Crossing Vietnam's land borders: Cambodia, Laos and China

For Cambodia, take a direct bus from Ho Chi Minh City through Moc Bai, or the speedboat from Chau Doc. For China, take the overnight train from Hanoi to Nanning. For Laos, sort your Lao visa first: Laos’s e-visa isn’t valid at any crossing with Vietnam. Whichever way you go, check that your Vietnamese e-visa names the crossing you’ll use.

Where are you heading?

Phnom Penh, from Ho Chi Minh City: take a direct bus through Moc Bai, which crosses to Bavet in Cambodia. Giant Ibis leaves its office on Pham Ngu Lao Street at 08:00, 09:45 and 15:45.Giant Ibis (opens in a new tab)giantibis.com The trip takes about 6 hours, and the crew takes passports to Cambodian immigration at the lunch stop.Giant Ibis (opens in a new tab)giantibis.com Bavet issues visas on arrival and accepts Cambodia’s e-visa.Royal Embassy of Cambodia, UK (opens in a new tab)cambodiaembassyuk.org
Phnom Penh, from the Mekong Delta: take Hang Chau’s speedboat from Chau Doc. It leaves daily at 07:00 and reaches Phnom Penh at 13:30. The fare is 1,640,000 VND until June 2027.Hang Chau (opens in a new tab)hangchautourist.vn It crosses at Vinh Xuong, which takes Vietnam’s e-visa.Viet Nam News, August 2023 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vn The Cambodian post, Kaam Samnor, issues visas on arrival.Royal Embassy of Cambodia, UK (opens in a new tab)cambodiaembassyuk.org For buses to Chau Doc, see the Mekong Delta.
Laos: cross at Lao Bao in Quang Tri or Cau Treo in Ha Tinh. Both take Vietnam’s e-visa.Viet Nam News, August 2023 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vn Laos’s e-visa works at only nine ports, none of them on the Vietnam border.Lao e-visa (opens in a new tab)laoevisa.gov.la Unless your passport is visa-exempt, get a visa from a Lao embassy before you go,Tourism Laos, January 2025 (opens in a new tab)tourismlaos.org or check the immigration department’s checkpoint list for visas on arrival.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
Nanning, by train: take MR1 from Hanoi’s Gia Lam station, daily at 21:20, arriving at 10:06. One way costs about 1,000,000 VND, and you clear immigration at Dong Dang and at Pingxiang in China.VietnamPlus, May 2025 (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn It was still running nightly in May 2026.Viet Nam News, May 2026 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vn Since December 2025, Dong Dang station takes Vietnam’s e-visa.VnExpress International, December 2025 (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net Check China’s entry rules for your passport before you go.
China, from Sapa: take a taxi from Lao Cai station, about 2 km away, to the border gate for Hekou. It usually opens 07:00 to 22:00 Hanoi time, which is 08:00 to 23:00 in China.Vietjet (opens in a new tab)vietjetair.com See Sapa for the night train to Lao Cai.
China, from the coast: cross at Mong Cai to Dongxing. Since 23 March 2026 most travellers use the Bac Luan II bridge, open 07:00 to 20:00 Hanoi time, or 08:00 to 21:00 in China.Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam, March 2026 (opens in a new tab)thoibaotaichinhvietnam.vn

Whatever you choose

Check that your Vietnamese e-visa lists the crossing. E-visas only work at the entry and exit points you pick when you apply.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk See the list.
Entering Vietnam overland? Get your visa first. Don’t expect one at a land crossing.Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (opens in a new tab)vietnam.travel See entry rules.
For a Cambodian visa on arrival, bring a photo and US dollars.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk

If it doesn’t go to plan

Asked for extra fees at the Cambodian border? Officials and tour operators at land borders can ask for unofficial fees or inflate visa prices.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk Apply for Cambodia’s e-visa at least four days ahead instead,GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk and use Bavet.
Nanning train cancelled? Storms have stopped it before, including on 9 October 2025.Bao Van Hoa, October 2025 (opens in a new tab)baovanhoa.vn Cross by road at Huu Nghi, also in Lang Son, which takes the e-visa.Viet Nam News, August 2023 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vn
Chau Doc boat not running? Cross by road at Tinh Bien, also in An Giang. The Cambodian post, Phnom Den, issues visas on arrival.Royal Embassy of Cambodia, UK (opens in a new tab)cambodiaembassyuk.org
No Lao visa? Fly in instead. The Lao e-visa works at Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports.Lao e-visa (opens in a new tab)laoevisa.gov.la

Which crossings take Vietnam’s e-visa

Vietnam’s e-visa works at 27 land crossings. The first 16 are on the Immigration Department’s list.Immigration Department (opens in a new tab)evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vnViet Nam News, August 2023 (opens in a new tab)vietnamnews.vn The other 11 were added in December 2025.VnExpress International, December 2025 (opens in a new tab)e.vnexpress.net

To Cambodia: Moc Bai, Xa Mat, Tinh Bien, Vinh Xuong and Ha Tien. Since December 2025, also Le Thanh, Binh Hiep, Tan Nam, Thuong Phuoc and Dinh Ba.
To Laos: Tay Trang, Na Meo, Nam Can, Cau Treo, Cha Lo, La Lay, Lao Bao and Bo Y. Since December 2025, also Long Sap and Nam Giang.
To China: Mong Cai, Huu Nghi and Lao Cai by road. Since December 2025, also the Dong Dang and Lao Cai railway crossings, Tra Linh and Thanh Thuy.

Cambodia’s visa rules

Visas on arrival are issued at all nine crossings with Vietnam that the Cambodian embassy lists, including Bavet, Kaam Samnor, Phnom Den and Prek Chak. It lists the e-visa only at Bavet.Royal Embassy of Cambodia, UK (opens in a new tab)cambodiaembassyuk.org
Tourist visas last 30 days from entry.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
Your passport must be valid for six months and undamaged.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
The e-Arrival card is for arrivals by air at Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk

Laos’s visa rules

The e-visa works only at Wattay, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports, Friendship Bridges I, II and IV with Thailand, Boten checkpoint and station, and Khamsavath station. It takes three working days and gives a 30-day stay.Lao e-visa (opens in a new tab)laoevisa.gov.la
None of those is on the Vietnam border, so get a Lao visa from a Lao embassy before you travel overland.
Your passport must be valid for six months, with two blank pages.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk

The Nanning train

Book on dsvn.vn (opens in a new tab), Vietnam Railways’ site,VietnamPlus, October 2025 (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn or at any station in Vietnam.Tuoi Tre News, July 2025 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Collect your ticket at the station, arriving about an hour early. The online receipt won’t get you on board.Bao Van Hoa, October 2025 (opens in a new tab)baovanhoa.vn
Bring your physical passport and visa to buy a ticket.Tuoi Tre News, July 2025 (opens in a new tab)news.tuoitre.vn
Going back: MR2 leaves Nanning at 18:05 and reaches Gia Lam at 05:30.VietnamPlus, May 2025 (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn
Going beyond Nanning: on Tuesdays and Fridays MR1 runs on to Beijing West.VietnamPlus, July 2025 (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn Buy those tickets at a station.VietnamPlus, October 2025 (opens in a new tab)en.vietnamplus.vn

Near the border

Villages close to the border may need a permit from the provincial police. These areas aren’t always marked.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk
Unexploded weapons are a particular risk along the Laos border.GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)gov.uk