Most people who book this trip are doing a visa run or heading into Laos. We pick you up at your hotel or homestay in Phong Nha and drive you to the Lao Bao border gate on Highway 9. No bus station, no change of vehicle in Dong Ha.
The one thing you have to get right on this route is the time. The border gate closes in the late afternoon and its hours are not always the same, so we plan the pick-up around the time you want to be at the gate.
Phong Nha → Dong Ha → Highway 9 → Lao Bao Border Gate
Distance
About 216 km
Driving time
About 4 hours without long stops
Pick-up
Any hotel, homestay or address in the Phong Nha area
Drop-off
Vietnamese exit checkpoint, Lao Bao Border Gate
Best time to leave
Before 8:00 AM
Price
From $154 per car, one way (not per person)
Free waiting
First 60 minutes of stops are free
Lao Bao is a small border town in the west of Quang Tri province, about 20 km past Khe Sanh. On the other side is Dansavanh, in Savannakhet province of Laos.
02The route and where you can stop
The road goes south from Phong Nha to Dong Ha, then turns west onto Highway 9 towards the Lao border. The second half is the more interesting part: quiet hills, small Van Kieu and Pa Co villages, and several places linked to the Vietnam War.
Start
Your hotel in Phong Nha
The driver comes to the door, loads your bags and you are on the road. Tell us the time, we will be there a few minutes early.
About 2.5 hours
Dong Ha
Capital of Quang Tri province. A good place for coffee or an early lunch before the mountain section.
Highway 9
Dakrong Bridge
A suspension bridge over the Dakrong River with forest and villages around it. Most people stop here for 10 minutes for photos.
Optional stop
Khe Sanh Combat Base (Ta Con airfield)
The site of one of the longest sieges of the war. Today it is a small museum with bunkers, aircraft and old runway sections. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. Entry ticket is not included.
Finish
Lao Bao Border Gate
The driver takes you to the Vietnamese exit building and shows you where to go. From here you walk through immigration on your own.
Dakrong Bridge on Highway 9Khe Sanh Combat BaseAircraft on display at Ta Con airfield
Stops do not change the price. The first 60 minutes of stopping are free – enough for lunch or one of the sites above. After that it is 100,000 VND (about $5) per hour. Keep in mind the border hours: the driver will tell you if a long stop puts your crossing at risk.
Route map: Phong Nha to Lao Bao Border
03What time should you leave?
We suggest leaving Phong Nha between 7:30 and 8:00 AM. You will reach Lao Bao in the early or middle of the afternoon, even with a lunch stop and a visit to Khe Sanh.
The border gate works in the daytime only, and its opening hours can change with the season or at short notice. We check the current hours before your trip and set the pick-up time with a safe margin.
Leaving after a cave tour?
It can work, but it is tight. Tell us which tour you are on. The evening before, we call the tour operator to check the real start time, then work out when you will be back. If the timing looks risky for the border, we will tell you honestly and suggest leaving the next morning.
Continuing in Laos the same day?
Let us know the time of your bus or car on the Lao side. We plan backwards from that time, not from the distance.
04Prices
Prices are per car, one way, from any hotel in Phong Nha to the Lao Bao Border Gate. Fuel, tolls, parking and the driver are included.
VEHICLE
PASSENGERS
LUGGAGE
PRICE (ONE WAY)
Sedan(4 seats)
1–3 pax
2–3 bags
$154
Medium SUV(5 seats)
1–4 pax
4–5 bags
$180
Large SUV(7 seats)
1–5 pax
5–6 bags
$184
Minivan(16 seats)
1–12 pax
8–10 bags
$214
Holidays: during Tet (January/February), National Day (early September) and Mid-Autumn, prices can go up by 15–20%. If your trip falls on these dates, please check the price with us before booking.
Small groups: split between 3 or 4 people, a sedan works out at roughly $39–51 each.
05What the price covers
Included
Private car with air-conditioning, only for your group
Experienced driver who knows Highway 9
Fuel, tolls and parking
Pick-up at your Phong Nha address, drop-off at the border gate
Bottled water
Help with your luggage
Directions to the right building at Vietnamese immigration
First 60 minutes of waiting at stops
Last check of the car for forgotten items
Child seats and booster seats on request, free
Not included
Meals and drinks
Entry tickets (for example the Khe Sanh museum)
Lao visa, entry stamps and any border fees
Transport on the Lao side (Dansavanh, Savannakhet)
Tips (optional)
Holiday surcharge on peak dates
06Visa run or crossing into Laos
Our service ends on the Vietnamese side of the gate. You get your exit stamp, walk across, and deal with the Lao side yourself. We do not handle visas or immigration paperwork.
Coming back the same day?
Many visa-run travelers return through the same gate. Ask us for a round-trip price: the driver can wait for you on the Vietnamese side or come back at a time we agree. This is usually cheaper than two separate one-way trips.
A few things that help at the border
Give yourself half a day, not an exact hour. The paperwork itself can be quick, but queues are hard to predict.
Expect to walk and queue. You go between several counters on both sides. Light bags and comfortable shoes make it easier.
Carry copies. Keep a printed and a phone copy of your ID page, visa approval and a photo of yourself.
Bring small cash. There are small fees for stamps, forms and the Lao visa. Exact cash saves time.
Check your documents before you leave Phong Nha. There is very little help at the border if something is missing.
Travelling with children? Immigration may ask for extra papers, such as a birth certificate or a letter from the other parent. Check the current rules before you go.
07Other ways to get there
If you are on a tight budget and have a free day, the bus is fine. If you have a deadline at the border, it is a gamble.
Option
Time
Cost per person
Good to know
Private car (this service)
About 4 h
$39–51*
You choose the time, stops are possible, door to door
International bus to Laos
7–9 h
$15–25
Cheapest, but fixed times and long waits
Local bus to Dong Ha + taxi
5–7 h
$12–20
Two or more legs to arrange yourself
Motorbike (self-drive)
4.5–5.5 h
$25–38
Only for confident riders
* Sedan price shared by 3–4 people. Bus and motorbike costs are rough estimates and change often.
The main problem with buses on this route is the timing. Some wait a long time in Dong Ha for connections and reach Lao Bao late in the day, close to the gate closing. With a car, you leave when you want and arrive with time to spare.
08Booking, payment and cancellation
What to send us
Your name and phone number (WhatsApp is easiest)
Travel date and your hotel or pick-up address in Phong Nha
The time you want to be at the border, or your onward connection in Laos
Your cave tour and its finish time, if you are leaving after a tour
Number of passengers and bags
Anything extra: child seats, a stop at Khe Sanh, a round-trip quote
Payment
A 50% deposit confirms your booking (PayPal, bank transfer, credit card, or cash if we meet in person). The rest is paid at the border in cash (VND or USD), PayPal, bank transfer or card. Pay the full amount in cash when booking and you get 5% off.
Cancellation
24 hours or more before departure
Full refund of the deposit
Less than 24 hours before
50% of the price is charged
No-show without telling us
Full price, no refund
If your plans change, tell us as soon as you can. If we can move your booking or fill the car, we will be flexible on the fee.
09Questions we get asked
How far is Phong Nha from the Lao Bao border?
About 216 km. The drive takes around 4 hours without long stops.
What time does the Lao Bao border gate close?
It is open in the daytime and closes in the late afternoon, but the exact hours can change with the season or at short notice. We check before your trip and plan your departure with a safe margin.
What time should we leave Phong Nha?
Between 7:30 and 8:00 AM is best. You reach the border in the early or middle of the afternoon, even with a lunch stop.
Can you pick us up after our cave tour?
Yes, if the timing works. We call your tour operator the evening before to check the real start time and plan from there. If it is too risky for the border hours, we will tell you and suggest another option.
Is the price per person or per car?
Per car. A sedan for 1–3 people costs $154 one way, whatever the number of passengers.
Will the driver help us at the border?
He takes you to the Vietnamese exit building and shows you where to go. The crossing itself – exit stamp, walking across and the Lao side – you do on your own.
Can the driver wait and bring us back to Phong Nha?
Yes. Ask for a round-trip price when you book. The driver can wait on the Vietnamese side or return at an agreed time.
How do we get to Savannakhet after crossing?
Transport on the Lao side is not part of our service. Most travelers find buses or taxis at Dansavanh. We are happy to share what other guests have done.
Can we stop at Khe Sanh or Dakrong Bridge?
Yes. The first 60 minutes of stops are free, which is enough for one site and a quick lunch. Longer stops cost 100,000 VND per hour.
Do you have child seats?
Yes, child seats and booster seats are free on request. Tell us your child’s age when you book.
Can we bring a pet?
Dogs and cats are fine in the SUVs and the minivan. Taking a pet across the border has its own customs rules on both sides, so please check them well in advance.
What if the car breaks down on the way?
Our cars are regularly serviced. If something does go wrong, we send another car at no extra cost.
How early should we book?
24 to 48 hours ahead is ideal. Same-day trips are sometimes possible, so message us on WhatsApp to check. October and November are busy, so book earlier then.
Do I need to tip the driver?
No. Tips are welcome if you were happy, but they are not expected.
10Book your car
Send us your date, pick-up address and the time you need to be at the border. We usually reply within 30 minutes between 7 AM and 8 PM (Vietnam time).
Mui Ne Private Car is part of Minh Khoi Tourism Co., Ltd. We have been doing private transfers in central and southern Vietnam for more than 8 years. We do not sell tours – just cars and drivers, from airport runs to border trips like this one.