A Guide to Crossing the Land Border Between Cambodia and Vietnam – Things I Wish I Had Known

Crossing the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia is a common occurrence for those backpacking across Southeast Asia. Despite the route’s popularity, there’s a lot of mixed information online about how the current process works (March 2023). I also read lots of horror stories about this border crossing, so I almost decided to fly instead. Turns out, it’s absolutely fine. 

This is a short guide but I wanted to write it as I struggled to find any clear information on the process and what happens. 

I crossed from Cambodia to Vietnam, but the process is similar going the other way. 

Once you’ve arrived, be sure to check out these unique places in Vietnam. I’d also highly recommend doing the Ha Giang Loop which you can either do a tour, or attempt by yourself.

Where to start 

Whether you’re going from Cambodia to Vietnam or vice versa, you’re more than likely going to be crossing at the Moc Bai – Bavet border. Busses run regularly between Cambodia’s Phnom Penh and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City which makes this an easily accessible route. You can also travel to or from Siem Reap but you’ll be required to change bus in Phnom Penh. If you’re planning a trip to Siem Reap, here’s all the things to do and where to stay in Siem Reap.

The best way to cross is to book with a reputable bus company. They will guide you through the process and help you cross the border. We had our passports checked by one immigration official, then they were taken away from us. By the time we got them back, we had our Cambodian exit stamps and Vietnam entry stamps. It was so simple.

I knew a group who were travelling on an organised tour. They had to queue for quite a while for this process, whereas we could have lunch while our passports were being checked. The bus companies do this every day so they know how it works and have arrangements in place to make it as efficient and smooth as possible. 

How to book a bus and which company should I use?

I’d suggest booking through 12Go.asia. You can enter your route and the date and it will give you all the available options. 

Prices range depending on who you choose to go with. The cheapest option (March 23) is around £21 ($28) and the most expensive £30 ($38). I’d be careful not to just jump for the cheapest option. You want a company that is going to help the process at the border. Also, some companies ask for a further payment on the bus (normally $2-$5) which they use to speed up the border crossing. 

I went for Giant Ibis which cost me £28 ($35). There were cheaper options but this included all fees including those at the border. The whole process was also outlined on their website which made me feel better. I really can’t recommend them enough. There were two members of staff on the bus who were friendly and guided us every step of the way. There were no hidden fees and we even got free snacks including an iced coffee. It was also a very comfortable bus. 

As I said, there are cheaper options but when you read the fine print some require extra fees.

Where do you get picked up and dropped off?

When you book your ticket, 12Go will send you the details of where you will be picked up and dropped off. We got dropped off at the Giant Ibis office right in the centre of Ho Chi Minh. There’s a plethora of taxi drivers waiting to take you to your accommodation. We were also able to exchange money here. 

Giant Ibis did offer a hotel pick-up service but this was quite a bit extra.

What happens at the border?

I can only speak from my experience travelling from Cambodia to Vietnam with Giant Ibis, but it’s a similar process for all the companies. 

Once you’re on the bus a staff member will check your passport and ensure you have the right visa (this is where people get kicked off). It’s then a good four-hour drive to the border from Phnom Penh. Once you arrive, you’ll have your passport checked by an immigration official to ensure you’re who you say you are. They take the passport and you go to a local café for lunch. Make sure you also have your Cambodian immigration form to give to them, you should have got this when you arrived in the country. If you’ve lost it, you’ll need to pay $10. 

After around an hour, the bus drives you to the Vietnam entry point where a staff member will hand back your passport. This is important – check you have both a Cambodian exit stamp and a Vietnam entry stamp (or the other way round). You need to take all your luggage off the bus and put it through a scanner to enter Vietnam. Afterwards, another Immigration official will check your stamp and passport to ensure everything is correct and official. This whole process took less than five minutes. From here it took us another couple of hours to get to Ho Chi Minh. 

Do I need any cash?

Technically no but if you want to buy any snacks or lunch you will need cash. I had US dollars and Cambodian Riel with me. I’d highly advise having some USD with you in case anything goes wrong at the border. I carried $30. Fortunately, I didn’t need it but a Cambodian guide had told me it’s always good to have in case. As soon as I arrived in Ho Chi Minh, the bus company exchanged it for Vietnamese Dong. 

Do I need a visa for Vietnam?

I can’t state this enough but please check if you need a visa for Vietnam. There are a few countries which are exempt if you’re staying less than 15 days (including the UK), but generally, most people need one. Vietnam doesn’t process visas on the border. If you don’t have the right one, you won’t be going in.  

I was stunned at the number of people who hadn’t researched this and were being told to get off our bus. A guide had told me earlier in the week that someone from his group didn’t have a visa and was kept in immigration at the border for almost 36 hours while she waited for her visa to be approved. 

It sounds basic but always check this. Yes, a lot of countries let you sort this at the border but Vietnam isn’t one of them and they’re very strict about it. 

In most cases, Cambodia will let you sort a tourist visa at the border if you’re coming from Vietnam. I applied for mine in advance before entering Cambodia (by land) and I have to say this was an easier (and cheaper) process than sorting it at the border. You’ll need to have two copies printed. 

Visas are ever-changing though so make sure you check the latest information through your embassy or the country’s official government website.  

How long does the journey take? 

I won’t lie to you, it’s a LONG day. We left the coach station at 0945am and didn’t reach our final point until 7 pm. From there, you’ll then need to get to your accommodation. 

Having said that, the bus we were on was comfortable enough and we stopped every two or so hours which gave us a chance to stretch our legs.

Are there toilet stops?

This is always a worry of mine, especially when on long coach rides. But there’s no reason to worry here. We stopped every two or so hours for ten minutes. The coach driver also made an extra stop when someone made a request. Have some toilet paper with you though as the toilets are often very basic. 

How far in advance should I book?

If you have any specific plans or commitments, I’d recommend booking at least a few days in advance. My bus was almost full but I did see a man buy a ticket on the day for the bus. 

Is it okay as a solo traveller?

I was by myself and had no issues. There were a few locals on the bus but also lots of tourists. The staff spoke great English so all the instructions were clear.