Distance 213 km (133.1 miles) | |
Price range US$20-US$408 | |
Ride Duration Range 50m-7h | |
Earliest Departure 21:30 | |
Latest Departure 23:45 | |
Most Popular Operator |
If you’re looking for the best way to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, it all depends how much you want to spend. Buses are the most affordable option, but transports can take up to ten hours. An airplane is more expensive, but can get you there within an hour. Phnom Penh has lots of history behind it and provides tourists great picture-taking opportunities of its historic architecture and landscape. If you’re looking to walk or hike during the day without sweating too much, anytime between November and March is ideal for visiting.
Fastest bus: 5h 30m
Cheapest bus: US$20
Transitioning from the frenetic chaos of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to the more peaceful city of Phnom Penh is a shock to the system.
Travelers will love the change of pace as they sink into the atmosphere of Phnom Penh and explore its many wonders.
Backpackers often skip over this historical capital to head straight to Siem Reap. Still, you won’t regret spending time in Phnom Penh. There is a lot to see and do there.
To traverse the 227-kilometer (141-mile) distance between Vietnam’s megacity and Cambodia’s capital, travelers can take a short-haul flight, a minivan, or the tried-and-true backpacker route — a bus.
The journey takes anywhere from 1 to 8 hours, depending on your chosen transportation option.
Opt for a short flight to marvel at Cambodia’s beauty from an aerial perspective, or take the scenic route via bus to see the most remote areas of Vietnam and Cambodia out of the window.
The journey between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh could take up to eight hours by bus, depending on traffic and potential mishaps, like mechanical trouble.
It’s not the most thrilling journey to undertake, but the views can be impressive if taken in daylight.
Bring snacks to save money and enjoy a hot meal at one of the rest stops.
Pro tip: All Vietnamese buses insist that passengers remove their shoes and place them in a plastic bag for the duration of the journey. They will provide bus slippers during rest stops, but bring your own to avoid getting stuck with mismatched or broken ones.
Cambodia's cultural and commercial epicenter sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers and entices millions of visitors annually.
Thanks to its dizzying array of hostels, guesthouses, luxury resorts, and numerous attractions, Phnom Penh is an ideal city for travelers of all tastes and budgets.
As Cambodia's wealthiest and most significant city, it has countless gems within its borders.
There is a lot to do in this magical city, especially if you’re a culture and history lover. It’s best to mock up a rough itinerary before taking it on to avoid getting overwhelmed by the cacophony of tuk-tuks, cultural sites, and delicious eateries.
Visit the Royal Palace: Tucked alongside the riverfront, King Sihamoni's official residence features ornate gilding and classic Khmer-style roofs.
Explore the Silver Pagoda: Also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, this beautiful structure is best known for the five tons of silver on its floor. The pagoda, attached to the palace complex, also houses a large collection of Buddha statues made from precious metals.
Discover Wat Phnom: Built in 1372, this temple is on the only hill in town. It’s a quick visit, perfect for a quiet morning exploring while you get to know the city. Turn up early to avoid the crowds and ignore the people hawking unnecessary souvenirs around the base.
Enjoy the National Museum of Cambodia. This magnificent museum houses a glorious collection of Khmer sculptures dating back millennia. These treasures are kept in a terracotta-structured building founded in 1917 and finished in 1920. Set aside a full morning or afternoon to ensure you have time to soak up every magical piece of artistic and cultural history.
Shop at the Central Market: This famous market is an Art Deco landmark in Phnom Penh. The sprawling, bright yellow building was completed in 1937 and is home to a mind-boggling selection of market stalls.
Pay your respects at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum: Often referred to as Security Prison 21, this important historical site was once a high school before Pol Pot’s security forces took over, turning it into a prison in 1975. Eventually becoming the largest center of detention and torture in the country during the genocide committed by the Khmer Rouge, the museum is a brutal but necessary look into the atrocities of the Cambodian genocide.
Visit the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek: It’s essential to visit this site after the museum to understand the context behind what you see. This site is where many victims of the genocide were executed, with many of them later buried in mass graves.
Stroll down the riverfront: The best way to see Phnom Penh at its most authentic is to walk along the riverfront in the early evening. You’ll enjoy live music, sample sumptuous street food, and see locals working out in outdoor gyms or taking public dance classes.
Pro tip: Dress modestly when sightseeing in Phnom Penh. Many temples and museums only let you in if your knees and shoulders are covered.
There are three ways to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh: by bus, minivan, and flight.
The journey will cost approximately $25 by bus or up to about $130 by flight.
Buses and minivans depart from various points throughout the city, including Sai Gon Office, Ho Chi Minh Khai Nam, and Phan Ngu Lao Street. Read your ticket carefully to ensure you find the right station.
Flights will depart from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Traveling by bus is the most affordable way to travel between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh. It takes between 6-8 hours.
They depart multiple times a day from various points throughout the city. The earliest departure is usually around 5 a.m., and the latest is 9 p.m.
Pro tip: Opt for an overnight bus to save money on a night’s accommodation.
Bus classes have many names — tourist, luxury, sleeping, standard and express — but essentially, there are two classes: standard and VIP. All buses stop at rest stops every few hours.
Standard buses have:
A/C
W/C on board, sometimes
Reclining seats
VIP buses have:
Fewer seats
Fully reclinable seats
Privacy curtains
USB chargers
Free WiFi, occasionally
A/C
Traveling by minivan will take about the same time as taking a bus but with fewer fellow passengers.
Minivans have:
Reclining seats
A/C
Rest stops
The quickest way to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh is to take a plane.
A flight will take just under an hour, and the most common provider is Cambodia Angkor Air.
When you arrive at the station, they will likely check your passport and booking reference to ensure you can cross the border legally.
Once the bus or minivan arrives at the border, you’ll deboard to get an exit stamp on your passport from the Vietnamese side. Sometimes, border control charges a small fee for this.
The bus driver will either take you to the Cambodian border office or ask you to walk between the two offices. If it’s the latter, the driver will wait on the other side for the passengers to reboard. The driver keeps a list of passengers, so they won’t leave without you!
The Cambodian office will either ask to see your e-visa, which you should have two copies of, or take you through the visa-on-arrival process. You’ll pay in US dollars and will need to provide a photo.
Many people fly through Phnom Penh on their way to see Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, but there is plenty to do here to fill up three to five days of sightseeing.
If you are short on time, schedule two to three days. However, if you have the time, stretch your visit to five days or more to enjoy everything the city offers.
The best time to visit Phnom Penh is between November and April.
The dry season brings blue skies and sunny weather, making it the ideal time to see Cambodia in all its glory.
Of course, Siem Reap is the next destination after Phnom Penh!
Seeing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat is a rite of passage for backpackers all over the world. This epic destination will make you fall even deeper in love with Cambodia.
Based on 1262 reviews from Bookaway users who traveled from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Phnom Penh
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Mien Tay Bus Station (Western Bus Station) - Ho Chi Minh
315 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1
Thuc coffee
191 Dao Duy Tu Street
Thai Duong office
Vibol Express - Phnom Penh
315 Preah Sihanouk Blvd (274)
Cafe Amazon De Stadium
346 Preah Sihanouk Blvd (274)
Sangkat Tuol Svay Prey Ti Muoy
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