Overland Border Crossings
The Thai crossing at Poipet is the most accessible to
Siem Reap; the
Thai crossing at
Koh
Kong and the Vietnamese crossings at Prek Chak and Phnom Den give
international access to southern Cambodia; and the Vietnamese crossings
at Moc Bai and Chau Doc are most convenient to
Phnom Penh.
|
Aranyaprathet, Thailand/Poipet, Cambodia |
Hat Lek, Thailand/Koh Kong,
Cambodia |
Chong Jom, Thailand/O'Smach, Cambodia |
Chong Sa Ngam, Thailand/Anlong Veng, Cambodia |
Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand/Phsar Prom Pailin,
Cambodia |
Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daun Lem,
Battambang, Cambodia |
Bavet Checkpoint: Moc Bai, Vietnam/Bavet, Cambodia |
Ving Xuong, Vietnam/Kaam Samnor, Cambodia |
Tinh Bien,
Vietnam/Phnom Den, Takeo, Cambodia |
Kampong Cham, Cambodia |
Xa Xia, Vietnam/Prek Chak,
Cambodia (Ha Tien crossing) |
Voeung Kam, Laos/Dom Kralor, Cambodia |
Crossings with Thailand
1.
Aranyaprathet, Thailand/Poipet, Cambodia (Most
direct access to Siem Reap)
2. Hat Lek, Thailand/Koh Kong, Cambodia (Cham Yeam
Checkpoint) (Most direct access to Sihanoukville)
3. Chong Jom, Thailand/O'Smach, Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia
4. Chong Sa Ngam, Thailand/Anlong Veng, Oddar
Meanchey, Cambodia
5. Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand/Phsar Prom Pailin,
Cambodia (Prom Checkpoint)
6. Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daung Lem,
Battambang, Cambodia (Daung Checkpoint)
Crossings with Vietnam
7. Bavet Checkpoint: Moc Bai, Vietnam/Bavet, Svay Rieng, Cambodia
(To/from Phnom Penh)
8. Ving Xuong, Vietnam/Kaam Samnor, Kandal, Cambodia ("The
Chau Doc Crossing") (To/from Phnom Penh)
9.
Tinh Bien,
Vietnam/Phnom Den, Takeo, Cambodia (To/from Phnom Penh or
Kampot/Kep)
10.
Trapeang
Phlong Border Pass:
Xa Mat, Vietnam/Trapeang
Phlong, Kampong Cham, Cambodia
11.
Xa Xia, Vietnam/Prek Chak,
Cambodia ('Ha Tien crossing') - (To/from Kampot/Kep) Newly
opened international border crossing.
12. Le Tanh,Gia Lai Province,
Vietnam/O’Yadaw, Ratanakiri, Cambodia -
Newly opened
international border crossing.
Travelers report Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border. Visa
status is unconfirmed by official sources.
13. Trapeang Srer International
Border Checkpoint, Kratie Province
14. Banteay Chakrey International
Border Checkpoint, Prey Veng Province
Crossings with Laos
13. Voeung Kam, Laos/Dom Kralor, Cambodia
Visas at Overland Border Crossings
See Visas page for prices and other details on visas.
Border crossing with Laos: This is a semi-official crossing. Border
policies are not stable. Cambodian visas are available at the border.
Laos visas are not available.
Border crossings with Vietnam: Cambodian visas are available at
most crossing points including
the Bavet/Moc Bai and Chau Doc (Kaam Samnor) crossings. Vietnamese visas are not available at any crossing.
Border crossings with Thailand: Cambodian visas and 15/30-day Thai
transit visas are available at all Thai/Cambodian border crossings. Thai
transit visas are free of charge. Other types of Thai visas are not
available.
Border
Crossings with Vietnam
Bavet Checkpoint: Moc Bai, Vietnam / Bavet, Cambodia (Route 1 to Phnom Penh)
Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border.
Cambodian E-Visa accepted at this crossing.
The Moc Bai crossing is the closest and most convenient to Phnom Penh
and Ho Chi Minh City. The road from
Phnom Penh, through the Moc Bai
crossing to Ho Chi Minh City is in very good condition except for short
stretches under construction between Neak Loung and
Phnom Penh. At peak
traffic hours and holidays there can be long waits at the Mekong River
ferry crossing at Neak Loung.
Bus: There are several bus companies
offering direct a/c bus service between
Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh
City for $10-$18. No bus change at the border. The trip usually takes about 6
hours.
Phnom Penh does not have a centralized bus
station. Buses from different companies depart from different stations.
In Ho Chi Minh City, most of the bus stations and offices are in the
Pham Ngu Lao area.
Bus Schedules: Phnom Penh to/from
HCMC
Giant ibis Transport
Phnom Penh
to/from HCMC (direct): 8:00, 12:30 (US$18)
HCMC
to/from
Phnom Penh (direct):
8:30, 12:30 (US$18)
Deluxe buses.
Phnom Penh Office and arrival/departure:
#7E0, St. 106,
Tel: 096-9993333
KHAI NAM
Phnom Penh
to/from HCMC (direct): 5:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00,
13:30, 15:00 (US$9-10)
HCMC
to/from
Phnom Penh (direct):
9:00, 14:30, 15:30 (US$9-10)
Phnom Penh Office and arrival/departure:
#56, St. 286, S.K Toul Svay Prey II
Tel: 077-639399, 023-220599, 099-639399
Kumho Samco Busline
Phnom Penh
to/from HCMC (direct): 7:30, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 13:00, 14:30,
15:30 (US$9-10)
HCMC
to/from
Phnom Penh (direct):
7:30, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 13:00, 14:30, 15:30 (US$9-10)
Phnom Penh Office and arrival/departure:
#313, Sihanouk Blvd
Tel: 023-215313, 023-215844
Mekong Express
Phnom Penh
to/from HCMC (direct): 6:30, 7:00, 8:30, 14:00, 15:30 (US$12-15)
HCMC
to/from
Phnom Penh (direct):
6:30, 7:00, 8:30, 13:00, 15:00 (US$12-15)
Deluxe buses.
Phnom Penh Office located at #87 Sisowath
Quay at the corner of Street 102 on the riverfront.
Tel: 023-427518.
Stations located at Phsar Orrusey and at the office.
Phnom Penh Sorya
Phnom Penh
to/from HCMC (direct): 6:45, 8:45, 12:45, 14:45 (US$9.50-11)
HCMC
to/from
Phnom Penh (direct):
6:45, 8:45, 12:45, 14:45 (US$9.50-11)
Phnom Penh Office and arrival/departure:
opposite the southwest corner of Phsar Thmey.
Tel: 023-210359
Phuong Trinh
Phnom Penh
to/from HCMC (direct): 6:00, 9:00, 12:30, 15:00 (US$9)
HCMC
to/from
Phnom Penh (direct): 6:30,
9:00, 12:30, 15:00 (US$9)
Phnom Penh Office and arrival/departure:
#14, street 348, Tuol Svai Prei I
Tel: 017-539268
Sapaco
Phnom Penh
to/from HCMC (direct): 6:30, 8:00, 9:30, 12:30, 13:30, 15:30
(US$8-$16)
HCMC
to/from
Phnom Penh (direct):
6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30 (US$8-$16)
Phnom Penh Office and arrival/departure:
#281, Preah Sihanouk Blvd
Tel: 023-210300, 012-696688, 097-7309309
Virak Buntham
Phnom Penh
to/from HCMC (direct): 1:30 (US$15-$16)
HCMC
to/from
Phnom Penh (direct):
1:30 (US$15-$16)
Phnom Penh Office and arrival/departure: St.
Riverside, North of Night Market
Tel: 016-786270, 012-322302, 088-8797909
Taxi: Local taxis depart
Phnom Penh
from Market Chbar Ampov. Shared taxi costs $5 for a cramped, harrowing
ride to the border. Private taxi for $35. At the border, check through
immigration, walk across the border arrange another taxi or van the rest
of the way to Ho Chi Minh City.
Kaam Samnor, Cambodia/Ving Xuong,
Vietnam ("Chau Doc crossing") (On the Mekong River)
Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border
This Mekong River border crossing is near the Vietnamese city of Chau Doc. Coming
from Cambodia, this crossing is accessed primarily from
Phnom Penh.
From
Phnom Penh,
you will taxi (shared taxi: 15,000 riel) or bus east on National Route #1 to Neak Luong
town (where the Route #1 meets the Mekong River.) to the Kaam Samnor crossing near Chau
Doc (10,000 riel.) Stamp out of Cambodia, take a motorcycle taxi to
Vietnamese Immigration, stamp into Vietnam, and then catch another
motorcycle taxi into central Chau Doc a couple of kilometers away. There are
guesthouses and hotels in Chau Doc. Allot about 5 hours for the trip
from
Phnom Penh to Chau Doc. Mini-vans leave Chau Doc for HCMC
regularly all day long. They can found clustered around the central
market area and cost about US$3/person. The mini-van drivers wait
for a full van before they leave so, to minimize your wait, try to
get into a van that's almost full.
If you'd prefer to buy a package ticket
for the trip from
Phnom Penh to Chau Doc instead of arranging all of
the transport yourself, Capitol Guesthouse in
Phnom Penh offer daily transport to Chau Doc
(by bus and ferry)
for about $7-$8.
Phnom Den, Takeo, Cambodia/Tinh
Bien, Vietnam
Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border
This border crossing in Takeo province Cambodia is about 10 km south
of the the Vietnamese city of Chau Doc. Coming from Cambodia, this
crossing can be accessed from either
Phnom Penh or
Kampot.
From
Phnom Penh, take a shared taxi from
Phsar Doeumkor (Market Doeumkor) to Phnom Den in Takeo province
($8-$10.) Walk across the border to Tinh Bien, Vietnam. From Tinh
Bien, take a motorcycle taxi or car taxi to Chau Doc about 10km
north. From Chau Doc, most travelers continue on to HCMC.
From
Kampot, arrange a taxi to the
border (Phnom Den) through your guesthouse. Private taxi costs about
$30-$40 and take 2-3 hours. If you like, the guesthouse can help to find
other travelers to share the taxi with you and reduce the per person
cost. The taxi will travel through Kampong Trach district of Kampot
province to the border crossing at Phnom Den. At Phnom Den, walk across the
border to Tinh Bien, Vietnam. From Tinh Bien, take a motorcycle taxi
or car taxi to Chau Doc about 10km north. The 'right price' is
reportedly about $3, though drivers ask as much as $10. Don't forget
to bargain! There are guesthouses and hotels in Chau Doc. Mini-vans
leave Chau Doc for HCMC regularly all day long. They can found
clustered around the central market area and cost about US$3/person.
The mini-van drivers wait for a full van before they leave so, to
minimize your wait, try to get into a van that's almost full.
Trapeang Phlong Border Pass:
Xa Mat, Vietnam/Trapeang
Phlong,
Kampong Cham, Cambodia
Cambodian
visas available on arrival at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT
available at the border. (You
must get your Vietnam visa in advance.)
Recently opened.
In Kampong Cham
province, Memot district, bordering the Vietnamese province of Tay Ninh.
Xa Xia, Vietnam/Prek Chak,
Cambodia (Ha Tien crossing)
Cambodian
visas available on arrival at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT
available at the border. (You
must get your Vietnam visa in advance.)
Open
07:00-18:00
The Prek Chak/Xaxia (‘Ha Tien’)
checkpoint is the nearest, most easily accessed border crossing from
Kampot/Kep.
The crossing lies near the Vietnamese towns of Ha Tien and Rach Gia
which are the jump off points to the Phu Quoc Island.
The road from Kampot to the border crossing is in good condition,
taking about 1h-1h30m to traverse. Regularly scheduled multi-daily
vans and mini-buses travel from Kampot, through the border crossing
and all the way to Ha Tien, most in time for the ferry to Phu Quoc.
Price: $8-$11. Arrange a ticket through your guesthouse or a tour
operator in Kampot. If you want to do-it-yourself, a motodup from
Kampot to to the Prek Chak crossing costs about $8; tuk-tuks run
about $15-$20 and a taxi is $20-$25. Some motorcycle taxis from
Kampot are also able to cross the border with you and take you as
far as Ha Tien for an additional $2-$3.
The Phnom Den/Tinh Bien border crossing near Chau Doc Vietnam is an
alternative border crossing with Vietnam accessible from Kampot. It
is not a regular taxi route but taxis to the crossing can be hired
for about $30-$40 for the whole car. 2-3 hours. Contact your
guesthouse to arrange a taxi.
Border
Crossings with Thailand
Visas at Overland
Border Crossings with Thailand
Cambodian visas and Thai transit visas are
available at all Thai/Cambodian border crossings. Thai transit visas are
free of charge. Other types of Thai visas are not available. Cambodia
visas are available at some border crossing with Vietnam, including the
Prek Chak crossing. Vietnam visas are not available at any international
border crossing.
Travelers report that Cambodian immigration at the Cham Yeam crossing
will not accept payment in US dollars and is currently charging 1200
Thai baht for a tourist visa and 1600 baht for a business visa. There
have long been similar reports from the Poipet crossing, though the
practice seems to be on the wane. These days the trick seems to be that
visas are dispenced at the correct price, but for a $5 fee you can get
express service. At peak times of the day, non-express service can take
hours.
A photo
is supposedly required and, unlike the international airports in
Phnom Penh and
Siem Reap, an extra charge of 100B
is sometimes leveled if you don’t have one.
The visa process at the border is straightforward and do-it-yourself.
Touts will insist you need their help to obtain a visa but this is
untrue. Do not accept their ‘assistance’ as it is not necessary and will
only increase the cost
Cham Yeam Checkpoint: Had Lek, Thailand / Koh Kong, Cambodia (The way to Sihanoukville)
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Open
07:00-20:00
The Route: Bangkok to
SIHANOUKVILLE via
KOH
KONG
The usual route runs from Bangkok to Trat (with some people opting
for a detour to Koh Chang), then on to the border crossing at Had
Lek Thailand where you cross to Koh Kong City, Cambodia. From Koh
Kong, bus or taxi to Sihanoukville.
Details: Bangkok to the Had Lek /
KOH
KONG crossing
1a. From Bangkok: A/c bus to Trat. ~200 baht, 5-6 hours.
1b. From Koh Chang: Boat from Koh Chang to Leam Ngop. Share taxi to Trat.
Moto to bus station.
2. Take a van from Trat market to the Thai border town of Had Lek. Vans
depart every 30 minutes or so and take about 1h30m to the border.
3. Stamp out of Thailand. Walk to the Cambodian immigration station to
buy a visa and stamp in. Drivers will approach you as soon as you come
out of the immigration station. Prices into Koh Kong City 8 km away run
about 100B for moto, $7-$8 for a tuk-tuk and $10 for private taxi into
town
4. Travel from Koh Kong to Sihanoukville by regularly scheduled daily
bus or taxi. The road is paved and in fair condition. 4-5 hours.
KOH KONG to/from
SIHANOUKVILLE
National Route #4 (NR4) connects
Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. Road #48 runs between NR4 and Koh Kong
City. The road from Koh Kong (Road #48) is back in fair condition -
fully paved in fair to good condition. Road #48 passes through the jungled Cardamom
Mountains. At high points on the road the jungle canopy can be seen
stretching into the distance. ‘Elephant Crossing’ signs dot the side of
the road in parts. Road #48 also spans four picturesque major rivers.
Keep your camera ready.
Bus Several bus companies offer direct daily bus
service between Koh Kong and Sihanoukville using full size a/c buses for
$7-$12/person. About 4-4.5 hours duration. Most buses depart in the
morning. Check current schedule.
Taxi Share taxi: 40,000R/person. Up to 6 passengers in one taxi.
Private taxi: $60-$65.
PHNOM
PENH to/from
KOH KONG
Taxi Taxi About $75 for a private taxi.
Bus Several bus companies bus companies offer direct daily
bus service between Koh Kong and Phnom Penh using full size a/c
buses. $8-13/person. About 5 hours duration. Most buses depart
around 7:45AM and another at midday.
Aranyaprathet, Thailand/Poipet , Cambodia
Cambodian visas and Thai transit visas
available on arrival at the border. Cambodian E-Visa accepted at
this crossing.
Open
08:00-20:00
Most overland Thailand to/from Siem Reap travelers cross the border
at the Aranyaprathet/Poipet border crossing. Most people travel by
bus, but train (on the Thai side) and taxi travel is also available.
Cambodian visas are available at the border. The practice of
overcharging for Cambodian tourist visas is on the wane. Going the
other direction, 15-day Thai transit visas are available at the
border free of charge. Other types of Thai visas are not available.
You will likely be confronted by a couple of annoyances at the border.
Touts and drivers on the Thai side of the border will tell you that you
should or even must get a Cambodian visa from a ‘local consulate’ on
your way to the border crossing. DO NOT USE THEIR SERVICES. DO NOT
GET YOUR VISA AT THE ‘LOCAL CONSULATE.’ The visa is valid but is
wildly overpriced. Do not get your Cambodian visa until you have stamped
out of Thailand, crossed the border into Cambodia and arrived at
Cambodian “Visa-on-Arrival” station. Also, the touts will tell you that
you need to exchange foreign currency for Cambodian riel. THERE IS NO
REQUIREMENT TO CHANGE MONEY AT THE BORDER. It is a scam to get you
to change money at a rip-off exchange rate. DO NOT change money at the
border.
It’s a 465km, 6-9 hour trip from Bangkok to Siem Reap. The usual route
begins with a 4-5 hour bus or a train ride from Bangkok to the border
crossing at Aranyaprathet, cross the border into Cambodia (visas
available on-arrival), and then 3 more hours on to Siem Reap. On the
Cambodian side, the road to Siem Reap is in excellent condition:
Direct Bus
There are now direct buses between Siem Reap and Bangkok. One ticket,
one price, no bus change at the border, though you still have to deboard
at the border crossing and walk through for visa, immigrations and
custom check.
The bus makes 2-3 rest stops along the way and a snack is served, but
you may want to pack some extra food for the trip. Total trip: 6-8
hours. Price: $25-$30 (750B), not inclusive of visa fees. Buses leave
early, 7AM-9AM in both directions. At the border crossing make sure to
get your visa at the Cambodia “Visa-on-arrival” immigration station, not
‘local consulate on the Thai side.)
In Bangkok tickets are sold and buses depart from Morochit station. In
Siem Reap purchase tickets through the Nattakan office on the Sivutha
Blvd or at a travel/tour agent. In Siem Reap the ticket usually includes
free pick up from your hotel.
Do it yourself
1) From Bangkok take a bus or train to Aranyaprathet. Bus: 4 hours,
departing the Northern Bus Terminal (Morchit) hourly from 4AM to 6PM.
Train: 6 hours, departs Hualamphong
2) From Aranyaprathet, take a moto or tuk-tuk from the bus station to
the border.
3) On the Cambodian side, take a shuttle bus to the transport station
for $1-$2.50. From there you can bus or taxi to Siem Reap
a) The buses depart the transport stations at regular intervals, cost
$7-$9 and takes about 4 hours. The buses stop at a couple of places
right in town, not at a formal bus station. Hop off and grab a tuk-tuk
to your hotel.
b) Taxis offer the fastest, most comfortable travel option. Though the
local rate is about $25, tourists usually have to pay $45-$50. 2.5-3
hours. Share with other travelers and split the cost. NEVER pay in
advance (in any taxi in Cambodia.) Pay once you arrive in Siem Reap.
Chong Jom, Thailand/O'Smach, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit
visas available.
Remote border crossing north of
Siem Reap in Oddar Meanchey province.
From Siem Reap travel to Kralahn, then north to Samrong and then on to
the border. Guesthouses available in Samrong.
Chong Sa Ngam, Thailand/Anlong Veng, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas
available.
Remote border crossing northwest of
Siem Reap in Oddar Meanchey
province, opposite Thailand's Si Saket province.
Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand/Phsar Prom Border Crossing: Pailin, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit
visas available.
Located in Pailin, Cambodia, opposite Thailand's Chantaburi province.
From Bangkok, bus to Chantaburi for about 150 baht (4 hours). Mini bus
to border for about 100 baht (1-2 hours). Cross border. Motodup to
Pailin. Taxi from Pailin to
Battambang (shared taxi for 200baht, private
for $25-$30.) 3 or 4 hours but road conditions change with the season.
Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daun Lem,
Battambang, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit
visas available.
Located in Kamreang,
Battambang province, Cambodia, opposite Thailand's
Chantaburi province.
Border
Crossings with Laos
The following information regarding the Laos
border crossing has not been updated for approximately 3 years.
Voeung Kam, Laos/Dom Kralor, Cambodia
Cambodian visas are available at the border
(Don't forget to bring a photo!).
Some travelers report that visas are only available at the road
crossing, not at the river crossing. Laos
visas NOT available at the border. No special permits required from
either Cambodia or Laos.
Open
08:00-17:00
There are two border crossing points with Laos relatively close to
one another: 1) the riverine crossing at Koh Chheuteal Thom; 2) the road crossing at Dom
Kralor. Expect
extra fees for “stamps” on both sides of the border.
To get to the Lao border crossing from Phnom Penh,
take a taxi or bus to Stung
Treng town, and then arrange transport to the border from Stung
Treng. The road from Phnom Penh all the way through Stung Treng and to
the border has recently been improved and is currently in
comparatively good condition.
To get to Stung
Treng either:
1) Take a Phnom Penh Sorya Transport bus (station near
the Central Market in Phnom Penh) for 42,000 riel, 7-10 hours.
The bus departs the Phnom Penh station daily at 7:00AM,
or;
2) To get to Stung Treng via Kratie: Take a Phnom Penh
Sorya Transport for 21,000 riel, 7 hours. Departs daily at
7:30AM. Then take a share taxi to Stung Treng for 20,000 riel, 2-3
hours.
To get to the border crossing from Stung
Treng, either take a ferry
($5/person, $30 for a private boat, 1 - 3 hours) or the minibus to
the road crossing.
Going the other way, from Laos to
Cambodia, you can cross the border by road or river. By river, take a boat
from Don Khone or Don Khong to Voeung Kam ($2-$5). From Voeung Kam,
get a Cambodian boat to Stung Treng for $10. (There had been several
reports of price gouging by the boats to Stung Treng, but there have
been fewer reports of this as of late.) Then take a bus to Phnom
Penh on the Phnom Penh Sorya Transport for 42,000 riel.
From Laos
to Cambodia by road, travelers
report that people who bought package tickets from their guesthouse
in Laos to travel from Laos through
to Stung Treng Cambodia are met by onward
transportation at the border after they cross into Cambodia. But otherwise,
there is no regularly scheduled onward transportation available on
the Cambodian side of the border. Traveler's the arrive without
pre-arranged onward transportation report that there are sometimes private taxis
and motos waiting at the border but there are times when no transportation is available, requiring a long
wait for transport to show up.
Last update March 2019
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