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A visa run through Tịnh Biên or Vĩnh Xương suits foreigners living in or travelling around Châu Đốc, Long Xuyên and Cần Thơ. Both gates are in An Giang province, both are on the list of gates accepting the Vietnamese e-visa, and both are far closer to the Mekong cities than Mộc Bài. On the Cambodian side, Tịnh Biên faces Phnom Den (Takeo) and Vĩnh Xương faces Kaam Samnor (Kandal). Neither Cambodian post accepts entry on a Cambodian e-visa.
Re-entry is decided case by case by the officer at the counter, and visa conditions can be adjusted at short notice. Our part is the vehicle and the person driving it: no paperwork, no holding passports, no promised outcome. For the legal background, start with our visa run by private car guide.
Updated 21 October 2026. Written by the Car Rental Vietnam operations team from experience running trips to Tây Ninh and the Mekong Delta, checked against current legal texts. Immigration rules can change; check the official portals before you travel.
| Tịnh Biên | Vĩnh Xương | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Road | Road and river |
| Cambodian side | Phnom Den (Takeo) | Kaam Samnor (Kandal) |
| On Vietnam's e-visa list | Yes | Yes |
| Cambodian e-visa on entry | No, visa on arrival | No, visa on arrival |
| From Châu Đốc | about 20–25 km | a short drive; route confirmed by the driver |
Tịnh Biên sits near the Seven Mountains area on a straightforward road and is the more common choice. Vĩnh Xương lies upstream on the Tiền river in the former Tân Châu area, where passenger boats to Phnom Penh also clear formalities. For a visa run by car, Tịnh Biên is usually easier; Vĩnh Xương is a fallback or suits people staying near Tân Châu.
After the 1 July 2025 merger, An Giang also includes former Kiên Giang, but neither gate changed its name. When you apply for a Vietnamese e-visa, choose "Tịnh Biên" or "Vĩnh Xương" from the land-port list. If the name you need is not in the drop-down, ask through the official portal's support channel rather than picking another gate.
Real times depend on your departure, any road works and queues at the border, and the driver confirms the route when you book. A return trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Tịnh Biên in one day is too long, so people based there should use Mộc Bài.
The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Berlin's table, updated 3 October 2026, lists both Phnom Den and Kaam Samnor as open but not accepting entry on a Cambodian e-visa. Cambodia's foreign ministry says visas on arrival remain available at international land checkpoints, and the Ministry of Tourism lists both as issuing them.
A common mistake in the Mekong is choosing Cần Thơ or Tân Sơn Nhất airport on the e-visa and then returning overland. Check the port shown on your e-visa before the day.
| Time of day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Early morning | Pickup in Cần Thơ |
| Mid-morning | Via Long Xuyên and Châu Đốc to Tịnh Biên |
| Late morning | Formalities on both sides |
| Midday | Lunch in Châu Đốc or Tịnh Biên |
| Afternoon | Back in Cần Thơ before dark |
If you finish early you could stop at the Bà Chúa Xứ temple on Sam mountain or the Trà Sư melaleuca forest on the way back, but only once you have definitely re-entered Vietnam. In the first weeks of the lunar year Sam mountain is very crowded with pilgrims, so skip it then if you want an early return. See also Cần Thơ to Châu Đốc and Sam mountain by private car and our An Giang travel guide.
Suitcases can stay in the car: about 3 in a 4–5 seater, 4 in a 7-seater and 6–8 in a 16-seater or 9-seat Limousine.
A visa run suits long-stay travellers and people still deciding where to live. If you already work, run a business or live settled in Cần Thơ or An Giang, repeated border hops can lead to more questions about the purpose of your stay, and they are not a long-term solution. Vietnam's immigration law provides visas and temporary residence cards for specific purposes such as work, investment and family visits, issued through a sponsoring organisation or person in Vietnam. The official e-visa portal also notes that someone who entered on an e-visa may be considered for a new visa if a Vietnamese organisation or individual sponsors them. In those situations, ask the immigration authority or a lawyer about the right route instead of continuing with visa runs.
The evening before, put everything in a single day bag: passport, printed Vietnamese e-visa, a screenshot of your Cambodia e-Arrival, photos, small dollar notes, dong, phone and power bank. Check again that your e-visa shows Tịnh Biên or Vĩnh Xương as the port. Message the driver to confirm the pickup time and place, and send a map pin if you live on a lane or a canal road.
In the Mekong many addresses still use pre-merger district and commune names, so add the new name and a landmark so the driver finds you quickly. If you have an onward ticket out of Vietnam or a rental contract, bring a printout or photo in case officers ask where you live and when you plan to leave.
Everyone, children included, needs their own passport and their own basis to re-enter Vietnam, so check each person before booking. A child seat is available on request. A group sharing one car should agree beforehand what happens if someone is delayed or has a problem: whether everyone waits and returns together, or the trip is split. Tell us so we can arrange it. Bring snacks and water, because waiting at the gate around midday is hot work.
For larger groups, a 16-seater or 9-seat Limousine keeps everyone together and gives room to rest on the way back. Families often combine the trip with a relaxed lunch in Châu Đốc, which also gives everyone time to look over their passports calmly before the drive home.
The fleet covers 4–5 seat cars, 7-seat cars, 16-seat vans and 9-seat Limousines, model years 2022 to 2025. Chauffeur prices include fuel and tolls, every quote gets 10% off, an 8% VAT invoice is available on request, and child seats are available on request. We do not publish fixed prices. Send the quick-quote form with pickup, date, gate and passengers. See also Cần Thơ by car.
Rules can change; check evisa.gov.vn and Cambodian official sources in the week before you travel.
Yes. Tịnh Biên and Vĩnh Xương are both on the e-visa gate list in Resolution 127/NQ-CP.
No. According to the Royal Embassy of Cambodia's table updated 3 October 2026, Phnom Den and Kaam Samnor do not accept e-visa entry.
Yes, with an early start. Cần Thơ to Châu Đốc is about 115–120 km, plus the run to the gate.
Tịnh Biên is usually easier by car; Vĩnh Xương suits people near Tân Châu or works as a fallback.
No. The car waits on the Vietnamese side.
Yes, time permitting and once you have re-entered Vietnam; tell us in advance.
You can also read Dien Bien Phu by Car: Highway 6, Pha Din Pass, Key Sites when planning your trip.
If you are planning a nearby route, Lai Chau Road Trip by Car: O Quy Ho Pass and Sin Suoi Ho has more details to help you prepare.
Real cars at the Car Rental Vietnam depot
Travel guides for this trip
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