Vietnam Land Border Crossings: Cambodia, Laos and China Overland Guide

There are 27 Vietnam land border crossings where foreigners can enter with an e-visa, on the borders with Cambodia, Laos and China, and visa on arrival does not work at any of them. This guide from our Vietnam travel blog covers which visa to use, the main crossings to each neighbor, motorbikes, and how to plan an overland loop.

The e-visa is tied to the gates you choose, so pick your crossing before you apply. When your route is set, you can apply for a Vietnam e-visa online and name the land border you will use.

Main crossings at a glance:

Neighbor	Main crossing (Vietnam side)	Typical route
Cambodia	Moc Bai	Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh by bus
Cambodia	Ha Tien	Phu Quoc or Ha Tien to Kampot and Kep
Laos	Lao Bao	Hue or Dong Ha to Savannakhet
Laos	Cau Treo	Vinh to central Laos and Vientiane
China	Huu Nghi and Dong Dang (railway)	Hanoi to Nanning
China	Lao Cai	Sa Pa area to Hekou and Kunming

Which visa works at Vietnam land border crossings

The Vietnam e-visa at a land border works only at the 27 land gates approved by the government, and only at the gate you selected when you applied. Visa on arrival cannot be used overland.

As of October 2026, the e-visa is accepted at 83 border gates: 17 airports, 27 land border gates and 39 seaports. Resolution 389/NQ-CP of 2 December 2025 added 41 gates to the original list, as the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism announced. Our full list of e-visa ports of entry shows every gate by type.

The UK government's entry advice notes that e-visas restrict you to the entry and exit points chosen on the application. A visa on arrival letter is for air arrivals only. If you are visa-free, you can cross at any international land gate within your allowed days.

Vietnam and Cambodia border crossings

Ten Vietnam and Cambodia border crossings accept the e-visa. For most travelers, the choice comes down to three: the Moc Bai border for Phnom Penh, Ha Tien for the Cambodian coast, and Vinh Xuong for the Mekong boat.

The Moc Bai border is the busiest Vietnam to Cambodia border crossing for foreigners. Direct buses from Ho Chi Minh City reach Phnom Penh in a day, and staff help passengers through both posts.

Vietnam side	Cambodia side	Best for
Moc Bai	Bavet	Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh
Xa Mat	Trapeang Phlong	Tay Ninh to Kampong Cham
Ha Tien	Prek Chak	Ha Tien and Phu Quoc to Kampot and Kep
Vinh Xuong	Kaam Samnor	Chau Doc to Phnom Penh by river boat
Tinh Bien	Phnom Den	Chau Doc to Takeo

Vietnam and Laos border crossings

Ten Vietnam and Laos border crossings accept the e-visa. Lao Bao is the easiest Vietnam to Laos border crossing for most visitors, because it sits on the main road from central Vietnam to Savannakhet and handles the most tourist traffic.

Cau Treo suits travelers heading for Vientiane through Lak Sao. In the far northwest, Tay Trang links Dien Bien Phu with Muang Khua, and buses are fewer, so allow a full day.

Vietnam side	Laos side	Best for
Lao Bao	Dansavanh	Hue and Dong Ha to Savannakhet
Cau Treo	Nam Phao	Vinh to Lak Sao and Vientiane
Na Meo	Nam Xoi	Thanh Hoa to Sam Neua
Tay Trang	Sop Hun	Dien Bien Phu to Muang Khua
Bo Y	Phou Keua	Kon Tum to Attapeu

Vietnam and China border crossings

Seven Vietnam and China border crossings accept the e-visa, and three carry most foreign travelers: Huu Nghi near Lang Son, Lao Cai opposite Hekou, and Mong Cai opposite Dongxing.

Huu Nghi is the main Vietnam to China border crossing by road, used by buses between Hanoi and Nanning. The Dong Dang railway gate, added in December 2025, serves the cross-border train on the same corridor. Lao Cai, on the river opposite Hekou, works for travelers coming from Sa Pa or heading to Kunming. Mong Cai is the coastal crossing near Ha Long Bay and a busy shopping town.

Vietnam side	China side	Best for
Huu Nghi	Youyiguan (Pingxiang)	Hanoi to Nanning by bus
Dong Dang (railway)	Pingxiang	Hanoi to Nanning by train
Lao Cai	Hekou	Sa Pa area to Kunming
Mong Cai	Dongxing	Ha Long Bay area to Guangxi

Crossing the border by motorbike

Crossing the border by motorbike is far harder than the travel forums suggest. In practice, Vietnamese-registered rental bikes are often refused at Lao and Cambodian posts, and foreign-registered bikes need permission arranged before arrival.

For foreign-registered cars and motorbikes, Vietnam requires written approval obtained through a licensed Vietnamese international travel company before you reach the border. Riders who buy a bike in Vietnam usually sell it before leaving and buy another on the other side.

If riding is the point of your trip, Vietnam's northern loops are a better use of time than a border run. Our Ha Giang loop itinerary covers four days without paperwork beyond your license and visa. Three planning questions remain once the crossings are chosen: single or multiple entry, visas for the other side, and border hours.

Planning an overland loop

An overland loop through Vietnam and a neighbor needs a visa that allows re-entry, a visa for the other country and a crossing timed for the opening hours. Here is how to handle each.

Single or multiple entry

A single-entry e-visa ends when you leave Vietnam. If you will leave for Cambodia or Laos and come back, choose a multiple-entry e-visa and list the gates you will use. The government fee is $25 for single entry and $50 for multiple entry.

Visas for the other side

Cambodia issues an e-visa through evisa.gov.kh; check that your chosen crossing accepts it. Laos accepts its e-visa only at some checkpoints, so confirm with Lao authorities before you go. Many nationalities need a Chinese visa arranged before arrival, so check with the nearest Chinese embassy.

Border hours and timing

Land border posts close in the evening and some shut over lunch. Plan to arrive by early afternoon, carry dong and the neighbor's currency or US dollars in small notes, and keep printed copies of your e-visa and onward bookings.

VietnamVisa-Easy.com is a private visa service operated by H2 Global Travel JSC since 2012, not a government website, and you can apply directly at evisa.gov.vn for US$25. If you would like real people to check your entry and exit gates before submission, start your application with us.