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Crossing between Cambodia and Vietnam: borders, buses and visas
Most travellers cross at Bavet (Cambodia) and Mộc Bài (Vietnam) on the bus between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, 6 to 7 hours, from about USD 24 for October 2026; Bavet is the only crossing from Vietnam that accepts Cambodia's e-visa. Minivans link Kampot and Kep with Hà Tiên through Prek Chak in about two hours, where Cambodia issues a visa on arrival. Vietnam's own e-visa works at all the main crossings.
The crossings, and which visa works where
| Crossing (Cambodia ↔ Vietnam) | For | Cambodian e-visa | Vietnamese e-visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bavet ↔ Mộc Bài | Phnom Penh ⇄ Ho Chi Minh City buses | Accepted | Accepted |
| Prek Chak ↔ Hà Tiên | Kampot and Kep ⇄ Hà Tiên and Phu Quoc | Not accepted | Accepted |
| Kaoam Samnor ↔ Vĩnh Xương | Mekong boat Phnom Penh ⇄ Châu Đốc | Not accepted | Accepted |
| Phnom Den ↔ Tịnh Biên | No through transport on sale | Not accepted | Accepted |
Entering Cambodia. Cambodia's official e-visa site lists Bavet as the only crossing from Vietnam that accepts its e-visa for entry; Kaoam Samnor, Phnom Den and Trapaing Sre do not, and Prek Chak is not on the list.
Cambodia's embassies in Bangkok and Berlin say a visa on arrival is issued at the international land checkpoints, Prek Chak included: bring a passport photo and US dollars. Cambodia publishes no fee for it; travellers in 2026 report paying USD 30.
Cambodia's e-visa costs USD 30 plus a service fee; the Cambodia visa guide has the details. The free e-Arrival form applies, by the embassy in Berlin, to arrivals by air for now.
Entering Vietnam. Vietnam's e-visa, USD 25 single or USD 50 multiple entry for up to 90 days on evisa.gov.vn, is accepted at Mộc Bài, Xa Mát, Tịnh Biên, Vĩnh Xương and Hà Tiên, and since Resolution 389/NQ-CP of 2 December 2025 also at Bình Hiệp, Tân Nam, Dinh Bà, Thường Phước and Lệ Thanh. VietnamTransportGuide's Vietnam visa guide covers who is exempt.
Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, via Bavet
Buses take 6 to 7 hours including the border. Sold online for October 2026, one adult: Long Phuong at 11:00, 7 hours, about USD 24; Giant Ibis's VIP seater at 09:45, 7 hours, about USD 36.
- Giant Ibis timetable: Phnom Penh → Ho Chi Minh City 04:45, 08:00, 09:45; Ho Chi Minh City → Phnom Penh 08:00, 09:45, 15:45. Online sellers have listed other times for the return, so the time on your ticket counts.
- At the border: everyone gets off at Bavet and at Mộc Bài to pass immigration with their bags. Giant Ibis asks passengers to print their Vietnamese e-visa and can print it at its Phnom Penh terminal.
- Boarding: Giant Ibis leaves from Street 106 by the Night Market in Phnom Penh and arrives at its office on Phạm Ngũ Lão Street in Ho Chi Minh City.
Every company, time and fare, both ways, is on Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City; VietnamTransportGuide's Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh covers the boarding points in Saigon.
From Siem Reap, Giant Ibis also runs a night bus to Ho Chi Minh City at 22:00, about 12 hours through Bavet, with no hotel pickup.
Kampot and Kep to Hà Tiên, via Prek Chak
Minivans cross between Kampot or Kep and Hà Tiên through Prek Chak in about 1 to 2 hours. Sold online for October 2026: Kampot Transports at 08:30 to the border, about USD 10, and at 15:00 into Hà Tiên, about USD 14. Several companies also start from Kep.
To Phu Quoc. Minivan-and-ferry tickets from Kampot and Kep cross at Prek Chak and take the boat from Hà Tiên, 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes in all, from about USD 27. VietnamTransportGuide's Phu Quoc guide covers the boats and the island.
Remember that Prek Chak does not take Cambodia's e-visa: coming into Cambodia here, get a visa on arrival. The Kampot guide covers the town, the train and the island ferries.
Châu Đốc and Phnom Penh
- By boat: Hang Chau's own site says its speedboat runs daily on the Mekong between Phnom Penh and Châu Đốc, about 6 hours, through Kaoam Samnor–Vĩnh Xương. It is not sold online; book with the operator.
- By minivan: the one dated minivan on sale, Ha Tien Xanh, about USD 36 and 8 hours, crosses at Hà Tiên–Prek Chak rather than near Châu Đốc.
- Phnom Den–Tịnh Biên: no through bus or van was on sale for October 2026.
None of the Cambodian posts near Châu Đốc takes Cambodia's e-visa, so entering Cambodia there means a visa on arrival.
Cambodia–Vietnam border: what people ask
Which Cambodia–Vietnam border crossing should I use?
Bavet–Mộc Bài between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City, which most buses use and the only crossing from Vietnam that takes Cambodia's e-visa. Prek Chak–Hà Tiên is the coastal crossing for Kampot, Kep and Phu Quoc.
Can I use the Cambodia e-visa at Prek Chak (Hà Tiên)?
No. Prek Chak is not on the e-visa list. Cambodia's embassies in Bangkok and Berlin say a visa on arrival is issued at its international land checkpoints, Prek Chak included. No official fee is published; travellers in 2026 report USD 30, so bring US dollars and a passport photo.
How long is the bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City?
6 to 7 hours including the border, from about USD 24 sold online for October 2026. Giant Ibis leaves Phnom Penh at 04:45, 08:00 and 09:45; passengers get off at both immigration posts.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
Unless your passport is exempt, yes: Vietnam's e-visa costs USD 25 for a single entry or USD 50 for multiple entries, for up to 90 days, on evisa.gov.vn. It works at Mộc Bài, Hà Tiên, Tịnh Biên, Vĩnh Xương and Xa Mát, among others. VietnamTransportGuide's Vietnam visa guide lists the exemptions.
How do I get from Kampot to Hà Tiên or Phu Quoc?
By minivan through Prek Chak: to Hà Tiên in about 1 to 2 hours, from about USD 10 to the border or USD 14 into town; to Phu Quoc on a minivan-and-ferry ticket, 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes, from about USD 27, sold online for October 2026.
Is there a boat from Phnom Penh to Châu Đốc?
Hang Chau's own site says its speedboat runs daily on the Mekong, about 6 hours, through Kaoam Samnor and Vĩnh Xương; it is not sold online, so book with the operator. Kaoam Samnor does not take Cambodia's e-visa.
Visa authorities and bus companies
- Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs: e-Visa entry ports
- Cambodia official e-Visa portal
- Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa types
- Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok: visa page
- Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Berlin (mfaic.gov.kh): entry points and FAQ
- Cambodia General Department of Immigration: e-Arrival
- Vietnam Immigration Department: e-Visa
- Giant Ibis: phnom penh to ho chi minh
- Giant Ibis: timetable
- Hang Chau Tourist: Châu Đốc–Phnom Penh speedboat