USA who are living or working or travelling in Cambodia can consider to travel to Vietnam because it’s just a few hours to cross the border from Cambodia to Vietnam. Among many border gates between Cambodia and Vietnam, Prek Chak – Xa Xia is one of the most popular border crossing option which USA passport normally choose to visit Vietnam from Cambodia. Do USA passport need visa when entering Vietnam through Xa Xia landport? How to get a Vietnam E-visa for crossing Prek Chak – Xa Xia border checkpoint in 2025? Please find the answer below:
USA citizens wishing to enter Vietnam by crossing Prek Chak – Xa Xia border are required to have a valid Vietnam visa for both tourism and business purposes. USA passport will be denied to pass through Prek Chak – Xa Xia border if visa is not ready.
Moreover, make sure that you have:
Although USA passport need visa when entering Vietnam through Xa Xia border, the procedure for getting a Vietnam visa is quite easy for USA citizens. USA passport can apply Vietnam E-visa online in Cambodia and then use this visa for crossing Prek Chak – Xa Xia border.
Vietnam E-visa is a type of visa online which allow the visa holders to enter Vietnam through specific entry ports. This visa is valid 30 days as maxium with single entry only.
Until 2025, USA passport is one of 80 countries which are eligible for applying Vietnam E-visa. USA passport can stay at home or any places with internet, and submit visa application online. After about 3 working days, E-visa approval will be sent to USA applicant’s email.
In order to cross through Prek Chak – Xa Xia border, USA passport are required to put the correct entry border into the visa application form. The entry port must be “Xa Xia landport” because USA passport will enter Vietnam through this border. If USA passport choose the wrong entry port, they cannot enter Vietnam through Xa Xia border.
As mentioned above, Vietnam E-visa for USA passport holders is applied online. USA passport can apply this E-visa when they are in Cambodia. However, please make sure that you submit the visa application soon.
It normally takes 3 working days to get Vietnam E-visa approved. For urgent case, USA passport can add the urgent service to expedite Vietnam E-visa process. However, we strongly recommend that USA passport should apply Vietnam E-visa at least 10 days before the arrival date. In case there is any trouble, USA passport still have time to fix the E-visa.
How to submit Xa Xia landport E-visa for USA passport 2025?
Here below is the step by step to apply Vietnam E-visa for USA people crossing Prek Chak – Xa Xia border:
Step 1: Access this link https://www.vietnamimmigration.com/apply-vietnam-visa/ to visit Vietnam E-visa application form online for USA passport
Step 2: Choose all required information such as nationality, purpose of visit, visa type, arrival date, etc.
Step 3: Add the Add-on service
In case USA passport want to expedite Vietnam E-visa application process, you can add this service in this step. The urgent service will help USA passport to get Vietnam E-visa within 1 working day or even 4 working hours.
Step 4: Upload passport and photo
Passport and photo are required when submitting Vietnam E-visa for USA passport crossing Prek Chak – Xa Xia border. The requirements of passport and photo for Vietnam E-visa application for USA passport is as below:
See details here https://www.vietnamimmigration.com/photo-and-passport-requirements/
Step 5: Make payment and submit visa application
USA passport should review all information in the application form and make payment. After successfully paid, an email confirmation will be sent to USA applicant’s email.
Step 6: Get E-visa via email and print it out
After 3 working days of process, Vietnam E-visa result will be sent to USA applicant’s email. Recheck all information in the E-visa to make sure there is no errors or mistakes. After that, print it out and prepare for Xa Xia border crossing.
Due to Covid-19, a lot of entry restrictions are set in the world. What is Vietnam entry requirements for USA passport? Are there any entry requirements at Xa Xia border for USA passport holders?
In fact, from May 2022, Vietnam has lifted all entry restrictions of Covid-19 for all foreigners. USA passport will not need to bring a lot of troublesome documents to prove health and Covid-19 status as before when entering Vietnam through Xa Xia landport:
The officers at Xa Xia border only check these two documents below before letting USA citizens enter Vietnam:
Vietnam Visa run is the definition of extending or renewing Vietnam visa by exiting Vietnam, entering the third country and then re-enter Vietnam. The visa run is used for USA passport who want to prolong their stay in Vietnam with a reasonable fee.
For USA people who are in Ho Chi Minh city or the South of Vietnam, do the border run to Cambodia is the best option. When Vietnam still not allow the E-visa holders to extend their duration of stay inside Vietnam, Xa Xia border visa run is considered as the best way to extend Vietnam E-visa.
Process of Xa Xia border visa run for USA passport 2025:
Step 1: Apply new Vietnam E-visa and prepare Cambodia visa
Before doing the visa run through Xa Xia border, USA passport holders should apply the new Vietnam E-visa for using when re-entering Vietnam. This E-visa can be processed when USA passport is still in Vietnam. USA passport can click here https://www.vietnamimmigration.com/apply-vietnam-visa/ and apply online for a Vietnam E-visa. Please follow the guidance above (How to submit Xa Xia landport E-visa for USA passport) to submit a Vietnam E-visa online.
Moreover, please recheck whether USA passport need Cambodia visa or not. You also need to well prepare Cambodia for crossing the Prek Chak border. Cambodia is very easy to prepare. USA passport can visit Cambodia consulate in Ho Chi Minh city to apply in advance or get a visa on arrival at the border.
Step 2: Exit Vietnam and enter Cambodia
USA passport can take the bust to Xa Xia border, then do the exit procedure. In this step, just show the passport and current E-visa. The immigration officers will paste the exit stamp onto your passport.
Then USA passport will enter Cambodia through Prek Chak border. At here, USA passport need to show passport and Cambodia visa (if required). Cambodia Visa on arrival is available here. The immigration officers in Prek Chak Border will paste a Cambodia entry stamp on your passport.
Step 3: Exit Cambodia and Re-enter Vietnam
USA passport can stay in Cambodia a few days, a few hours or even a few minutes before coming back to Vietnam.
At Cambodia side, USA passport need to show passport and Cambodia visa, then get the Cambodia exit stamp on their passport.
At Xa Xia border, the immigration officers will ask for passport and New E-visa. After checking, the officers will paste new entry stamp on your passport.
Congratulations, you now have a new 30 days E-visa for Vietnam!
In conclusion, USA passport are required to have a valid visa when crossing Prek Chak – Xa Xia border. Vietnam E-visa can be used at Xa Xia border for new entry or visa run option, and it is very simple to apply online. Vietnam also lifted all Covid-19 entry restrictions so USA passport can enter without troubles. For more information about Vietnam E-visa at Xa Xia border as well as Xa Xia border entry requirements, please feel free to contact us through info@vietnamimmigration.com
