Types of border crossings

Cambodia has two types of border crossings, international and local. As you may suspect, international crossings are generally open to all foreign nationalities who are in possession of a valid passport and visa, while local crossings are open only to locals (on each side of the border) who are able to cross back and forth using some form of border pass. The international crossings are the only ones covered in this section.
Cambodia has at least a dozen international overland border crossings. These allow overland travel to Thailand (via six crossings), Laos (via one crossing) and Vietnam (via five crossings). You can also arrive by air at either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, both of which have international airports, or by sea at Preah Sihanouk Province.

Popular crossings

The most popular overland border crossing to Thailand by far is the Aranyprathet/Poipet border crossing. To Laos, you only have one option, the Veun Kham/Dom Kralor crossing (but note your Laos visa on arrival is NOT available at this crossing). To Vietnam, the most popular crossing is the Bavet/Moc Bai crossing. Cambodian visa on arrival is available at all these crossings and Cambodian eVisas are also accepted at these entry points.

Technicalities

Cambodian border crossings are generally open from 08:00 to 18:00 with the exception of Veun Kham/Dom Kralor, which closes earlier. On weekends and late hours, don't be surprised if you're asked to pay a dollar or so in "overtime" -- and don't expect a receipt.

Cambodia/Lao borders

Veun Kham/ Dom Kralor Voeung Kam, Laos/Dom Kralor, Cambodia
Cambodian visas are available at the border (Don't forget to bring a photo!). Some travelers report that visas are only available at the road crossing, not at the river crossing. Laos visas NOT available at the border. No special permits required from either Cambodia or Laos.
To get to the Lao border crossing from Phnom Penh, take a taxi or bus to Stung Treng town, and then arrange transport to the border from Stung Treng. The road from Phnom Penh all the way through Stung Treng and to the border has recently been improved and is currently in comparatively good condition. Travelers used to take the ferry most of the way to Stung Treng, but now with the improved road conditions, most people go by road. This is the only overland option between Cambodia and Laos.

Cambodia / Thailand borders

Aranyaprathet, Thailand/Poipet , Cambodia
Cambodian visas and Thai transit visas available on arrival at the border. Cambodian E-Visa accepted at this crossing.
This is by far the most popular and the most dysfunctional border crossing between Cambodia and Thailand. Cambodian visas on arrival are available and eVisas are accepted. Crossing times can be in excess of three hours depending on the whims of the border officials, but they can also be mercifully fast. Poipet (the Cambodian side of the border) has a major tout problem and it can be difficult to organize onwards transport to Siem Reap at a reasonable price.

Cham Yeam Checkpoint: Had Lek, Thailand / Koh Kong, Cambodia (The way to Sihanouk Ville)
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
A very straightforward crossing, Had Lek/Ko Kong is most convenient for those planning on travelling between Thailand's Ko Chhang and the Preah Sihanouk beach area of Cambodia. There are numerous reports of Cambodian officials here being particularly troublesome and asking ridiculous amounts of money for visas on arrival. The easiest way around this is to arrive with a visa already in hand. If you need to get to an ATM, there is one in the Thai town of Had Lek.

Chong Jom, Thailand/O'Smach, Cambodia

Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
This crossing is convenient to Surin in Thailand and Siem Reap in Cambodia. There are a half dozen buses a day from Surin to the border (and back) with the trip taking a couple of hours. On the Khmer side you can either grab a share taxi to Siem Reap or get to Samraong first, from where you can either continue onto Siem Reap by share taxi or head east for Anlong Veng.

Chong Sa Ngam, Thailand / Anlong Veng, Cambodia

Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Remote border crossing northwest of Siem Reap in Oddar Meanchey province, opposite Thailand's Si Saket province. This crossing is very convenient to Anlong Veng but little else. If you are heading to Thailand via this crossing, there is no public transport from the border to any sizeable Thai towns, so you will need to hitch a ride from the border for around 20km to a sealed road, from where occasional public buses pass. You are better off hitching at least as far as Route 24, along which there are very frequent buses.

Ban Pakard, Chantaburi, Thailand / Phsar Prom Border Crossing: Pailin, Cambodia
Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Located in Pailin, Cambodia, opposite Thailand's Chantaburi province. This little utilized border is a 30-minute motorbike ride from Pailin and from the Thai side there are frequent minibuses to Chanthaburi an hour or so away.

Ban Laem, Chantaburi, Thailand/Daun Lem, Battambang, Cambodia

Cambodian visas available. Thai transit visas available.
Located in Kamreang, Battambang province, Cambodia, opposite Thailand's Chantaburi province, Close to the Ban Pakard, Chantaburi/Phsa Prum, Pailin crossing, this very little-used border is about 45 minutes from Pailin and on the Thai side there are songthaeaw services to Chanthaburi. The Ban Pakard/Phsa Prum crossing is your better bet.

Cambodia/Vietnam borders

Bavet Checkpoint: Moc Bai, Vietnam / Bavet, Cambodia (Route 1 to Phnom Penh)
Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border(must be arranged in advance). Cambodian E-Visa accepted at this crossing.
This was the first crossing between Cambodia and Vietnam to open to foreign travellers and it remains easily the most popular. Daily buses regularly ply the Saigon - Phnom Penh route and the service is both fast and affordable.

Kaam Samnor, Cambodia/Ving Xuong, Vietnam ("Chau Doc crossing") (On the Mekong River)

Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border
This very popular riverine crossing links Phnom Penh with the Vietnamese town of Chau Doc. Both slow and fast boat services are available. When you arrive at the border, a fixer will generally gather up all the passports and head into the immigration office to do all the paperwork. You're welcome to accompany them, but it's not essential.

Phnom Den, Takeo, Cambodia / Tinh Bien, Vietnam

Cambodian visas available at the border. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border
Midway between Ha Tien and Chau Doc, this crossing is open to foreign travellers and Cambodian visas on arrival are available. The closest town on the Khmer side is Kampot or Takeo -- but both are a couple of hours away. There are buses from Ha Tien to the border, though a motorbike ride is far faster. On the Cambodian side, transport is a bit sparse and travellers have reported paying upto $55 for a taxi from the border town of Phnom Den to Kampot.

Xa Xia, Vietnam/Prek Chak, Cambodia (Ha Tien crossing)

Cambodian visas available at the border. Cambodian E-Visa accepted at this crossing. Vietnam visas are NOT available. You must get your Vietnam visa in advance.
The Cambodia/Vietnam coastal border crossing is open and travellers with a valid Vietnamese visa can enter Vietnam at the Prek Chak/Xa Xia crossing, a 20-minute motorbike ride from Kep.

Trapeang Phlong Border Pass: Xa Mat, Vietnam/Trapeang Phlong, Kampong Cham, Cambodia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Cambodian visas available at the border. As yet unconfirmed by travelers. Vietnamese visas NOT available at the border.
Recently opened. In Kampong Cham province, Memot district, bordering the Vietnamese province of Tay Ninh.

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