There's no direct boat from Kampot to Phu Quoc. You go overland instead. A van takes you through the Prek Chak–Xa Xia border to Ha Tien in Vietnam, two to three hours including formalities. Then a fast boat runs about an hour and a half to Bai Vong pier on Phu Quoc. Combined van-and-boat tickets cost roughly $22–35, and the whole trip takes five to seven hours door to door. The catch is the visa: Phu Quoc's 30-day visa-free rule doesn't cover overland arrivals. Sort out a Vietnamese e-visa, or check that your passport is visa-exempt, before you set off.
On this page
The route at a glance (2026)
| Leg | Time | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Kampot to the Prek Chak border | About 1 hour by road | Included in van tickets; private car roughly $30–40 |
| Both border posts, on foot | 30–60 minutes, longer in high season | No fee to leave Cambodia; Vietnamese visa arranged in advance |
| Border to Ha Tien port | About 8 km, 15 minutes | Included in combined tickets, or about $3–4 by Grab or taxi |
| Fast boat to Phu Quoc (Superdong, Phu Quoc Express) | About 1 h 20 to 1 h 30 | About 200,000–350,000 dong (roughly $8–14) |
| Slower ferry (Thanh Thoi) | About 3 hours | Similar or cheaper |
| Combined van + boat ticket | 5–7 hours in all | About $22–35 per person |
Fares and timetables are those published by operators and booking sites in 2026. They change with the season, so check when you book.
Option 1: a combined van and boat ticket
This is what most people do. One ticket covers the van to Ha Tien, help at the border, the transfer to the port and the boat. You can buy it from your guesthouse, a travel agent or online through 12Go and similar sites. Companies selling the Kampot to Ha Tien leg in 2026 include Kampot Tour, Kampot Transports, Vibol Express, Rith Travel and Champa. Ha Tien Xanh also sells through tickets, and recent reviews praise its help at the border.
Vans leave Kampot in the morning, around 8:00–8:30 and 10:30, and a few leave mid-afternoon. The morning vans connect with the fast boats, which leave Ha Tien from about 6:00 until early afternoon. On 2026 timetables the last Superdong sails around 13:15–13:45, and Phu Quoc Express sails at about 7:00 and 11:45. An afternoon van gets you there after the last fast boat. That leaves Thanh Thoi's slower evening ferry, or a night in Ha Tien.
Before you pay, ask:
- which boat and departure time are included;
- whether the van-to-port transfer is included;
- whether you change vans at the border;
- whether the van picks up in Kep, if you're staying there.
Option 2: doing it yourself
- Take a private car from Kampot to the border, about an hour's drive and roughly $30–40.
- Walk through the Cambodian exit post and the Vietnamese entry post. Carry all your luggage through; it gets scanned.
- Take a Grab or taxi the 8 km to Ha Tien ferry port, about $3–4.
- Buy your boat ticket at the port. On busy weekends and holidays, book online in advance, because the fast boats sell out.
This gives you more control over connections in high season. If you want an early boat, sleep in Ha Tien, a small, quiet town: the first fast boat leaves at about 6:00.
Visas: sort this out first
Vietnam doesn't issue visas on arrival at land borders. You need one of these before you reach Ha Tien:
- A visa exemption for your passport. Since March 2025, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Japan, South Korea and Russia get 45 days visa-free, until 14 March 2028. Since 15 August 2025, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Croatia get 45 days for tourism, until 14 August 2028. Many ASEAN passports are also exempt.
- An e-visa. Everyone else applies on Vietnam's official portal, evisa.gov.vn. An e-visa lasts up to 90 days and costs $25 for one entry or $50 for multiple entries. Ha Tien is on the official list of land border gates that accept e-visas, so choose it as your entry point. Processing is usually quoted at about three working days. Apply at least a week ahead, and print a copy.
Phu Quoc's 30-day visa-free rule doesn't help here. It covers people who arrive on Phu Quoc directly from abroad, by international flight or ship. Coming overland, you clear Vietnamese immigration at Ha Tien, on the mainland, so you need an exemption or e-visa that covers mainland Vietnam. Some websites suggest otherwise. We wouldn't risk it.
New province name. Since 1 July 2025, Ha Tien and Phu Quoc belong to An Giang province, which absorbed Kien Giang. Older lists may still say "Ha Tien, Kien Giang", but it's the same border.
Rules change, so check official Vietnamese sources and your government's travel advice before you go.
Common scams and problems
- Fake e-visa websites: lookalike sites charge far more than the official fee. In August 2026, Vietnamese authorities warned visitors to use only the .gov.vn portals (evisa.gov.vn and thithucdientu.gov.vn).
- Passport collection: van staff may offer to take everyone's passports through, and older reports mention a $1 "handling fee". You can always keep your passport and queue yourself.
- Small unofficial fees: travellers have reported being asked for a dollar at a "health" counter. Ask politely what it's for. Unexplained surcharges aren't official fees.
- The wrong van: after the border, some vans continue to Ho Chi Minh City or Rach Gia. Tell the staff you're going to Phu Quoc.
- Missed boats: border queues can be long in high season. Take a morning van, and don't book a flight out of Phu Quoc on the same day.
- Money: border changers give poor rates. Change a little there, then use an ATM in Ha Tien or on Phu Quoc. Keep some small dollar notes too.
- Weather and arrival: boats can be delayed or cancelled in rough seas. At Bai Vong, drivers crowd the pier, so agree a price first or use a metered taxi or an app.
The other way round: Phu Quoc to Kampot
Fast boats leave Bai Vong for Ha Tien from early morning to mid-afternoon. Combined boat-and-van tickets to Kep and Kampot are sold on the island and online. Take a morning boat: the border closes between about 17:00 and 18:00, and there are fewer drivers on the Cambodian side late in the day.
At Prek Chak, travellers consistently report getting a Cambodian tourist visa on arrival for $30 cash, usually with a form and a passport photo. Published sources disagree on whether land borders issue them, so check Cambodia's official sites before you travel. It's unclear whether the Cambodian e-visa is accepted there; our Ha Tien to Kampot border guide has the details.
One trap: if you flew into Phu Quoc under the 30-day visa-free rule, that permission covers the island only, and Ha Tien is on the mainland. Before you take the boat, make sure you hold a visa or exemption for the rest of Vietnam, or check with immigration on the island.
Ride with Seth
If Kampot is your last stop in Cambodia, spend a day out of town before you cross. Seth was born in Kampot, has guided for 12 years and is rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor. He can show you the salt fields, a pepper farm and Secret Lake. Or ride with him to Kep for crab by the sea, where Phu Quoc is often on the horizon. Do the tour the day before your morning van. Tell him what you'd like to see and he'll plan a private day around it. Typical private prices are around $20–25 per tuk-tuk for a half day and $35–45 for a full day. Message Seth on WhatsApp with your dates and he'll confirm a fixed price.
FAQ
Is there a direct boat from Kampot or Kep to Phu Quoc?
No, not as of October 2026. Everyone goes overland to Ha Tien in Vietnam and takes the boat from there.
How long does Kampot to Phu Quoc take?
Five to seven hours door to door. That's two to three hours to Ha Tien including the border, a wait at the port, and about an hour and a half on a fast boat.
Do I need a visa for Phu Quoc if I come from Cambodia?
Yes, unless your passport is visa-exempt for Vietnam. The island's 30-day visa-free rule is for direct international arrivals, not for travellers coming overland through Ha Tien.
How much does Kampot to Phu Quoc cost?
About $22–35 per person for a combined van and boat ticket in 2026. Doing it yourself costs about the same for two people sharing a car to the border.
Can I go from Kep instead?
Yes. Kep is closer to the border, and vans from Kampot often pass through it. Ask when you book whether yours picks up in Kep.
