Phou Keua International Border Gate (Phu Cua) is in Phouvong district, Attapeu province (Laos), opposite the Bo Y border gate (formerly in Ngoc Hoi district, Kon Tum province; part of Quang Ngai province since July 2025). From the gate it is about 110–120 km to Attapeu town along Road 18B; Bo Y is about 70 km from the former Kon Tum city centre. The gate operates 7:00–18:00 daily (Lao time, the same as Vietnamese time), does not issue visas on arrival and does not accept the Lao e-visa. Phou Keua lies near the Indochina tri-border point and is the gateway from Vietnam’s Central Highlands to southern Laos (Attapeu, Pakse); buses are infrequent, so plan carefully.
Phou Keua border gate at a glance
| Country / province | Laos, Phouvong district, Attapeu province |
| Opposite border gate | Bo Y (Quang Ngai, formerly Kon Tum) |
| Distance | about 110–120 km to Attapeu town; Bo Y is about 70 km from the former Kon Tum city centre |
| Opening hours (Lao time) | 7:00–18:00 daily (according to Google Maps); same UTC+7 time zone as Vietnam |
| Visa on arrival | No (Laos stopped issuing visas on arrival here in 2019) |
| Lao e-visa accepted? | No |
Border gate location on Google Maps
Tap the button below to open Google Maps on your phone and get directions straight to the border gate.
Get directions to the border gateView on Google Maps
Lao visa when entering via Phou Keua
Phou Keua is one of 9 Lao border gates that stopped issuing visas on arrival in 2019, and the Lao Immigration Department website still states that it does not issue visas on arrival or accept the e-visa. Some travel websites still say Bo Y – Phou Keua issues visas; this does not match the official source, so do not rely on it.
- If you need a visa: apply in advance at the Lao Embassy in Hanoi or a Lao consulate, or use a Lao visa service (5–7 working days).
- Lao visa exemption: ASEAN citizens (usually 30 days; Myanmar 14 days) and some countries such as Japan, South Korea, Russia and Mongolia; Switzerland and Luxembourg 15 days. Check before you go.
- If you want a visa on arrival, go via Lao Bao – Dansavanh, the only gate on the Vietnamese border that issues Lao visas.
Crossing at Phou Keua step by step
- Complete Vietnamese exit formalities at Bo Y.
- Cross the roughly 2 km stretch between the two gates; it is best to go with a bus or private vehicle.
- Fill in the arrival card, show your passport with a Lao visa (or visa exemption) and complete Lao entry formalities at Phou Keua.
- If you are doing a visa run: complete Lao exit formalities right at the gate.
- Return to Bo Y and enter Vietnam with a new e-visa, temporary residence card or visa exemption.
Where to go from Phou Keua border gate
- Attapeu: about 110–120 km along Road 18B, a steep mountain road through sparsely populated country. Kon Tum/Pleiku – Attapeu/Pakse buses pass through the gate; take a through bus, as there are almost no vehicles waiting near the gate on the Lao side.
- Pakse: from Attapeu continue to Pakse (Champasak province), which has an international airport and the Vang Tao border gate to Thailand.
- The Lao side of the border has almost no shops or guesthouses; the Bo Y side has places to eat, while guesthouses are mostly in the centre of Bo Y commune (formerly Plei Kan).
- Near Bo Y border gate is the Indochina tri-border landmark, where the borders of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia meet.
- Info Travel offers a nationwide visa run transfer service if you need a private car.
Documents to bring
- A passport valid for at least 6 more months, with blank pages.
- A Lao visa already in your passport, unless you are visa-exempt for Laos.
- Documents to re-enter Vietnam: a Vietnam e-visa (printed, with the correct entry gate), temporary residence card, 5-year visa exemption certificate, or a nationality on the list of countries exempt from Vietnamese visas.
- Cash: Vietnamese dong and a little kip or small USD notes.
- 1–2 spare 4×6 photos.
Visa run via Phou Keua
People in the Central Highlands, Quang Ngai or Da Nang can do a visa run via Bo Y – Phou Keua if they already have a Lao visa or are visa-exempt for Laos. If you do not have a Lao visa, consider Lao Bao – Dansavanh or a Cambodia visa run. See also Laos visa run, is a visa run legal and the visa run service.
Tips for crossing at Phou Keua
- When applying for a Vietnam e-visa, choose Bo Y as your entry gate; see the list of border gates accepting the e-visa.
- Confirm the fare before boarding; foreigners are sometimes quoted higher prices.
- You can change dong into kip around the Bo Y border gate; there are few places to change money on the Lao side.
- The Lao side has a separate immigration counter; make sure all formalities are done before getting back on the bus.
- Laos is moving to electronic arrival and departure cards (piloted from 1/9/2025 at some airports and the First Friendship Bridge). At land gates with Vietnam, paper cards are usually still used; check immigration.gov.la before your trip.
- Do not overstay your Vietnamese visa before exiting; see visa overstay in Vietnam.
- After you return to Vietnam, your accommodation must complete the temporary residence declaration for you.
Frequently asked questions
Does Phou Keua border gate issue Lao visas on arrival?
No. According to the Lao Immigration Department, Phou Keua does not issue visas on arrival and does not accept the Lao e-visa.
What are Phou Keua’s opening hours?
7:00–18:00 daily, Lao time, which is the same as Vietnamese time. Arrive before the afternoon, as the journey is long.
How far is Attapeu from Phou Keua?
About 110–120 km along Road 18B; it is a mountain road, so it takes several hours.
Which province is Bo Y in now?
After the provincial merger in July 2025, Bo Y border gate is in Bo Y commune, Quang Ngai province (formerly Ngoc Hoi district, Kon Tum province).
Need help with an e-visa or visa run?
Info Travel arranges Vietnam e-visas, Lao visas before your trip, visa extensions and free advice via Zalo/WhatsApp: +84327828822 or Hotline: +84903782118. See also the list of Vietnam’s international land border gates and the Laos visa run guide.
