How to cross the border between Ha Tien and Kampot?
Last Updated on November 2, 2025
Crossing the border between Ha Tien in Vietnam and Kampot in Cambodia is quite straightforward. I crossed the border of Ha Tien and Kampot in February 2023 and decided to write down my experience in this article. I hope this helps you to prepare for your border crossing.
Location border crossing Ha Tien – Kampot
First, I will tell you about the exact location of the border crossing. The official border crossing between the two countries is located at the Prek Chak International Border Check Point, approximately 45 kilometers from Kampot and 7 kilometers from Ha Tien.
How to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Kampot?
The best way to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Kampot is to first take a bus to Ha Tien, then a taxi to the border and then a minivan to Kampot. There is no direct train service or flight linking Ha Tien and Kampot.
I took a Futa sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Ha Tien. This bus ride took about 7 hours and was very comfortable. You can book the sleeper bus directly at the Futa website. I paid 205,000 VND for 1 ticket. The ticket includes a bed, 1 bottle of water and 1 cold towel.
You can use the search box below to explore the different transportation possibilities to Ha Tien via 12ToGo:
My accommodation in Ha Tien
I stayed the night in Ha Tien at Nhà nghỉ thanh thuy 2. This accommodation was very basic, but it was cheap, clean and had the perfect location. There was a (night) market nearby, plenty of restaurants and a money exchange service. The money exchange service is located in a small convenient shop and is not an official money changer. It was a weird place to exchange money, but it worked out perfectly.
I had dinner at a vegeterian buffet restaurant, which I can really recommend. I don’t remember the name of the place, but it was somewhere here.
Traveling to the border in Vietnam
The next morning I took a taxi to the border. Grab is not working in Ha Tien, so I arranged the taxi via the hotel. The taxi ride from Ha Tien to the border took around 30 minutes and I paid $6.5 / 158.000.
How to cross the border between Ha Tien and Kampot?
At the border I had to walk over to the Vietnamese immigration office and show my passport for the exit stamping. After getting my passport stamped I walked across no mans land to the Cambodian side. Before arriving at Cambodian immigration, I had to show my passport and exit stamp at least three times to other officials.
Once on the Cambodian side, I had to obtain a visa for entry. I filled in the immigration card for an Ordinary Visa (type E, see photos below) and paid the visa fee of $35. The Ordinary Visa can be extended up to 12 months.
Tip: you can also get a Tourist Visa (T) for $30. This one can be extended for another 30 days once.
Disclaimer: Visa requirements, fees, and extension terms can change at any time. Always check the latest official information before traveling, as prices may differ and extension rules may be updated.
Then I had to give my fingerprints, a picture was taken of me and then I got my stamp for Cambodia. After this whole process I had to take another photo and pay another $1 for this, which was totally unnecessary in my opinion and just a way to make extra money from tourists. This entire process only took around 20 minutes. After completing the above steps, I was permitted to continue my journey to Kampot.
The whole process of crossing the border between Ha Tien and Kampot took me around one hour. Depending on the time of day and the number of people crossing, it can take you longer.
Traveling from the border to Kampot
Outside the Cambodian border, multiple mini vans were available. I bargained the price from $14 to $10 and took the minivan to Kampot. The journey was quite comfortable, as the roads were well-maintained and the scenery was breathtaking. The ride took around one hour and the minivan dropped me at my super nice and clean hostel in Kampot; Monkey Republic hostel. I can really recommend this accommodation. Monkey Republic has a nice bar with hundred types of beer, high-quality food (see photos below) and a chill area where you can play pool.
Tip: another nice hostel in Kampot is Karma Traders Kampot. This hostel has a pool, nice rooftop bar and plenty of organized activities that are really fun to join. I also loved their taco Tuesday.
Conclusion
Crossing the border between Ha Tien and Kampot was a relatively straightforward process. The entire process from the start to finish took around one hour. The process involved queuing up for a Vietnamese exit stamp, applying for the Cambodian visa and finally waiting for the Cambodian entry stamp. It’s important to remember to bring your passport and USD for the visa fee.
If you have any questions about the border crossing, feel free to leave a comment in the comment section below. Enjoy Cambodia and safe travels!
Author: Daphne
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18 Comments
gokhan
Hi Daphne, Thank you so much for your review, it’s very useful.. Is the e-visa we obtain before entering Cambodia valid at this border gate?
Girlswanderlust
Hi! Glad you found the review helpful! Yes, the e-visa obtained before entering Cambodia should be valid at most major border gates. Just make sure you have a printed copy of your e-visa, as it’s often required to present it at the border. Safe travels, and enjoy your time in Cambodia!
Debbie Brown
Great review can I ask did you have a passport photo or is that what you had to pay a dollar for? And in the box which says bus/ car/ train/ number what did you put if you didn’t know
Thanks
Girlswanderlust
Hi Debby, Thank you for your kind words! Regarding your questions:
Passport Photo: Yes, I had my own passport photo, but they still took a photo of me twice (I think just standard procedure (to earn some extra money).
Transportation details on the Form: I believe I filled in “by foot” since I crossed the border on foot without using any transportation.
I hope this helps! Safe travels!
Juliette Samson
Hi Daphne, so you had a visa on arrival right ? You just had your passport, no visa to go into Cambodia?
Girlswanderlust
Hi Juliette, that’s right! I did not prearrange anything and obtained a visa upon arrival at the border. If you have any other questions, feel free to let me know. Safe travels!
Jennifer Parker
Great write up! Do you happen to know if they only take USD or will they take Euros? Thanks!
Girlswanderlust
Hi Jennifer, I am not sure about this. Something in me says they only accept USD and Cambodian Riel. If I were you, I would pin or exchange USD just to be sure.
By the way, if there is any possibility of paying with EURO, you have the chance of a corrupt exchange rate which will probably make you pay more than necessary. My advice therefore: USD.
Safe travels!
Monica
Hello Daphne ! Your write is really helpful 🙃 I have just doubts , did you get to Ha Tien from Phu Quoc Island ? Did you need any visa to enter Ha Tien? Because I am going from the Island , where I dont need any visa, so I need to know if I need any to enter Ha Tien. Also , I try to apply for Cambodian visa online , but border Prek Chak is not in options 🙈 getting a bit crazy from all of it , Thank you for your respond 🥰
Girlswanderlust
Hello!
Thank you for your message 😊 I actually traveled to Ha Tien from Ho Chi Minh City, not from Phu Quoc Island, so I’m not entirely sure about visa exceptions for the island. It’s possible that you might need a visa when exiting via Ha Tien.
As for the Cambodian visa, you can arrange it at the border—Prek Chak should allow visa on arrival, so no worries there! Hope that helps, and safe travels!
Oliver
The Cambodian Visa Fee is not depend on the officer but depends on Visa type. Tourist (T) Visa is $30 and Ordinary Visa (E) is $35. Tourist Visa can be extended for another 30 days once. Ordinary Visa can be extended up to 12 months.
Girlswanderlust
Thanks for the clarification Oliver 🙂
stuart Chater
Hi
Is it possible to get a bus or taxi to help us cross the border please as we’ll have quite a lot of luggage. It’ll be very difficult to walk across with all our(my gf) luggage. Thank you in advance.
Girlswanderlust
Hi Stuart, I think there were cabs and tuk tuks waiting between the borders. However, we walked, to save money 😉 I believe there is currently no bus service that offers the entire trip, so you will have to switch cabs or buses a few times. Safe travels!
Kim
Thank you for the detailed report, do you remember how much you paid the the taxi from your hotel in Ha Tien to the border? It would be nice to have a reference point for bargaining.
Girlswanderlust
Hi Kim, I just looked it up for you and I paid $6.5 / 158.000 VND for the taxi (2 persons). Hope this helps. Safe travels!
CLAIRE MOLLE
Thank you so much for your review, it’s very useful 💪🏻