Sop Hun border gate (Laos): location, opening hours, visa and visa run 2026

Sop Hun International Border Gate, called Pang Hok (Panghok) in the Lao Immigration Department’s system, is in Mai district (Muang Mai), Phongsaly province (Laos), opposite the Tay Trang border gate in Dien Bien province. Tay Trang is about 35 km from central Dien Bien Phu; from the Lao gate it is about 30–35 km to Muang Mai and about 65–85 km to Muang Khua. The gate operates 7:00–19:00 daily (Lao time, the same as Vietnamese time), does not issue visas on arrival and does not accept the Lao e-visa. This is a mountain crossing in northwest Vietnam with winding roads and little public transport; it suits travellers going Dien Bien Phu – Muang Khua – Luang Prabang better than a quick visa run.

Contents

Sop Hun border gate at a glance

Country / province	Laos, Mai district, Phongsaly province
Opposite border gate	Tay Trang (Dien Bien, Vietnam)
Distance	Tay Trang is about 35 km from Dien Bien Phu; the Lao gate is about 30–35 km from Muang Mai and about 65–85 km from Muang Khua
Opening hours (Lao time)	7:00–19:00 daily; usually closed for lunch around 11:30–13:00
Visa on arrival	No
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 gate View on Google Maps

Lao visa when entering via Sop Hun

The official Lao Immigration Department website states that the Pang Hok (Sop Hun) gate does not issue visas on arrival and does not accept the e-visa. Reports from travellers in 2025 also say you need a Lao visa already in your passport.

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.
The Lao side may charge some small processing fees in kip; change a little kip in Dien Bien Phu beforehand.
If you need a visa on arrival, only Dansavanh (opposite Lao Bao) issues one along the entire Vietnam – Laos border.

Crossing at Sop Hun step by step

Complete Vietnamese exit formalities at Tay Trang.
Cross the steep stretch of about 4–5 km between the two gates; go by bus, motorbike taxi or private vehicle rather than on foot.
Fill in the arrival card, show your passport with a Lao visa (or visa exemption) and complete Lao entry formalities at Sop Hun.
If you are doing a visa run: complete Lao exit formalities right at the gate.
Return to Tay Trang and enter Vietnam with a new e-visa, temporary residence card or visa exemption.

Where to go from Sop Hun border gate

Muang Khua: a town on the Nam Ou River. Dien Bien Phu – Muang Khua buses pass through the gate, usually leaving early in the morning from Dien Bien Phu bus station; services may be cancelled if there are few passengers, so ask a day ahead.
Muang Mai: has simple accommodation but few places to change money.
Onward travel: from Muang Khua there are buses to Oudomxay and then Luang Prabang, or boats down the Nam Ou River to Muang Ngoi and Nong Khiaw (schedules vary by season).
On the Lao side there is almost no public transport waiting at the gate; if travelling alone you will have to negotiate a price with motorbikes or trucks.
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: kip for fees on the Lao side and dong for transport; ATMs and money changers on the Lao side are very scarce.
1–2 spare 4×6 photos.

Visa run via Sop Hun

Technically you can exit at Tay Trang, enter Laos at Sop Hun and return the same day, but only if you already have a Lao visa or are visa-exempt for Laos. Because of the long distances, scarce transport and lunch closure, Sop Hun is rarely chosen for visa runs; people in the north usually go via Cau Treo – Nam Phao or do a China visa run. See also Laos visa run and the visa run service.

Tips for crossing at Sop Hun

When applying for a Vietnam e-visa, choose Tay Trang as your entry gate; see the list of border gates accepting the e-visa.
Avoid arriving during the lunch break; be at Tay Trang in the morning.
The road up to the border is steep and dusty, with many trucks; landslides can occur in the rainy season, so allow extra time.
Change money in Dien Bien Phu before you go; money changers near the Vietnamese gate usually give poor rates.
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

Are Sop Hun and Pang Hok the same border gate?

Yes. The gate opposite Tay Trang is usually called Sop Hun after a nearby village; the Lao Immigration Department lists it as Pang Hok, Mai district, Phongsaly province.

Does Sop Hun border gate issue Lao visas on arrival?

No. You need to apply for a Lao visa in advance unless you are visa-exempt for Laos.

What are Sop Hun’s opening hours?

7:00–19:00 daily, Lao time (the same as Vietnamese time), usually with a lunch break. Check again around public holidays.

How long does it take from Dien Bien Phu to Muang Khua?

Usually about half a day, depending on waiting times at the border and road conditions; buses do not run on a fixed daily schedule if there are few passengers.