Bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh

Bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh: A travel route favored by mr.hotsia

If you are planning a trip from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I, mr.hotsia, have firsthand experience from the field to share through the perspective of a frequent traveler on this route.

In Ho Chi Minh, there are about 5-6 tour companies offering bus services to Phnom Penh. Most hotels around Pham Ngu Lao Street, which is my usual stay area, also sell these bus tickets, making it very convenient for tourists who don't want to search for tickets themselves in the city.

Bus ticket prices from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh are around 350 Thai Baht. You can choose between comfortable VIP seats and regular seats. The journey takes about 6 hours, and sometimes if there is no traffic in Phnom Penh city, it may even be faster.

Travel experience with mr.hotsia

For me, mr.hotsia, the journey starts at noon from Ho Chi Minh. When the bus leaves the Pham Ngu Lao area, it passes familiar streets until reaching the Bavet border checkpoint, the main crossing point into Cambodia.

Along the way, the bus stops for lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant near the border town. I enjoy the simple, spicy Vietnamese home-style food there. Then the journey continues to the Mekong River crossing point. In the past, vehicles had to be ferried across the river, but now the bridge is completed, making travel much more convenient and faster.

I arrived in Phnom Penh near evening because of road construction slowing down traffic in the city. Overall, this route is very convenient and worthwhile for travelers wanting to experience both countries in one trip.

Return trip from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh

For the return route from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh, there are many daily departures from various companies. I have used the service of “Sory” company, which parks near the Central Market in Phnom Penh. The trip takes about 6 hours like the outbound trip. This company offers quality buses and impressive service.

If you want more information about traveling in Ho Chi Minh or other cities in Vietnam, I, mr.hotsia, recommend reading the articleBackpacking in Ho Chi Minhthat I wrote, which provides complete information about accommodation, restaurants, and top attractions in the city.

Recommended Pham Ngu Lao area, a great starting point for backpackers

When visiting Ho Chi Minh, I usually choose to stay in the Pham Ngu Lao area, which is popular among backpackers and travelers from many countries. There are budget accommodations ranging from 600-1000 Baht, as well as restaurants, clubs, bars, and tour companies offering convenient ticket sales to Phnom Penh and other destinations.

One accommodation I highly recommend is “bi Saigon hotel,” located in a small alley off Pham Ngu Lao Street. It is clean, has an elevator, and very attentive staff. Even when I checked in at 4 a.m., there was no problem. They also have an English-speaking owner’s restaurant on site.

If you are interested in details about accommodation and tours in Ho Chi Minh, you can see more in the articleBuying tours in Ho Chi Minhby me.

Experience the lifestyle and culture of the border regions

Traveling from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh is not just about the bus and distance, but also a great opportunity to see the lifestyles of people in two neighboring countries through roadside restaurants selling simple Vietnamese food, local atmospheres, and markets that still retain their traditional charm.

If you like Vietnamese food, I recommend trying grilled squid or chicken biryani at roadside stalls along the route, which have bold and unique flavors for a traveler like me.Watch the grilled squid clipandVietnamese chicken biryanithat I recorded as examples.

Hanoi, a starting point I recommend you visit

Although the route from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh is popular, don’t forget that Vietnam also has the fascinating capital city of Hanoi. I, mr.hotsia, have traveled to Hanoi several times to explore the lifestyle and attractions in the northern region.

If you are interested in self-guided travel in Hanoi, I recommend reading the articleBackpacking Hanoi 2016by me, which is full of detailed and in-depth travel information, such as taking buses in Hanoi, which I recommend as an economical and fun option for true backpackers.

Summary of travel experience and tips from mr.hotsia

For those wanting to travel by bus from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh, I, mr.hotsia, recommend buying tickets from hotels in the Pham Ngu Lao area for convenience and good prices. Prepare for the Bavet border crossing and don’t forget to bring snacks or some cash for buying food along the way.

Additionally, this trip offers a chance to experience the local lifestyles of two countries through markets, roadside restaurants, and charming rest stops, which is an experience you can’t get from other types of travel.

If you are interested in more trips in southern Vietnam, such as traveling from Ho Chi Minh to other places like Vung Tau, I have a recommended article atBus travel from Ho Chi Minh to Vung Tauthat you might find interesting.

I hope the experiences and advice from mr.hotsia will make your journey more convenient and enjoyable.