The Xa Xia (Vietnam) – Prek Chak (Cambodia) border, about 8 km from Ha Tien, is the closest crossing to Kampot and Kep. A through minivan from Ha Tien takes around two to three hours including formalities and costs roughly $10–18 per person; a private car costs around $30–40. Travellers report that many nationalities can get a Cambodian visa on arrival here for $30, though published sources disagree on whether land borders issue it. Rules change, so treat the visa notes below as a starting point and check official sources before you travel.
On this page
The crossing at a glance
| What to expect (2026) | |
|---|---|
| Border | Xa Xia (Ha Tien, Vietnam) – Prek Chak (Kampot province, Cambodia) |
| Ha Tien town to the border | About 8 km, roughly 15 minutes; about $3–4 by Grab or taxi |
| Opening hours | Roughly 7:00 to 17:00–18:00; sources disagree, so cross well before late afternoon |
| Cambodian visa | Visa on arrival, as travellers report it: $30 in cash, plus a form and usually a passport photo (sources disagree; check before you go) |
| On to Kep | The closer of the two; around 30–45 minutes from the border |
| On to Kampot | Around an hour by car from the border; Kampot is about 25 km beyond Kep |
Visas and paperwork (check official sources)
Visa on arrival. Travellers consistently report that Prek Chak issues Cambodian tourist visas on arrival: a 30-day visa for $30 in US dollars cash, with an application form and one passport photo. With a queue, it takes about 15–30 minutes. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your entry date. Published sources disagree, though: the UK and German foreign ministries say visas on arrival are issued at land border crossings, while the Dutch motoring club ANWB lists only the three international airports. If you want certainty, check Cambodia's official sites or embassy before you travel, or get an e-visa if evisa.gov.kh lists Prek Chak as an entry point when you apply.
The e-visa. This is where it gets murky. Cambodia's online e-visa is officially accepted only at certain ports of entry. The lists we found name the international airports and a few land crossings, such as Bavet, but not clearly Prek Chak, and recent travel guides contradict each other on whether it's accepted here. Unless the official e-visa website (evisa.gov.kh) lists Prek Chak as a valid entry point when you apply, plan on getting a visa on arrival.
Visa-free nationalities. Citizens of several ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore, can enter visa-free for up to 30 days. Check the current list for your passport.
Arrival card. Cambodia's online e-Arrival card is required for air arrivals. Land borders have generally still used paper arrival forms, which you fill in at the window. Check whether this has changed before you go.
Paying the right amount. The official visa fee is $30, but France's travel advice tells travellers to expect around $40 in cash at land borders, and quotes of $35 and offers to "help" with forms for a fee are reported at this crossing. Politely insist on the official price, fill in your own form and decline any "health check" or processing surcharge. Bring crisp, untorn dollar notes: damaged notes are often refused. If your van company offers to sort the visa for you, ask what it charges on top of the $30.
Option 1: through minivan from Ha Tien
This is the easiest way. Several companies run Ha Tien to Kampot minivans, mostly in the morning with one or two in the afternoon, and many collect you from your Ha Tien hotel. Booking sites in 2026 list fares of roughly $10–18 per person and journey times of two to three hours including the border. Companies seen on this route include Kampot Tour, Kampot Transports and Vibol Express; departures and operators change, so check 12Go, Bookaway or your Ha Tien hotel for current times.
How it works: the van drops you at the Vietnamese post, you get stamped out, walk a couple of hundred metres across to the Cambodian side, sort your visa and entry stamp, and rejoin the same van or a connecting one. Ask when you book whether the van stops in Kep, and where exactly it drops you in Kampot. Most companies stop at their own office in the town centre.
Option 2: do it yourself
If you'd rather not wait for a scheduled van:
- Take a Grab or taxi from Ha Tien to the Xa Xia border, about 8 km and $3–4.
- Walk through both posts.
- On the Cambodian side, tuk-tuk and taxi drivers wait outside the gate. In 2026, guides put a tuk-tuk to Kep at around $10–15 (30–45 minutes) and a car at around $20. Kampot is further, so expect to pay more. Agree the price, and say exactly where you're going, before you get in.
This works best in the morning, when there are more drivers around. Late in the afternoon there are fewer drivers, and less time if anything goes slowly at the border.
Option 3: private car
A private car from Ha Tien to Kampot costs around $30–40 and takes about an hour of driving, plus your time at the border. Your Ha Tien hotel can arrange one, or a Kampot guesthouse can send a driver to meet you on the Cambodian side. For two or more people with luggage, it's worth considering.
Coming from Phu Quoc
Ferries run from Phu Quoc to Ha Tien several times a day (Superdong, Phu Quoc Express and Thanh Thoi). Fast boats take about an hour and a half (Thanh Thoi's boats closer to three hours), and adult fares in 2026 are about 200,000–350,000 dong (roughly $8–14), depending on operator and seat class; check current fares when you book. From the Ha Tien ferry terminal to the border is about 8 km. Some agencies sell combined ferry and minivan tickets through to Kampot; if you book separately, leave a buffer in case the ferry runs late or the sea is rough.
Kep or Kampot first?
Kep is closer to the border and right on the sea: crab market, seafront, and a national park to walk in. Kampot is a river town with a laid-back old centre, and it's the base for the salt fields, pepper farms and Bokor. They're only 25 km apart, 35–45 minutes and around $8–12 by tuk-tuk, so you don't have to choose for long. Our Kampot to Kep guide covers the trip between them, and the countryside guide what's in between.
Money and SIM cards
- US dollars are used everywhere for tourist prices, and change comes back in riel (about 4,000 to the dollar). Arrive with small dollar notes for the visa and the first ride.
- Money changers at the border offer poor rates. Change only what you need, or use an ATM in Kep or Kampot.
- SIM card sellers wait at the border, and there are phone shops in Kampot and Kep.
Going the other way, into Vietnam
Vietnam doesn't issue visas on arrival at this land border. Unless your passport is visa-exempt, get Vietnam's e-visa online before you travel, check that the Ha Tien / Xa Xia border gate is accepted as an entry point when you apply, and carry a printed copy. Vans from Kampot to Ha Tien leave in the morning and early afternoon; see getting around Kampot for getting to your van office.
Ride with Seth
Seth was born in Kampot and has 12 years of guiding behind him, rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor. Once your van reaches Kampot, he can pick you up at the drop-off and take you to your hotel. Or plan a day: Kep's crab market, the salt fields and a pepper farm all fit into his Kampot & Kep full day. Message Seth on WhatsApp with your dates for a fixed quote.
FAQ
Can I get a Cambodian visa on arrival at Prek Chak?
Travellers consistently report that it works: $30 cash, a form and usually a passport photo. Published sources disagree on whether land borders issue visas on arrival, so check your government's travel advice and Cambodia's official sites before you go, or get an e-visa if evisa.gov.kh lists Prek Chak as an entry point.
Does Prek Chak accept the Cambodian e-visa?
Reports conflict. Unless the official e-visa site lists Prek Chak as a valid entry point when you apply, plan on a visa on arrival.
How long does Ha Tien to Kampot take?
Two to three hours by minivan, including the border. In a private car, it's about an hour of driving plus your time at the border.
What time does the border close?
Sources give closing times between about 17:00 and 18:00. Aim to cross by early afternoon.
