Visas at a glance
Every Mekong itinerary that crosses a border needs at least two visas sorted before or on arrival, and the rules aren’t identical from one country to the next. The table below covers standard tourist entry for each of the four countries; your own nationality may qualify for a separate exemption not listed here, so check your specific passport against each government’s current visa list before you travel.
| Country | Standard option | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | E-visa | USD 25 single entry / USD 50 multiple entry | Valid up to 90 days. Citizens of 24 countries also get a 45-day visa exemption for tourism under Resolution 229, in effect 15 Aug 2025 to 14 Aug 2028 |
| Cambodia | E-visa | USD 30 | Reduced from USD 36 from 1 Jan 2025. Must be used to enter within 3 months of issue; allows a stay of up to 30 days |
| Cambodia | Visa on arrival | About USD 30 | Available at most airports and many land or river border posts. Bring a passport photo, 4×6 cm |
| Laos | Visa on arrival | USD 35–50, by nationality | Issued at the main international border crossings |
| Laos | E-visa | USD 35–50, by nationality | Apply at laoevisa.gov.la; allow about 3 days to process. Not valid for overland entry from Vietnam |
| Thailand | Visa exemption | Free | 30 days for around 60 nationalities from 15 Sep 2026, down from 60 days previously; one 30-day extension available at Immigration |
River and land border crossings
Vinh Xuong – Kaam Samnor (river crossing, Vietnam–Cambodia)
This is the river route used by the boat between Chau Doc and Phnom Penh, and it’s also the crossing most likely to catch a traveller out on visas. A Vietnam e-visa works here without issue. A Cambodia e-visa does not: this particular border post doesn’t accept it, and you’ll need either a visa on arrival paid in cash, around USD 30, with a 4×6 cm photo, or a visa arranged in advance at a Cambodian embassy or consulate. This is the opposite of most other Cambodian border points, where the e-visa is accepted, so don’t assume the e-visa you already hold will work here.
Moc Bai – Bavet (land crossing, Vietnam–Cambodia)
The busiest land border between the two countries, used by the bus route between Saigon and Phnom Penh. Straightforward for both a Vietnam e-visa and a Cambodia e-visa or visa on arrival.
Tinh Bien – Phnom Den (land crossing, Vietnam–Cambodia)
A quieter alternative to Moc Bai–Bavet. Opening hours run 7:00 to 20:00 on the Vietnamese side and 8:00 to 20:00 on the Cambodian side, though customs processing itself only runs 8:00 to 17:00, so arrive well inside that window. Cambodia visa on arrival is available here, around USD 30 with an application form and photo; Vietnam’s side accepts e-visa entry only, with no visa on arrival.
Ha Tien – Prek Chak (land crossing, Vietnam–Cambodia)
The coastal crossing, useful if you’re routing between Phu Quoc or Ha Tien and Kampot, Kep or Sihanoukville rather than through the delta’s interior.
Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge 1 and 4 (Laos–Thailand)
Friendship Bridge 1, between Nong Khai and Vientiane, is the busiest and longest-established crossing to the Lao capital. Friendship Bridge 4, between Chiang Khong and Huay Xai, is the one relevant to most Mekong itineraries, since Huay Xai is the starting point for the slow boat down to Luang Prabang. Both handle Laos e-visa, visa on arrival and Thailand’s visa exemption without complication.
Thailand–Cambodia: the border you can’t currently cross
Payment
Bookings are confirmed with a deposit, and the remaining balance falls due a set number of weeks ahead of your departure date. The exact deposit amount and balance due date depend on your itinerary, the season and which hotels, cruises or trains are involved, since some of those suppliers require payment further ahead than others. Your booking confirmation sets out the specific figures and dates that apply to your trip; treat that document as the final word rather than a general figure quoted elsewhere.
Cancellation
Cancellation terms scale with how close to departure you cancel: a change made well in advance carries a modest fee, while a cancellation in the final weeks before travel can mean forfeiting most or all of what’s been paid, since hotels, cruise cabins and guides are booked and paid for on your behalf ahead of time. The precise fee scale, the cut-off dates it’s built around, and any non-refundable elements such as train tickets or cruise deposits are all set out in your booking confirmation. We’d rather point you to that exact document than print a percentage table here that may not match the specific suppliers on your trip.
Good to know before you travel
Currency
Vietnam uses the Vietnamese Dong (VND); Cambodia uses the Cambodian Riel (KHR), though US dollars are accepted almost everywhere and often preferred for larger payments; Laos uses the Lao Kip (LAK); Thailand uses the Thai Baht (THB). Carrying a small amount of US dollars in cash is useful across all four countries, particularly for visa fees at land and river borders.
Vaccinations and insurance
Requirements vary by traveller and itinerary, so check with a travel clinic or your doctor a few weeks before departure rather than relying on general advice here. Comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation is worth having throughout the region, and it’s listed as not included on every one of our tour itineraries, so arrange it separately before you travel.
Safety on the river
Wear the life jacket provided on any boat, follow your guide’s instructions when boarding or disembarking, particularly at riverbanks without a proper jetty, and be aware that water levels and current strength change with the season, which is part of why some of our itineraries and boarding points shift between the wet and dry seasons.
Visiting temples and pagodas
Cover your shoulders and knees, remove your shoes before entering the main hall of a temple, pagoda or shrine, and keep your voice down around anyone praying. This applies at Buddhist wats in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia and at Vietnamese pagodas and temples alike, including sites such as the Ba Chua Xu temple at Chau Doc.