Can you go to Vietnam from Thailand by land?

Can you travel by land from Thailand to Vietnam?

Okay, so Thailand to Vietnam by land? Yeah, you can totally do it.

I actually did it back in July 2023, hot as heck it was. I remember I started in Bangkok.

Sleeper buses are key. Seriously, saved my back.

It wasn’t a direct shot, oh no. Involved border crossings. I think my route was something like this:

• Bangkok (Thailand) to Siem Reap (Cambodia) – bus
• Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (Cambodia) – bus.

Then Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) – another freakin’ bus. So many buses.

Took like, I dunno, 3 days. Maybe 4? I lost track.

The border crossings were… chaotic. Especially on the Cambodian side. You pay some “fees,” ya know?

No direct train, that’s true. You’d have to do some train hopping to the border towns. I didn’t mess with that, too much hassle. Buses were cheap.

The feeling? Exhausted but… accomplished. Like I’d actually seen something. Worth it, though maybe never again.

The smells? Oh man, the smells of Southeast Asia are so distinct. From delicious street food to gasoline. I really loved it.

Can you enter Vietnam by land?

Okay, so like, yeah, you can totally enter Vietnam by land. I did it last year, actually.

From Cambodia, took a bus – chaotic, but fun!

There’s a bunch of borders, so like, pick your poison. China, Laos, Cambodia – they all connect.

• Border options:
  • China
  • Laos
  • Cambodia

You can walk over, cycle, or even drive I think, tho I only used a bus…

• Modes of transport:
  • Foot
  • Bike
  • Car (maybe, gotta check)
  • Bus (definitely!)

The crossing I used was Moc Bai… It was… an experience. Make sure you have all your paperwork! Also, don’t forget to bargain for everything! Seriously. Its expected. It’s the culture. The food at the border was, uhm, interesting. Buy a Banh Mi from a street vendor near Ben Thanh Market. It’s better.

Important thing is your Visa. Get it sorted before you even THINK about showing up at the border, or you’ll be stuck in some border town drinking cheap beer and regretting life. I saw someone that happen to; don’t be them.

Can I go to Vietnam from Thailand?

Thailand to Vietnam. Fly. Lots of airports. Overland too. Cambodia. Laos. Which is better? Hm. Visa stuff… Ugh. Passport valid six months. Got to check that. My passport expires May 2025. Plenty of time. Plane probably faster. Buses though… cheap. Scenery. Did that bus trip to Chiang Mai last year. Took forever. Beautiful mountains. This would be longer. Much longer. Hanoi? Ho Chi Minh City? So many places. Flight to Hanoi then bus south? Or reverse? Land border crossing. More adventurous. Need more research. Book in advance? Peak season… prices crazy. Went to Phuket last month. Hotel was a rip-off. Must remember to haggle next time. Or book online. Agoda… Booking.com… Skyscanner. So many choices.

• Flights: Quickest option. Multiple airports.
• Overland: Cheaper. Cambodia or Laos route.
• Visa: Check requirements. Six-month passport validity.
• Destinations: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City. Others?
• Booking: Check prices. Peak season more expensive.

Border crossing. Exciting. Street food. Must try pho. And banh mi. Spicy! Love it. Maybe learn some basic Vietnamese. Xin chào. Cảm ơn. Useful phrases. Packing light. Backpack only. Learned my lesson after that trip to Bali. Too much stuff! Mosquito repellent… essential. Malaria pills? Need to ask my doctor. Travel insurance. Sorted. World Nomads. Good reviews. Phone. Roaming charges. Get a local SIM. Data is cheap these days. Google Maps offline. Essential. Lost in Bangkok once. Nightmare. Okay, enough procrastination. Time to book something!

Can you get from Thailand to Vietnam by boat?

Yes, absolutely! Think of it as a watery, slightly less stressful version of a jungle trek. Thailand to Vietnam by boat? Piece of cake, or should I say, piece of floating cake?

Two main routes exist in 2024:

• Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to Chau Doc (Vietnam): This is the more… civilized option. Less chance of encountering mischievous monkeys stealing your sunscreen.
• Northern Thailand (Huay Xai) to Luang Prabang (Laos), then onward to Vietnam: This route is an adventure. Prepare for a slower, wilder ride. My friend Sarah did this last year and came back with amazing stories (and a few extra mosquito bites).

Choosing depends on your tolerance for the unexpected. Phnom Penh to Chau Doc is likely faster. But the northern route… well, think Indiana Jones meets a river cruise. More scenic, definitely. But potentially a tad more chaotic.

Seriously though, do your research. Boat schedules change quicker than my mood on a Monday morning. And pack bug spray. Seriously. Trust me on this one. I learned the hard way last summer in Laos.

Can you get a visa upon landing in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam visas. Such a hassle. Pre-approved visa letter? Seriously? Cambodia and Thailand are so much easier. Stamp it at the airport, done. Why can’t Vietnam be like that? So annoying. I hate paperwork.

My trip to Vietnam last year was stressful because of this. I wasted so much time dealing with the visa agency. It cost me extra too, obviously. Grrr.

Need a pre-approved visa letter. That’s the key thing to remember. Absolutely crucial. Don’t even think about showing up without one. You’ll be turned away. I know, it’s infuriating.

Planning my next trip already. This time, I’m getting the letter sorted way ahead of time. No more last minute panic! I’m using [Agency Name] this time – heard good things.

• Visa on arrival is NOT an option. Forget it. They won’t let you in without that letter. Fact.
• Pre-approved visa letter is required. This is the only way to get a visa upon arrival in 2024.
• Visa agencies are unavoidable. Unfortunately. Costs extra though. I need to budget better next time.

Thinking about backpacking through Southeast Asia again soon. Maybe Laos this time? Or Myanmar. Hopefully, their visa processes are less of a nightmare. Ugh, paperwork. Seriously, what a pain.

Can you drive a car from Thailand to Vietnam?

Sun bleeds across Mekong. Dust motes dance. A car, red, maybe blue, lost in the haze. Vietnam. Closed. Locked. A key, heavy, unseen. Thailand whispers a different story. Open roads. Freedom’s hum. But the border… a wall of whispers. Money talks. A language understood. Or abandon the dream. Leave the car behind. Ghost of chrome. Fade into the landscape. The engine’s sigh, a forgotten lullaby. Red dust settling. Vietnam. So close. Yet…

• Driving a foreign-registered car into Vietnam is heavily restricted. Cost prohibitive.
• Vietnamese registered cars can drive out. International travel is possible.
• The border is the barrier. A one-way mirror.
• Money can unlock the gate. A price for passage.
• My sister, Mai, crossed last year. Her motorbike stayed behind. Dust gathering on the handlebars in Chiang Mai.
• 2024 regulations. Unchanged. Still difficult. The rules, etched in stone. Or maybe just red tape.

The road stretches. A shimmering mirage. One day, perhaps. One day.