Visas, borders and practical travel in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
On the road
Money, cards and SIM in each country
Three currencies, plus the US dollar that runs alongside them in Cambodia and is banned for everyday payments in Laos. This page covers what to carry, how to pay, and what you need to show when you buy a SIM card.
Contents
Each country at a glance
| Vietnam | Cambodia | Laos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency | Dong (VND) | Riel (KHR), with US dollars widely used | Kip (LAK) |
| Paying in US dollars | Not for everyday purchases | Normal for larger amounts; change often in riel | Prices and payments must be in kip by law |
| Cards | Accepted in cities and larger hotels | Major hotels and established restaurants in cities | Card and QR are the legal routes for foreign-currency payment |
| QR payment for visitors | Varies by bank and app | KHQR widely used; Bakong Tourist app for visitors | QR and POS named in official guidance |
| SIM registration | Passport; subscriber verification rules tightened in 2026 | Passport; registration enforced since 2022 | Expect to show a passport |
| Cash declaration on arrival | Over VND 15 million or USD 5,000 | Not covered here | Not covered here |
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Vietnam entry requirements; Remitly — cash and cards in Cambodia (money transfer service); Laotian Times — amended Law on Foreign Currency Management; Laotian Times — tourism ministry notice on currency use; Simology — SIM registration rules by country (eSIM seller); Biometric Update — Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN on subscriber verification · last checked .
Vietnam: dong, apps and the airport SIM counter
Pay in dong. Larger hotels, supermarkets and city restaurants take cards; markets, street food and small guesthouses work in cash. Customs requires a declaration if you bring in more than 15 million dong, or more than USD 5,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency, which is worth remembering if you are carrying dollars for Cambodian and Lao visas later on.
For city transport, the UK Foreign Office advises pre-arranged transport or the official ride-hailing apps it names, Grab and XanhSM, and warns about people who pretend to work for them. Ordering inside the app, rather than accepting a driver who approaches you, avoids most fare disputes.
Tourist SIM cards are sold at airport counters and need a passport. Vietnam tightened subscriber verification in 2026: under Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN, in force from 15 April 2026, networks check registration against face biometrics, and a subscription that has not been verified can have outgoing calls blocked, then all service, and finally be cancelled. Register at the counter in person and ask the counter staff to confirm the verification is complete before you leave.
Sources: UK Foreign Office — Vietnam entry requirements; UK Foreign Office — Vietnam safety and security; Simology — SIM registration rules by country (eSIM seller); Biometric Update — Circular 08/2026/TT-BKHCN on subscriber verification · last checked .
Cambodia: riel and dollars side by side
The riel is the official currency, but US dollars are used for most larger sums. A common pattern is a price in dollars and change below ten dollars given in riel. Keep both: riel for tuk-tuks, food stalls and small change, dollars for hotels, visas and transport tickets.
Dollar notes need to be in good condition. Torn, taped or heavily marked notes may be refused. ATMs often dispense USD 100 notes, which are fine for a hotel bill and awkward everywhere else; withdraw an odd amount if the machine allows, or break large notes at a hotel or supermarket. The UK Foreign Office also reports travellers being given fake dollar bills as change in shops and clubs, so look at notes before you pocket them.
QR payment is common in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap through the national KHQR system, and the Bakong Tourist app lets visitors pay by QR without a Cambodian bank account. Cards work in major hotels and established restaurants; outside the cities, do not count on them. SIM cards need a passport; registration has been enforced since 2022.
Sources: Remitly — cash and cards in Cambodia (money transfer service); UK Foreign Office — Cambodia safety and security; Simology — SIM registration rules by country (eSIM seller) · last checked .
Laos: kip only, by law
Laos is stricter than its neighbours. Under the amended Law on the Management of Foreign Currency, published in November 2022, payment for goods and services must be made in kip, and businesses may not advertise prices in foreign currencies. In May 2024 the tourism ministry reminded visitors that hotels, restaurants, guides and telecom services must be paid in kip, that foreign currency can only be used through electronic methods such as QR, POS terminals, Visa, Mastercard, WeChat or Alipay, and that both providers and tourists face fines for breaking the rules.
In practice: exchange money at a bank or licensed exchange, pay in kip, and use a card or QR where you want to pay from a foreign account. Street money-changers are part of what the rules are aimed at. Visa-on-arrival fees at the border are the exception, quoted in US dollars.
We could not confirm SIM registration rules for Laos from an official source. Expect to show your passport when you buy one, as in the other two countries.
Sources: Laotian Times — amended Law on Foreign Currency Management; Laotian Times — tourism ministry notice on currency use · last checked .
What to carry across a land border
- US dollars in clean, untorn notes for any visa on arrival, in small denominations.
- Enough local currency of the country you are entering to reach the next town; do not count on an ATM at the crossing.
- Two payment cards from different networks, kept in different bags.
- A phone that is not locked to one network, so a local SIM works on arrival.
Do not change large sums at a border. Rates there are often worse than in town, and you only need enough to get to a bank.
Common questions
Questions readers ask
Can I pay in US dollars in Laos?
Not legally for everyday purchases. The law requires payment in kip; foreign currency is allowed through electronic methods such as card or QR. Visa-on-arrival fees are the exception.
Why do Cambodian shops refuse some dollar notes?
Torn, taped or marked notes are hard for them to pass on or bank. Carry notes in good condition and check the change you receive.
Do I need my passport to buy a SIM card?
In Vietnam and Cambodia, yes. Vietnam also checks subscriber registration against face biometrics since April 2026. Expect the same passport request in Laos.
Should I bring cash or rely on cards?
Both. Cards and QR work in cities; borders, markets, rural guesthouses and visa counters run on cash.
Related
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Getting across
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Crossing-by-crossing tables for Vietnam–Cambodia, Vietnam–Laos and Cambodia–Laos, with sources and dates.
Planning
Health and safety
Health risks, medicine rules, road safety, methanol, unexploded ordnance and common scams in the three countries.
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Visas
Side-by-side comparison of e-visas, exemptions and visas on arrival for the three countries.
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When to go
Month-by-month seasons for north, central and south Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, with the trade-offs.
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Countries
Practical overviews of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos for travellers planning their own route.
Start planning
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