Cambodia: International 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 Ha Tien 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.

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 the Bavet/Moc Bai and Chau Doc (Kaam Samnor) crossings. Availability of visas at the new Phnom Den and Kampong Cham crossings is unknown. Vietnamese visas are not available at any crossing.

Border crossings with Thailand: Cambodian visas and 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-$12. No bus change at the border. The trip usually takes about 6 hours barring traffic back ups at the Neak Loung ferry crossing.

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 Sorya - Phnom Penh to/from HCMC:  6:30, 8:00. 9:00, 11:45, 13:30

Phnom Penh Office and arrival/departure: opposite the southwest corner of Phsar Thmey. Tel: 023-210359

Mekong Express - Phnom Penh to/from HCMC: 7:00, 8:30, 13:00

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.

Mailinh Open Tour - Phnom Penh to/from HCMC: 7:00AM, 8:30AM, 13:00, 14:30

Phnom Penh Office: #391, Sihanouk Blvd. Departure/arrival: Olympic Stadium. Tel: 023-211666

Taxi: Local taxis depart Phnom Penh from Market Chhbar Ampeou. 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: 10,000 riel) or bus east on National Route #1 to Neak Luong town (where the Route #1 meets the Mekong River.) At Neak Luong, take a ferry down the Mekong 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 and Neak Krorhorm Travel 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 Domkor (Market Domkor) 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 $25 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. Much of the road is hardpack and may deteriorate in the rainy season increasing the travel time. 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
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Cambodian visas available at the border. As yet unconfirmed by travelers. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border.
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.) There are conflicting reports about whether Cambodian E-visas are accepted.

Open 07:00-18:00

The Ha Tien border crossing is now a international border crossing open to foreign travelers. The opening was officially announced by the Cambodian government May 22, 2007. The border reportedly actually opened May 24, 2007. After years of anticipation (since the opening of the Koh Kong crossing in 1998), the opening of the Ha Tien crossing represents the removal of the last road block on the coastal travelers trail from Koh Chang Thailand, though the beach towns of Cambodia and on to southern Vietnam and Phu Quoc Island. Overland travelers can now beach hop across Indochina without ever having to leave the coastal roads.

From Kampot to the Ha Tien Crossing: 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, for the most part, in fair condition, taking about 1h15m-2 hours to traverse, though longer in the wet season. Take Route 33 east from Kampot to the intersection of Route 31 at Kampong Trach town. Turn south on Route 31. All but the last few kilometers to the border is sealed. There is also a shorter cut off road from Route 33 before Kampong Trach town. It is slightly shorter but the road is rough hardpack dirt, which deteriorates significantly in the wet season. A motorcycle taxi to the border costs about $10-$15, tuk-tuk for $15-$20 and a car taxi is $20-$25. For those coming from Vietnam, motodups usually wait at the border crossing to take travelers to Kep or Kampot.

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 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. 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. A photo is required and, unlike the international airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, an extra charge of 100B is 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 Sihanouk Ville. (Or take the ocean ferry when it is in service. See page 48.)

Details: Bangkok to the Had Lek / Koh Kong crossing
1a. From Bangkok: A/c bus to Trat (new bus station). ~200 baht, 5-6 hours.
1b. From Koh Chang: Boat from Koh Chang to Leam Ngop, 80 baht. Share taxi to Trat, 40 baht. Moto to new bus station, 20 baht.
2. Take a van from Trat to the Thai border town of Had Lek (120 baht). Vans depart every 30 minutes or so.
3. Buy your visa and walk into Cambodia. Onward transportation is available right there at the border.

You can travel from Koh Kong to Sihanoukville by road or, when in service, coastal ferry.

4a. If you are going to stay in Koh Kong or take the ferry to Sihanoukville, take a motodup into Koh Kong City. The ferry dock is located on the river just a few hundred meters south of the bridge. Border to town: 80B-100B for a moto; 300B for private taxi.
4b. If you are going bypass Koh Kong and travel directly to Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh, touts and drivers will approach you as soon as you cross the border, some claiming their vehicle is about to depart. Vans and taxis only leave when they are full, regardless of tout’s claims to the contrary. Best to choose a vehicle that is almost full. It takes 4 hours to get to Sihanoukville or Kampot and costs 600B per person in a van or 3000B for a private taxi.

Koh Kong to/from Sihanoukville by road

From Sihanoukville you can travel to/from Koh Kong City by road or daily coastal ferry. The road trip to/from both Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh follows Route #48 from Koh Kong through the picturesque Cardamom Mountains, which, after several years of construction, is now complete, fully paved and in excellent condition. Route #48 connects to National Route #4 which leads north to Phnom Penh and south to Sihanouk Ville.

Bus Since the completion of Route#48, most now choose to travel to/from Koh Kong by road rather than by ocean ferry. Virak-Buntham bus company offers direct daily bus service between Koh Kong and Sihanoukville using full size a/c buses. $11-$15/person. About 4 hours duration. Departs about 8AM. Check current schedule. In Koh Kong the bus office is located on Street 3 in the center of town. In Sihanoukville the office in located at the bus station.

Taxis Private taxi runs about 3000B ($80-$90.)

Coastal Ferry Since the completion of the road, ferry service has become much less regular. During the rainy season, service is suspended entirely. At time of printing (March 2009,) ferry service between Sihanoukville and Koh Kong was running every other day. The trip takes about 4-5 hours and costs US$25 for foreigners. The current schedule: The Sihanoukville to Koh Kong ferry departs Sihanoukville at 11:00AM. The Koh Kong to Sihanoukville ferry departs Koh Kong at 8:00AM. Check departure schedule for changes. The ferries are in no way up to international safety standards. In Koh Kong the ferry dock is located on the riverfront 500m south of the bridge. In Sihanoukville, the ferry arrives/departs the ‘Port of Passenger Ship’, near the Port of Sihanoukville.

 
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 travelers from Thailand to Siem Reap enter Cambodia through the Poipet/Aranyaprathet Border Crossing and either bus or taxi into Siem Reap. The route is popular and well-traveled though poor road conditions east of Sisophon continue to slow travel. Several other border crossing offer access to Siem Reap, but with more challenging travel conditions. Cambodian visas and 30-day Thai transit visas are available at all Thai border crossings. Cambodian authorities charge 1000 baht for a tourist visa rather than the usual US$20. Thai transit visas are free of charge. Other types of Thai visas are not available.

The Route: Bangkok to Siem Reap via the Aranyaprathet/Poipet border crossing

Most overland travelers from Thailand to Siem Reap enter Cambodia through the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border crossing and either bus or taxi into Siem Reap. The route is popular and well-traveled. Cambodian visas are available at the border, though authorities charge 1200 baht for a tourist visa rather than the usual US$20. For those going the other direction, fifteen-day Thai transit visas are also available at the border free of charge. Other types of Thai visas are not available. See page 7 for more on visas.

You will likely be confronted by a couple of minor scams at the border. Touts will approach you offering to assist getting a visa, telling stories that their help is required, that the process is difficult, that they can get it cheaper, etc. None of it is true and if you employ their services they will charge you an extra fee. Getting a visa is a straightforward, do-it-yourself process. Moneychanger touts will also tell you that you either should or have to exchange money for Cambodian riel, and then give you exchange rates far worse than the going rate. There is no requirement to exchange money. Do not change money at the border. Wait until you are in Siem Reap where you can get the proper rate.

Aranyaprathet, Thailand / Poipet, Cambodia Border Crossing: The Route from Bangkok to Siem Reap
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 Aranyaprathet (‘Aran’), the town on the Thai side of the border, then a short tuk-tuk ride the last 6 km to the border crossing to Poipet Cambodia. On the Cambodian side, the road to Siem Reap has recently been completely repaired and is in excellent condition, requiring 3-4 hours to traverse. There are two options in planning an overland trip: 1) buy a package ticket in Bangkok or; 2) put it together yourself.

Option #1: Package Tickets
In Bangkok you can buy package tickets from travel agents. The price ranges from 200-800 baht on Khao Sarn Road and up to 1000 baht on Sukhumvit. Regardless of the cost of the ticket, most travel agencies are sending customers to the same bus companies. When you buy your ticket, ask about the type of transportation, especially on the Cambodian side. Make sure it is a tour bus or full sized bus, (not that you will have any recourse if it turns out otherwise.)

You will depart Bangkok between 7AM and 8AM, arriving at the border crossing near Aranyaprathet 4-5 hours later. At the border, you will disembark and will be told to cross the border on your own and how to locate your onward transportation once on the Cambodian side. Transportation quality on the Cambodian side is variable. Sometimes good, sometimes cramped and slow.

Option #2: Do it yourself
1) From Bangkok take a bus or train to Aranyaprathet. Bus: 164-196 baht (first class), 140-155 baht (second class), 4 hours, departing the Northern Bus Terminal (Morchit) hourly from 4AM to 6PM. Train: 48 baht, 3rd class, 6 hours, departs Hualamphong Station twice daily (5:55AM and 1:05PM).
2) From Aranyaprathet, take a moto or tuk-tuk from the bus station to the border for 50 and 60 baht, respectively.
3) Cross the border to Poipet Cambodia.
4) On the Cambodian side, take a free shuttle bus to the transport station. From there you have three options for transportation from Poipet through Sisophon and on to Siem Reap: a) Taxi; b) Official Bus; c) Tourist bus.
a) Taxi: $30-$60 for the whole car. 2.5-3 hours. This is the easiest, fastest, most comfortable, most expensive option. Share with other travelers and split the cost.
b) Official Tourist Bus: $10 for the official bus. Buses leave when full which can sometimes take quite a while. Slow.
c) Package Tourist Buses: These are the same buses that the package ticket holders from Bangkok use. (See Option #1: Package Tickets.) Price is variable.

If you are planning to make this journey, check out www.talesofasia.com . The site does a fastidiously detailed, painfully honest, very up-date-date travel report.

Taxis back to Poipet from Siem Reap should cost about the same, perhaps a bit less. Arrange through your guesthouse, hotel or a travel agent.
 

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 1 year (11/08.)

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. Travelers used to take the ferry most of the way to Stung Treng, but now with the improved road conditions, most most people go by road.

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: 05/09

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