Verified on
Crossing between Cambodia and Laos at Trapeang Kriel
There is one crossing for foreigners: Trapeang Kriel (Cambodia) to Nongnokkhene (Laos), north of Stung Treng, open 06:00 to 18:00 by the Lao register. Vans from Siem Reap reach Don Det in the 4000 Islands in about 8 hours and from Phnom Penh in about 10, from about USD 22 for October 2026. Cambodia takes its e-visa there; Laos issues a visa on arrival but does not accept the Lao eVisa at this crossing.
One crossing: Trapeang Kriel and Nongnokkhene
Foreigners cross between Cambodia and Laos at one place: Trapeang Kriel in Stung Treng province, facing Nongnokkhene in Khong district, Champasak, the 4000 Islands area of southern Laos. The Lao immigration register gives its hours as 06:00 to 18:00; other sources quote later closing times, so go by the earlier one.
Names to watch. Bus companies and older maps still say Veun Kham or Dom Kralor. LaosBusTickets reports that this is the old post, now for local traffic only; Cambodia's e-visa table lists it separately as "Dong Kralo", without e-visa entry, while "Tropaeng Kreal" is the crossing that takes the e-visa. Your bus uses Trapeang Kriel.
On the Cambodian side everything runs through Stung Treng, the nearest town, where the routes from Siem Reap and Phnom Penh meet.
Visas in both directions
Into Cambodia. Trapeang Kriel is one of only two land borders, with Bavet on the Vietnamese border, where Cambodia's e-visa (USD 30 plus a service fee, evisa.gov.kh) is accepted for entry. A visa on arrival is issued there too; Cambodia publishes no fee for it, and travellers in 2026 report paying USD 30, in US dollars.
The free e-Arrival form applies to arrivals by air. The Cambodia visa guide has the details.
Into Laos. The Lao immigration register marks Nongnokkhene with a tick for visa on arrival and a cross for the eVisa: the Lao eVisa is not accepted here, and Laos's eVisa site leaves the crossing off its list of eVisa entry points.
The visa on arrival fee depends on your nationality and is paid in US dollars, in cash. Laos's digital arrival form is used at selected airports and crossings, not this one, by the UK government's advice. LaosBusTickets' Laos visa guide covers fees and exemptions.
Cash. There is no ATM at the crossing: bring US dollars for the visa, in small notes. LaosBusTickets has documented small unofficial "stamp fees" on both sides here for years; know the official price and stay at the official counter.
Buses and vans across the border
Sold online for October 2026, one adult:
| Journey | Example | Time | Fare from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siem Reap → Don Det (4000 Islands) | Van 08:00 → 16:00 | About 8 h | About USD 20 |
| Siem Reap → Pakse | Van and bus 08:00 → 18:00 | About 10 h | About USD 35 |
| Phnom Penh → Don Det | Van 07:30 → 17:30; sleeper 20:00 → 09:30 | 10 to 13 h 30 min | About USD 22 |
The vehicle usually changes at Stung Treng or at the border. Some tickets end at Nakasong, the mainland village for the boat to Don Det, so check whether the boat is included.
These are through tickets with a change of vehicle, at advertised times: about 10 hours from Siem Reap to Pakse, and 08:45 to about 18:15 the other way, about USD 35 to 42 for October 2026. Travellers report arriving an hour or more late, after waits for other passengers and van changes, so do not plan a tight connection.
Going south from Laos, the same companies run from Pakse and the 4000 Islands to Stung Treng, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh; reach the border before the Lao side closes at 18:00. LaosBusTickets' Laos–Cambodia border page and Pakse bus guide cover the Lao side.
Flying instead
Lao Airlines flies between Pakse and Siem Reap in about 55 minutes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 25 October 2026, and there are flights between Vientiane and Phnom Penh. From Siem Reap, see the Siem Reap airport guide.
Thailand to Cambodia through Laos
With the Cambodia–Thailand land border closed, this crossing is the middle of the only overland route between Thailand and Cambodia: Ubon Ratchathani, Vang Tao–Chong Mek into Pakse, then Nongnokkhene–Trapeang Kriel. See the Cambodia–Thailand border guide.
Cambodia–Laos border: what people ask
Where is the Cambodia–Laos border crossing?
At Trapeang Kriel in Stung Treng province, facing Nongnokkhene in Khong district, Champasak, Laos: the 4000 Islands area. It is the one crossing between the two countries open to foreigners.
What time does the Cambodia–Laos border close?
At 18:00 on the Lao side; the Lao immigration register gives 06:00 to 18:00. Plan to reach it well before, as long trips from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh often run late.
Can I use the Lao eVisa at Nongnokkhene?
No. The Lao immigration register marks this checkpoint as issuing a visa on arrival but not accepting the eVisa, and Laos's own eVisa site leaves it off its list of eVisa entry points. Bring US dollars in cash for the visa on arrival.
Can I use the Cambodia e-visa at Trapeang Kriel?
Yes. Trapeang Kriel and Bavet are the only land borders where Cambodia's e-visa is accepted for entry. A visa on arrival is also issued there: Cambodia publishes no fee for it, and travellers in 2026 report USD 30, in US dollars.
How long is the bus from Siem Reap to Don Det?
About 8 hours by van, for example 08:00 to 16:00, from about USD 20 sold online for October 2026. Night bus-and-ferry tickets take much longer, up to 20 hours.
How do I get from Phnom Penh to Pakse or Don Det?
By van through Stung Treng: about 10 hours to Don Det, for example 07:30 to 17:30, from about USD 22 sold online for October 2026, or a night sleeper leaving at 20:00. Pakse is farther north, beyond the 4000 Islands.