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Bavet–Moc Bai Border Crossing (Vietnam → Cambodia) for Australians: 2026 Guide
With every Thailand–Cambodia land border still closed, the Bavet–Moc Bai crossing is now the main Indochina overland route for Australians. Six hours, fifteen US dollars, one printed eVisa — here's how Aussies actually do it.
How do Australians cross from Vietnam to Cambodia overland in 2026?
The Bavet–Moc Bai land crossing is the main Vietnam→Cambodia overland route for Australians in 2026. ~165 km from Ho Chi Minh City to the border, 4–6 hours by bus (~$15–25 USD / ~$23–38 AUD). You'll need: Cambodia eVisa pre-applied ($80 USD / ~$122 AUD all-in — VoA at the border is unreliable; don't rely on it), Australian passport with 6+ months validity, Vietnamese exit stamp (auto on bus). Bus operators like Mekong Express and Giant Ibis are the safe picks. Total HCMC → Phnom Penh: 8–10 hours door-to-door.
Key Takeaways
- Bavet (Cambodia) – Moc Bai (Vietnam) is the main and most reliable Vietnam → Cambodia overland route for Australians in 2026, on Highway 1.
- Bus from Ho Chi Minh City takes 4–6 hours to the border and a further 2–3 hours to Phnom Penh — total 8–10 hours door-to-door, around $15–25 USD (~$23–38 AUD).
- Apply for your Cambodia eVisa before you board: $80 USD (~$122 AUD) all-in. Visa-on-arrival at Bavet exists but is unreliable — sticker stockouts are common.
- The Cambodia e-Arrival Card is mandatory only for air arrivals. For Bavet, the Cambodian Immigration desk handles entry directly — don't waste $5 on a card you don't need.
- Mekong Express and Giant Ibis are the two operators Aussies should pick; Kumho Samco and Sapaco are cheaper but less consistent on border handling.
Why the Bavet crossing matters in 2026
Until mid-2025, an Aussie planning an Indochina loop had three overland choices into Cambodia: from Thailand at Poipet, from Vietnam at Bavet, or from Laos at Tropaeng Kreal. Since June 2025, the Thailand option has been off the table — all seven Thai–Cambodian land crossings remain closed with no reopening on the calendar. That has quietly made Bavet the main overland route into Cambodia for the entire backpacker and family-travel demographic out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.
The crossing itself has been running smoothly throughout. Bavet on the Cambodian side, Moc Bai on the Vietnamese side, Highway 1 connecting Saigon to Phnom Penh. Four to six hours on the bus to the border, another two to three hours to the Cambodian capital. The Thailand–Cambodia border closure update has the broader context, and the Vietnam–Cambodia visa combo guide covers the two-visa logistics in detail.
This article is the field-tested version: how the bus journey actually plays out for an Australian passport holder in 2026, which operators are reliable, where Aussies most often trip up, and what to do if something goes sideways at the border. I've crossed Bavet more than forty times since 2017 and the rhythm has changed less than you'd think — but the visa policy around it has changed more than most travel blogs have caught up with.
The Bavet–Moc Bai crossing at a glance
Four operators run the Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh route in 2026. Two are safe Aussie picks, two are cheaper but rougher around the edges. None are bad, exactly — but at the border, the operator's relationship with Cambodian Immigration is the variable that decides whether your bus waits ten minutes or ninety. Here is the honest side-by-side.
Mekong Express
Mekong Express is the operator most Australians end up on, and there's a reason — they've been running the route since the early 2000s, the fleet is genuinely comfortable, and the on-board attendant collects every passenger's passport on the Vietnam side and walks the stack through both immigration desks personally. You stay on the bus for the Vietnamese exit, get off briefly to walk through Cambodian Immigration on foot, then reboard. The whole crossing usually clocks in at 45 to 75 minutes. Departures from the Pham Ngu Lao office in District 1, Saigon, multiple times daily. Book online or at the office the day before.
Frequently asked questions
Can Australians cross from Vietnam to Cambodia by land?
Yes. The main overland crossing for Australians is Moc Bai on the Vietnamese side and Bavet on the Cambodian side, on Highway 1 between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. The crossing has been running normally throughout 2025 and 2026 — unlike the Thailand–Cambodia land borders, which have been closed since June 2025 with no reopening scheduled. Bus operators including Mekong Express and Giant Ibis run the HCMC-to-Phnom Penh route daily.
Do I need a Cambodia eVisa for the Bavet crossing?
Yes — and you should apply before you board the bus in Saigon, not at the border. The Cambodia eVisa for Australians is $80 USD (~$122 AUD) all-in, processed in three business days, and delivered as a printable PDF. Cambodian Immigration at Bavet accepts the printed eVisa directly — one A4 colour copy is fine, two is safer. Visa-on-arrival at Bavet technically exists but is unreliable due to frequent sticker stockouts; don't rely on it.
How long does the Bavet border crossing take?
The border crossing itself usually takes 45 to 75 minutes from arrival at Moc Bai to departure from Bavet — Vietnamese exit (10 to 20 minutes if the bus attendant runs the passports), the short walk across no-man's-land, and Cambodian entry (15 to 30 minutes). Total HCMC-to-Phnom Penh journey time is 8 to 10 hours door-to-door. Buses that arrive at the border before 2pm tend to clear faster than late-afternoon arrivals.
Which bus company should Aussies use HCMC to Phnom Penh?
Mekong Express or Giant Ibis. Both run reclining-seat coaches with AC, wifi, on-board attendants who handle passports through the Vietnamese exit, and English-speaking crew used to Western travellers. Tickets run roughly $18 to $25 USD (~$27 to $38 AUD). The cheaper operators (Kumho Samco, Sapaco) save you $5 to $10 but are noticeably slower at the border and less helpful with the visa paperwork. For first-time Aussie crossings, the small extra is worth it.
What does the bus cost from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh?
Expect $15 to $25 USD (~$23 to $38 AUD) one-way on a tourist bus, depending on the operator and how far ahead you book. Mekong Express and Giant Ibis sit at the top of that range with the most comfortable fleet; Kumho Samco and Sapaco are in the budget tier at $12 to $18 USD. Tickets can be booked online through the operator's website or in person at the Pham Ngu Lao Street offices in District 1, Saigon, usually a day in advance. Card payment is accepted on the two premium operators; the cheaper ones often want cash.
Sources
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