Visas, borders and practical travel in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Countries
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, for people travelling on their own
Short, practical overviews of each country: what a first route usually covers, how many nights it needs, how you get in, which months suit it, and when to leave it out of a trip. Deep guides to single cities belong elsewhere.
Contents
Choose a country
Hanoi · Hue · Ho Chi Minh City
Vietnam
A long country with three climates and an e-visa that ties you to named gates.
Read the Vietnam overview
Phnom Penh · Siem Reap · Kampot
Cambodia
Compact, dollar-friendly, and the easiest of the three for visas on arrival.
Read the Cambodia overview
Luang Prabang · Vientiane · Pakse
Laos
Slow roads, the Mekong, kip-only payments and an e-visa that does not work overland.
Read the Laos overviewSide by side
| Vietnam | Cambodia | Laos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital | Hanoi | Phnom Penh | Vientiane |
| Main international airports | Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang | Phnom Penh (Techo, KTI), Siem Reap (SAI) | Vientiane (Wattay), Luang Prabang, Pakse |
| Usual tourist entry | Visa exemption or e-visa | Visa on arrival or e-visa | E-visa by air; visa on arrival or embassy visa by land |
| Money | Dong | Riel and US dollars | Kip only |
| Driest months, broadly | Varies by region | November to April | November to April |
Sources: TravelMole — Techo International Airport replaces Phnom Penh airport; CNN Travel — Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport opens; Lao eVisa official portal — ports of entry; Vietnam National Authority of Tourism — weather and climate; Travelfish — Cambodia weather (independent guide); Travelfish — Laos weather (independent guide) · last checked .
How the countries fit together
The three share long borders but very different transport. Vietnam has a north–south spine of road, rail and domestic flights. Cambodia is compact, with its two main destinations, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, a day apart by road. Laos is mountainous in the north and follows the Mekong in the south, with roads that are slow in any season.
Overland links are strongest in the south, where Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta connect to Phnom Penh by bus and boat, and in the far south of Laos, where the single Cambodia–Laos crossing joins Stung Treng to the Four Thousand Islands. The Vietnam–Laos crossings are many but remote, and the visa situation on the Lao side is the weakest link of the whole region; see the border tables.
A first trip usually combines two countries rather than three. Vietnam and Cambodia work well overland through the south. Vietnam and Laos work well with a flight between Hanoi and Luang Prabang. Cambodia and Laos link through the southern crossing and suit travellers heading on to Thailand.
What these pages are not
They are not city guides and they do not cover hotels, restaurants or sights one by one. They answer the planning questions that come before that: how long, when, how to get in, what it costs at the fixed points, and when to leave a country out. For the visa detail, each overview links to its country's visa page.
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Can I visit all three countries in two weeks?
You can, with at least one flight, but most of the time goes on transport. Two countries in two weeks is a more comfortable plan.
Which country is easiest for a first visit?
For paperwork, Cambodia, because visa on arrival is still widely issued. For transport and choice, Vietnam.
Do these pages recommend hotels or tour companies?
No. The guide covers entry, transport, money, seasons and safety, and does not list or rate businesses.
Related
Read next
Countries · Vietnam
Vietnam
Route length, regional seasons, entry options and fixed costs for travelling Vietnam on your own.
Countries · Cambodia
Cambodia
Route length, seasons, entry options, the new airports and fixed costs for travelling Cambodia on your own.
Countries · Laos
Laos
Route length, seasons, entry rules, kip-only payments and fixed costs for travelling Laos on your own.
Visas and entry
Visas
Side-by-side comparison of e-visas, exemptions and visas on arrival for the three countries.
Getting across
Border crossings
Crossing-by-crossing tables for Vietnam–Cambodia, Vietnam–Laos and Cambodia–Laos, with sources and dates.
Planning
When to go
Month-by-month seasons for north, central and south Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, with the trade-offs.
Start planning
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