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Laos → Vietnam · Verified 4 September 2026
Laos to Vietnam by Bus: All 9 Border Crossings
Nine international checkpoints, and no visa on arrival at any of them. Get the Vietnam e-visa online first, since December 2025 it works at any approved gate.
- 9 crossings
- No VOA, e-visa only
- E-visa no longer port-locked
- E-visa US$25
Search Laos to Vietnam routes
Do I need a visa before I arrive?
Nine international checkpoints connect Laos and Vietnam. Vietnam issues no visa on arrival at any of them. You need an e-visa before you arrive. Since December 2025 that e-visa is no longer tied to a nominated crossing, so you can enter at any approved gate. It costs US$25 single entry and covers up to 90 days.
Last verified 4 September 2026
All nine crossings
| Crossing | Connects | Hours | Lao visa on arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dansavanh – Lao Bảo Also written Lao Bao, Lao Bảo |
Savannakhet → Lao Bảo, Quảng Trị, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Listed: but disputed in practice |
| Nam Phao – Cầu Treo Also written Cau Treo, Cầu Treo |
Bolikhamxay → Cầu Treo, Hà Tĩnh, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Listed: but disputed in practice |
| Nam Kan – Nậm Cắn Also written Nam Can, Nậm Cắn |
Xiengkhouang → Nậm Cắn, Nghệ An, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Listed: but disputed in practice |
| Nam Soy – Na Mèo Also written Na Meo, Na Mèo |
Houaphanh → Na Mèo, Thanh Hóa, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Listed: but disputed in practice |
| Na Phao – Cha Lo Also written Cha Lo |
Khammouane → Cha Lo, Quảng Bình, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Yes |
| La Lai – La Lay Also written La Lay |
Salavan → La Lay, Quảng Trị, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Yes |
| Dak Ta Ock – Nam Giang Also written Nam Giang, Dak Taok |
Sekong → Nam Giang, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Yes |
| Phou Keua – Bờ Y Also written Bo Y, Bờ Y |
Attapeu → Bờ Y, Kon Tum, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Listed: but disputed in practice |
| Pang Hok – Tây Trang Also written Tay Trang, Tây Trang |
Phongsaly → Tây Trang, Điện Biên, Vietnam | 07:00–19:00 | Listed: but disputed in practice |
Three of these, Cha Lo, La Lay and Nam Giang, are missing from most English-language guides entirely. They are open, but they carry very little scheduled passenger transport.
The e-visa rule that changed
Resolution 389/NQ-CP, 2 December 2025
- The e-visa checkpoint list grew from 42 to 83: 17 airports, 27 land gates, 39 seaports.
- The port-of-entry field has been removed from the issued e-visa. You are no longer tied to the crossing you nominated, and you do not need to reapply if your plans change.
- All nine Laos-border gates accept it.
- US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple, up to 90 days.
If you read anywhere that your Vietnam e-visa locks you to one border post, that advice is out of date. It was true until December 2025 and a great many travel sites have not caught up.
Going the other way: which crossings issue Lao visa on arrival?
Sources genuinely disagree. The official Lao register marks visa on arrival as available at all nine checkpoints. Travelfish and other long-standing traveller sources say only Dansavanh (Lao Bảo) reliably issues it, and that travellers are turned away elsewhere. We cannot resolve this from here. The safe plan: enter Laos at Lao Bảo, or arrange your Lao visa before you travel. Do not rely on a Lao eVisa overland from Vietnam. It is widely reported as not accepted.
Routes into Vietnam
VientianeVinh
Direct serviceVientianeHue
VientianeDa Nang
SavannakhetHue
Direct serviceSavannakhetDa Nang
Direct serviceSavannakhetHanoi
PakseHue
PakseDa Nang
ThakhekDa Nang
Luang PrabangHanoi
ThakhekVinh
Not bookable onlineNo online inventory on any platform we can see. The crossing exists; the bus does not run on a schedule you can book ahead. Buy in Thakhek a day or two before, or route via Vientiane.
ThakhekPhong Nha
Not bookable onlineThe Na Phao–Cha Lo crossing is the direct line to Phong Nha, but there is no bookable service. Travellers generally go via Vientiane or Savannakhet instead.
ThakhekHue
Not bookable onlineNot sold online. Savannakhet to Hue is the reliable version of this journey and runs daily.
AttapeuKon Tum / Pleiku
Not bookable onlineThe Phou Keua–Bờ Y crossing is open but carries almost no scheduled passenger transport. Local buses run irregularly; ask in Attapeu.
Sam NeuaHanoi
12go sells this as a flight, not a bus. Overland from Sam Nuea means a local bus to the Na Mèo crossing and onward transport arranged on the Vietnamese side.
Check Sam Neua to Hanoi pricesCommon questions
Can I get a Vietnam visa on arrival at the border?
No. Only at airports. You must have an e-visa before you reach the crossing.
Is my Vietnam e-visa tied to the crossing I chose?
Not any more. Since 2 December 2025 the port-of-entry field has been removed and you can enter at any of 83 approved checkpoints.
How much is the Vietnam e-visa?
US$25 single entry, US$50 multiple, valid up to 90 days.
Which crossing gives Lao visa on arrival coming the other way?
Disputed. The register says all nine; traveller reports say Lao Bảo only. Use Lao Bảo or get your Lao visa in advance.
Which crossing for Savannakhet or Pakse to Hue and Da Nang?
Dansavanh–Lao Bảo, usually an overnight sleeper.
Which crossing for Vientiane to Hanoi?
Nam Phao–Cầu Treo, over the Keo Nua Pass. Around 24 hours.
What is the road like through the mountains?
Slow and winding. In the wet season the Annamite routes are the most landslide-prone in the country.
Laos Bus Tickets
Written and maintained from Vientiane. The people behind this site have lived in Laos for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.
Sources for this page
- Lao Department of Immigration: checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
- Vietnam Immigration Department: e-visa checkpoints and rules
- Travelfish: field reports on visa on arrival in practice