original list; "Listed December 2025" means added by Resolution 389/NQ-CP.
- Neighbour's entry: what the Cambodian or Lao side issues or accepts for tourists.
- Hours: opening times as reported by an independent guide. Where we have no report, the cell says so.
Visa-exempt travellers entering Vietnam do not need the e-visa column; it matters for everyone else and for anyone whose exemption does not cover the trip.
Vietnam and Cambodia
| Vietnam side | Cambodia side | Route it serves | Vietnam e-visa | Cambodia entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moc Bai | Bavet | Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh road; the main bus route | Since 2023 | E-visa or visa on arrival |
| Xa Mat | Trapeang Phlong | Tay Ninh – Kampong Cham | Since 2023 | Visa on arrival; e-visa not accepted |
| Tinh Bien | Phnom Den | Chau Doc – Takeo – Phnom Penh by road | Since 2023 | Visa on arrival; e-visa not accepted |
| Vinh Xuong | Kaam Samnor | Mekong boat Chau Doc – Phnom Penh | Since 2023 | Visa on arrival; e-visa not accepted |
| Ha Tien | Prek Chak | Ha Tien and Phu Quoc – Kep and Kampot | Since 2023 | Visa on arrival; e-visa not accepted |
| Le Thanh | O Yadav | Central Highlands – Ratanakiri | Listed December 2025; reported not yet working | Visa on arrival; e-visa not accepted |
| Binh Hiep, Thuong Phuoc, Dinh Ba, Tan Nam | Not confirmed | Smaller Mekong Delta and Tay Ninh crossings | Listed December 2025 | Not confirmed by us |
Hours for the Vietnam–Cambodia crossings were not published by a source we could check. The buses on the Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh road run from about 06:30 to 15:00 and take around six hours including formalities; the Chau Doc boats leave at 07:00 and 07:30 and take five to five and a half hours. Both are timed around daytime opening.
Sources: Government of Vietnam news portal — Resolution 389/NQ-CP on e-visa ports; Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — new e-visa border gates; Travelfish — Vietnam visas (independent guide); Travelfish — Cambodia visas and borders (independent guide); A Social Nomad — Vietnam to Cambodia overland (travel blog) · last checked .
Vietnam and Laos
| Vietnam side | Laos side | Hours (reported) | Vietnam e-visa | Laos entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tay Trang | Pang Hok | 07:00–19:00 | Since 2023 | Visa from an embassy advised |
| Long Sap | Pa Hang | 07:00–19:00 | Listed December 2025; reported not yet working | Visa from an embassy advised |
| Na Meo | Nam Soi | 07:30–19:30 | Since 2023 | Visa from an embassy advised |
| Nam Can | Nam Khan | 07:00–19:00 | Since 2023 | Visa from an embassy advised |
| Cau Treo | Nam Phao | 07:00–19:00 | Since 2023 | Visa from an embassy advised |
| Cha Lo | Na Phao | 07:00–20:00 | Since 2023 | Visa from an embassy advised |
| Lao Bao | Dansavanh | 07:00–19:00 | Since 2023 | Visa on arrival reported |
| La Lay | La Lay | 07:00–19:00 | Since 2023 | Visa from an embassy advised |
| Nam Giang | Dak Ta Ok | 07:00–19:00 | Listed December 2025; reported not yet working | Visa from an embassy advised |
| Bo Y | Phou Keua | 07:00–19:00 | Since 2023 | Visa from an embassy advised |
The Lao e-visa is not accepted at any of these crossings. The official portal lists its nine ports, and none are on this border. For Lao entry the safe assumption is an embassy visa, with Lao Bao and Dansavanh as the one crossing an independent guide currently reports issuing a visa on arrival.
Sources: Travelfish — Laos visas and border crossings (independent guide); Lao eVisa official portal — ports of entry; Government of Vietnam news portal — Resolution 389/NQ-CP on e-visa ports; Travelfish — Vietnam visas (independent guide) · last checked .
Cambodia and Laos
| Cambodia side | Laos side | Hours (reported) | Cambodia entry | Laos entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapeang Kriel | Nong Nok Khiene | 06:00–18:00 | E-visa or visa on arrival | Visa on arrival; Lao e-visa not accepted |
There is one crossing between the two countries, on the road from Stung Treng to the Four Thousand Islands and Pakse. It is the only land crossing in this guide where the Cambodian e-visa and a Lao visa on arrival are both reported to work.
Sources: Travelfish — Laos visas and border crossings (independent guide); Travelfish — Cambodia visas and borders (independent guide); Lao eVisa official portal — ports of entry · last checked .
What actually goes wrong at these borders
- Wrong document for the crossing. A Lao e-visa at Lao Bao, a Cambodian e-visa at Kaam Samnor, or a Vietnamese e-visa naming a different gate. Each one means paying again or turning back.
- Arriving after closing. A night bus that reaches the border at 05:00 waits outside until it opens. One that arrives at 19:30 waits until morning.
- Small unofficial charges. Travellers report requests of around USD 1 or 25,000 dong at Ha Tien, and overtime charges at remote Lao posts outside office hours. The UK Foreign Office notes that unofficial fees are asked for at remote crossings.
- Bus staff holding passports. On cross-border buses an assistant often collects passports and fees. It can save time; it also means a mark-up you did not agree to and your passport out of sight.
- No money on the far side. Do not count on an ATM at the crossing. Carry enough US dollars for the visa and enough local cash to reach the next town.
Sources: A Social Nomad — Vietnam to Cambodia overland (travel blog); Travelfish — Laos visas and border crossings (independent guide); UK Foreign Office — Cambodia safety and security · last checked .
Before you buy a cross-border ticket
- Find the crossing in the tables above and note which document each side accepts.
- Check the Vietnamese gate against the official e-visa list if you need an e-visa.
- Check the Lao portal or an embassy if you are entering Laos by land.
- Ask the bus company which crossing the bus uses; some routes have more than one option.
- Carry US dollar notes in good condition, two passport photos and a printed copy of every approval letter.
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Which crossing between Vietnam and Laos is easiest for a visa on arrival?
Lao Bao, opposite Dansavanh, is the one an independent guide currently reports issuing a Lao visa on arrival. For the other Vietnam–Laos crossings, get a Lao visa before you travel.
Are the hours in the tables reliable?
They are reported hours from an independent guide, not official timetables. Treat them as a planning range and arrive well before closing.
Why do some cells say "not confirmed"?
Because we could not find a source we trust for that point. We would rather leave a gap than fill it with a guess. If you have crossed there recently, the contact form is the place to tell us.
What are the hours at the Cambodia–Laos crossing?
The reported hours are 06:00 to 18:00. Check locally before travelling, especially around public holidays.
Related
Read next
Visas and entry
Visas
Side-by-side comparison of e-visas, exemptions and visas on arrival for the three countries.
Visas and entry · Laos
Laos visa
The Lao e-visa and its ports, visa on arrival, the online arrival form, extensions and overstays.
Visas and entry · Cambodia
Cambodia visa
Cambodian visa on arrival, the e-visa and where it works, the e-Arrival card and overstay rules.
Visas and entry · Vietnam
Vietnam visa
The Vietnamese e-visa, the visa-exemption list, which gates accept it, and the customs limits.
Getting across
Getting between
Flights, buses and boats between the three countries, with journey times and the new Cambodian airports.
Planning
Health and safety
Health risks, medicine rules, road safety, methanol, unexploded ordnance and common scams in the three countries.
Start planning
Send a correction or a question
Tell us what a page says, what you found at the border or on an official site, and when. A link to the source helps us check it quickly.