Border Crossings - Vietnam

If you are incorporating Vietnam into a wider journey in South East Asia, you can access Cambodia, Laos and China from within Vietnam. Don't forget that you need to have the appropriate visa organised.

Vietnam - Cambodia

Moc Bai is the main overland border crossing to Cambodia, northwest of HCMC. Direct buses from HCMC to Phnom Penh take about 8 hours.

Vinh Xuong is a new riverside border crossing located 30 kms north of Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta at Vinh Xuong. From there it is easy to take a boat or bus on to Phnom Penh.

Vietnam - China

The Hekou Bridge overland border to China is at Lao Cai (the main train station for Sapa) in the northwest. Twice weekly trains also run from Hanoi to Kunming in China or you can board the train at Lao Cai.

The Mong Cai overland border crossing to China is in the northeast of the country. Take a hydrofoil from Haiphong or Halong City to get there.

Huu Nghi is the third overland border crossing to China, located 18 kms north of Lang Son, in the northeast. Minibuses leave Hanoi's Gia Lam Bus Station for Lang Son. There are also local trains from Hanoi which take you to Dong Dang, 4kms from Huu Nghi.

The international train to China (Beijing) departs Hanoi and goes via Don Dang but you can only join the train at Hanoi's main train station.

Vietnam - Lao

There are two overland crossings from Vietnam to PDR Lao. From Hanoi, you can take direct overnight buses to Vientiane via the border crossing at Cau Treo near Vinh City in central Vietnam.

From Hue, there are direct buses for Savannakhet which cross the border at Lao Bao, near Dong Ha in central Vietnam. This crossing is fairly new and less established. Often the travel agency will put you on a tour bus headed for a one-day DMZ tour, dropping you off at the border. Having crossed over into Lao, you will have to take your luck on a local bus for the remainder of the journey to Savannakhet - so make sure you confirm exactly what ticket you are purchasing in Hue.

The free, 2007 Editions of the on-line Cambodia and Thailand Travel Guides are now available in English. Other Travel Guides will be available in the near future.

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