Visas, borders and practical travel in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
Getting across
Getting between Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
There are three ways across: fly, take a cross-border bus, or ride the Mekong. Which one makes sense depends less on price than on distance, the visa you hold, and how many daylight hours you are willing to spend on a road.
Contents
The short answer by route
| Route | Usual way | Journey time | Visa point to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh | Bus via Moc Bai and Bavet | About 6 hours including the border | Cambodian e-visa or visa on arrival accepted |
| Chau Doc – Phnom Penh | Speedboat via Vinh Xuong and Kaam Samnor | 5 to 5.5 hours; departures 07:00 and 07:30 | Visa on arrival only on the Cambodian side |
| Hue – Savannakhet | Daily bus via Lao Bao and Dansavanh | Not published; ask the operator | Lao visa on arrival reported at Dansavanh |
| Dien Bien Phu – Sam Neua | Daily bus through a northern crossing | Not published; ask the operator | Lao visa from an embassy advised |
| Vinh – Phonsavan | Bus via Nam Can and Nam Khan | About 12 hours, 403 km | Lao visa from an embassy advised |
| Stung Treng – Four Thousand Islands | Road via Trapeang Kriel and Nong Nok Khiene | Not published; ask locally | Lao visa on arrival; no Lao e-visa |
| Hanoi – Luang Prabang or Vientiane | Flight | Short flight; check schedules | Lao e-visa accepted at both airports |
| Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh or Siem Reap | Flight | Short flight; check schedules | Cambodian e-visa or visa on arrival |
Times are what travellers and independent guides report, not operator timetables. Road and river times stretch in the rainy season and around public holidays.
Sources: A Social Nomad — Vietnam to Cambodia overland (travel blog); Travelfish — Laos visas and border crossings (independent guide); Lao eVisa official portal — ports of entry; Travelfish — Cambodia visas and borders (independent guide) · last checked .
Flying: the new airports matter
Two of Cambodia's main airports have moved. Phnom Penh's flights switched to Techo International Airport (code KTI) on 9 September 2025, replacing the old Phnom Penh airport (PNH). It sits about 30 km south of the capital, and the drive into the centre is reported at 40 minutes to an hour and ten minutes depending on traffic.
Siem Reap's flights moved earlier, to Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI), which replaced the old airport next to the temples. The new one is about 40 km from the Angkor area. Booking sites sometimes still show old codes or distances, so check which airport your ticket names and budget for the longer transfer.
In Laos, the airports that take international flights and the e-visa are Wattay in Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse. In Vietnam, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang carry most international traffic. Flying between the countries removes almost all the border uncertainty in this guide, because every one of those airports accepts its country's e-visa.
Sources: TravelMole — Techo International Airport replaces Phnom Penh airport; Vietnam News Agency — Techo International Airport inaugurated; CNN Travel — Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport opens; Lao eVisa official portal — ports of entry · last checked .
Cross-border buses
The main bus route is Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh through Moc Bai and Bavet, with several departures between early morning and mid-afternoon. It is also the easiest overland crossing in this guide for paperwork: the Vietnamese side is on the e-visa list and the Cambodian side takes both e-visa and visa on arrival.
Between Vietnam and Laos the buses are longer and slower, over mountain roads. Savannakhet to Hue runs daily. Sam Neua to Dien Bien Phu runs daily. Phonsavan to Vinh is reported at about 12 hours for 403 km. The long through-buses from Hanoi to Vientiane exist but involve a night on the road and a border at dawn.
The UK Foreign Office warns that travel after dark in Laos significantly increases the risk on roads that are in poor condition, with unlit vehicles and livestock. Where you have a choice, take the daytime departure.
Sources: A Social Nomad — Vietnam to Cambodia overland (travel blog); Travelfish — Laos visas and border crossings (independent guide); UK Foreign Office — Laos safety and security · last checked .
On the Mekong
The river crossing from Chau Doc in Vietnam to Phnom Penh is the one Mekong route that links two of the three countries directly for travellers. Boats leave in the morning and handle immigration midway at Vinh Xuong and Kaam Samnor. The Cambodian side issues a visa on arrival; the e-visa is reported as not accepted there.
In Laos, the UK Foreign Office warns that Mekong travel can be dangerous because of changing water levels, strong currents and hidden obstacles. An independent guide notes that in November and December the rivers run high enough to make boat travel easy.
Sources: A Social Nomad — Vietnam to Cambodia overland (travel blog); UK Foreign Office — Laos safety and security; Travelfish — Laos weather (independent guide) · last checked .
When the road is the wrong choice
- When your visa only works at an airport, as the Lao e-visa does.
- When the trip is under two weeks and the overland leg would cost a full day each way.
- In the peak rains, when mountain roads between Vietnam and Laos are prone to delays.
- When you would arrive at a border after its reported closing time.
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Is there a train between the three countries?
Not between Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Laos has a railway to China, and Vientiane's Khamsavath station is an e-visa port for that line.
Which Phnom Penh airport do I fly to now?
Techo International Airport, code KTI, which took over Phnom Penh's flights on 9 September 2025. It is about 30 km south of the city.
Can I do Hanoi to Luang Prabang overland?
Yes, through the north via Dien Bien Phu and the Tay Trang crossing, but it takes days and you will need a Lao visa from an embassy. Most travellers with limited time fly.
Do cross-border buses wait for everyone at the border?
Usually, but not if a passenger is refused entry. Make sure your documents are right before you board.
Related
Read next
Getting across
Border crossings
Crossing-by-crossing tables for Vietnam–Cambodia, Vietnam–Laos and Cambodia–Laos, with sources and dates.
Visas and entry
Visas
Side-by-side comparison of e-visas, exemptions and visas on arrival for the three countries.
Planning
When to go
Month-by-month seasons for north, central and south Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, with the trade-offs.
On the road
Money and SIM
Dong, riel, dollars and kip: cash, cards, QR payments and SIM registration in the three countries.
Planning
Health and safety
Health risks, medicine rules, road safety, methanol, unexploded ordnance and common scams in the three countries.
Countries
Countries
Practical overviews of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos for travellers planning their own route.
Start planning
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