Vietnam borders & visa 2026
Buses link Vietnam to Cambodia, Laos and China. If you travel on a Vietnamese e-visa, one rule matters more than any other: you can only enter and leave through the border points you chose in your application. Routes, fares and entry rules from official sources — checked on 7 October 2026.
Book your cross-border bus →Crossing at a glance (October 2026)
| Neighbour | Bus routes on 12Go (24 Oct 2026) | Land border points open to the Vietnamese e-visa |
|---|---|---|
| Cambodia | Ho Chi Minh City → Phnom Penh: 108 buses, from €19.79, about 7 h. Ho Chi Minh City → Siem Reap: 25 buses, from €38.80, about 14 h | Moc Bai, Xa Mat, Tinh Bien, Ha Tien |
| Laos | Hanoi → Vientiane: 15 buses, from €35.55, about 24 h. Hanoi → Luang Prabang: 7 combined trips, from €55.44, about 21 h | Cau Treo, Lao Bao, Nam Can, Na Meo, Tay Trang, Cha Lo, Bo Y, La Lay |
| China | Hanoi → Nanning: 25 buses, from €34.18, about 9 h | Huu Nghi, Lao Cai, Mong Cai |
Sources: list of ports open to e-visa holders published on the official e-visa portal of the Vietnam Immigration Department (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn), UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (gov.uk travel advice for Vietnam) and the offers listed on 12Go, all checked on 7 October 2026.
Entering Vietnam: the official rules
Visa exemption figures are those of the UK Foreign Office for British passport holders. Other nationalities: check the rules for your passport.
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Without a visa | Up to 45 days, for tourism or business (FCDO, British passports) |
| E-visa | Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry (official e-visa portal) |
| Where to apply | Only on the official portal evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn |
| Entry and exit points | The e-visa restricts you to the entry and exit points you select when you apply (FCDO) |
| Passport | Valid at least 6 months after the date you arrive, with at least 2 blank pages (FCDO) |
| Digital arrival card | In place since 15 April 2026: encouraged, but not currently mandatory (FCDO) |
Cambodia: the busiest crossing
Ho Chi Minh City → Phnom Penh is the most served cross-border route from Vietnam: on 24 October 2026, 12Go listed 108 buses, from €19.79 (typical fare €24.95), for about 7 hours on the schedule. Companies included Airbus, Garuda Transports and Travel, iHome Transfer, Danh Danh Express, Trans Passion and Long Phuong Cambodia. Buses also ran to Siem Reap (25 buses, from €38.80, about 14 hours), including Giant Ibis.
The main road crossing on this route is Moc Bai on the Vietnamese side, facing Bavet in Cambodia. Moc Bai is on the official list of points open to the Vietnamese e-visa, and Bavet accepts the Cambodian e-visa (official website evisa.gov.kh, tourist visa US$30). On international buses you usually get off at each border post for the exit and entry formalities.
Note: the land border between Thailand and Cambodia has been closed since June 2025. To continue to Thailand from Cambodia, you currently have to fly.
Laos and China: long journeys from Hanoi
To Laos, 12Go listed 15 buses from Hanoi to Vientiane (€35.55 to €76.87, about 24 hours) and 7 combined trips to Luang Prabang (bus + van, some with a final train leg, €55.44 to €75.54, about 21 hours), mostly from Nuoc Ngam and My Dinh bus stations. Flights cost far more that day: from €156.29 to Vientiane and €167.69 to Luang Prabang.
To China, 25 buses ran from Hanoi to Nanning (€34.18 to €40.67, about 9 hours), with Golink Sao Vang and Grouptour.
The official e-visa list includes 8 land points on the Laos border and 3 on the China border (see the table above). Check the entry rules of Laos or China for your nationality before you buy a ticket.
Your border checklist
If you enter or leave Vietnam overland on an e-visa, the crossing must be one you selected in your application — for example Moc Bai for Ho Chi Minh City ↔ Phnom Penh.
The FCDO asks for a passport valid at least 6 months after your arrival in Vietnam, with at least 2 blank pages.
For British passport holders, the visa-free stay is up to 45 days. For a longer trip, the e-visa allows up to 90 days.
According to the FCDO, if you get an e-visa while already in Vietnam, you must leave the country and re-enter to start it.
On a border bus you leave one country and enter another: check the entry rules of Cambodia, Laos or China for your nationality, not only Vietnam's.
Borders and visa: your questions
Can I take a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh?
Can I use the Vietnam e-visa at a land border?
How long can I stay in Vietnam without a visa?
Where do I apply for the Vietnam e-visa?
Is there a bus from Hanoi to Laos?
Do I need an arrival card for Vietnam?
Plan your border crossing
Compare buses to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Nanning on 12Go, with the company and departure point for each trip.
Book your cross-border bus →