S1 E62 | Crossing from Vietnam to Cambodia – A Stressful Land Border Journey

After many weeks in Vietnam, we were ready for our next adventure—crossing into Cambodia by land. But unlike the carefree vibe of backpacker travel, for us this border crossing was anything but simple.

The evening before, we booked our bus tickets from Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling Phạm Ngũ Lão area. The process itself had been confusing, with stories of difficult checks at the border, but a helpful travel agent named Huan guided us patiently through the details. She spoke clear English, responded to all our queries on WhatsApp, and gave us some peace of mind before what felt like one of the most stressful journeys we had prepared for since starting our full-time travels.

The next morning, we boarded our bus and headed for the Vietnam–Cambodia border. Breakfast was included, and the ride began smoothly. Leaving Vietnam was surprisingly quick—our passports were stamped within minutes, and we were out. But things changed drastically on the Cambodian side.

At Bavet immigration, most of our fellow bus passengers—mainly European backpackers—stayed seated while the bus conductor collected their passports for visas on arrival. For us, it was different. We were asked to get down, escorted into the immigration hall, and made to wait with growing anxiety. No one explained what was happening, and the officers seemed to have disappeared on a lunch break.

Finally, after nearly an hour, a senior officer arrived. He checked our documents thoroughly—asking about our itinerary, verifying our Cambodia eVisa, and most importantly, requesting proof of an onward flight out of the country. While most travelers around us never had to show this, as Indian passport holders, we were asked specifically for this requirement. Thankfully, we had a flight reservation to Thailand, which satisfied the officer. He also checked our cash reserves in US Dollars before stamping our passports.

The whole process was stressful, nerve-wracking, and painfully slow. But when that final stamp landed on our passports and we were cleared for 30 days in Cambodia, the relief was overwhelming.

Six hours later, after a long and tiring bus ride, we finally arrived at Phnom Penh—exhausted but grateful. This crossing reminded us of the uneven realities of land travel in Southeast Asia, where the experience can be completely different depending on the passport you carry.