The bus ride from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh (the capital of Cambodia) took 6 hours via Mekong Bus at $14/ pax.I am not sure if it due to speed limit restrictions but I noticed that the bus didn't go beyond 50kph despite light traffic or navigating the highway.No wonder why Mekong Bus Line is reputed as the safest plying this route.
PS: Mekong Bus Line is a Cambodian company.I realized that when I was asking about Mui Ne to the conductor and he doesn't know where it is.
The company is quite generous.The conductor started distributing 1.mineral water 2.biscuits and 3.cold wipes to each passenger the moment we left for Phnom Penh.
He would also speak on the microphone for safety instructions and reminders.Fist in Cambodian then in English.Parang nasa eroplano lang.
He would also speak on the microphone for safety instructions and reminders.Fist in Cambodian then in English.Parang nasa eroplano lang.
Independence Monument Phnom Penh
It took 2.5hours to get to the Vietnam-Cambodia border where we were asked to disembark from the bus and pass through immigration then back to the bus again.They sometimes don't require the baggage to be carried by the passengers but we were asked to do so on that day.The highway on the side of Vietnam is wide and narrows to single lane on the side of Cambodia.Road condition on both side is good.Noticed that on the side of Cambodia,only a few vehicles ply the highway to Phnom Penh.It's the same highway to Siem Read.
Note: There are direct trips from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap and it takes 12 hours.Back breaking.
So we thought 12 hours would be too boring that's why we decided to stay overnight in Phnom Penh and take a little look at the capital.
There were five of us on the tour and one of our female friends didn't have a partner so I let my wife sit with her.I was seated next to a Japanese guy who is an expat in Ho Chi Minh City.He is diffierent from the typical Japanese.Katsu (his name) is very social, spontaneous and loves exploring on his own.It helped that he is good at english because we talked the whole trip.I learned a lot from him.
We ended up being travel buddies for the Phnom Penh leg of the trip.We went out together for dinner as a group after settling at our respective hotels and we went on city tour together the next day.
I can't wait to share with you what we experienced in Phnom Penh.That will be on my next posts.I will have em linked here soon.
Cheers!
Also READ:
Walking Tour of HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi Minh City: The WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM
Cha Ca, Banh Xeo, Rau Mong and Nem Ran at NHA HANG NGON Restaurant HCMC
HONG HAN HOTEL Bui Vien: backpacker friendly + very helpful manager
Walking Tour of HO CHI MINH CITY
Ho Chi Minh City: The WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM
Cha Ca, Banh Xeo, Rau Mong and Nem Ran at NHA HANG NGON Restaurant HCMC
HONG HAN HOTEL Bui Vien: backpacker friendly + very helpful manager
_________________________
How tall is the monument..?
ReplyDeletewell that sounds interesting ahh,
ReplyDeleteanu naman kaya yang naexperience mu dyan,
naku mangiingit ka nanaman
OPEN Bus to Cambodia at Thái Dương Tourism from Sai Gon
ReplyDeleteOpen tour – Open Bus to Cambodia every day
II. Time Departure:
Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh – Ho Chi Minh
Morning : 04:30am ; 05:30am ; 06:45am ; 07:45am; 08:30am; 10:30am 11:30am;
Afternoon : 12:30pm ; 13:30pm; 15:00pm ; 16:00pm Price 11 $ pax
Night Bus : 12:30 Slepper Bus 13$/pax
Sai Gon – Siem Reap – Sai Gon
06:45am ; 08:00am = 06:45am ; 08:00am Price 18$ pax
Ho Chi Minh- Sihanouk Ville – Sai Gon
06:45am ; 08:00am = 06:45am ; 08:00am Giá vé 18$/pax
II. Booking Office Ho Chi Minh :
Address : 268 Cong Hoa St , Ward.13, Dist Tan Binh
Tell : 08-66 84 64 27 — 08-62 74 64 27
Hotline: 093 8569 108 // 093 277 9703
Email: ractravel@yahoo.com
III.Price:
1) Ho Chi Minh– PHNOMPENH – Ho Chi Minh
One Way : 11 USD
Return : 21 USD
OPEN BUS TO CAMBODIA
ReplyDeleteThere is no railway (at least, not yet) between Saigon & Phnom Penh. However, a number of bus companies each operate a range of daily air-conditioned buses in each direction, taking about 6½ hours (they usually quote 5-6 hours, but assuming 6.5 hours is more realistic). There's no point in flying for such a short trip, as flights on this route are expensive, and they save little time. Flying will take up to 4 hours once travel to and from airports, check-in & baggage reclaim are included. The bus costs less than a tenth of the flight price, and even includes a short crossing of the Mekong by ferry. By Thai Duong Tourism
OPEN Bus to Cambodia at Thái Dương Tourism
Open tour – Open Bus to Cambodia every day
II. Time Departure:
Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh
Morning : 04:30am ; 05:30am ; 06:45am ; 07:45am; 08:30am; 10:30am 11:30am;
Afternoon : 12:30pm ; 13:30pm; 15:00pm ; 16:00pm Price 11 $ pax
Night Bus : 12:30 Slepper Bus 13$/pax
Sai Gon - Siem Reap - Sai Gon
06:45am ; 08:00am = 06:45am ; 08:00am Price 18$ pax
Ho Chi Minh- Sihanouk Ville - Sai Gon
06:45am ; 08:00am = 06:45am ; 08:00am Giá vé 18$/pax
II. Booking Office Ho Chi Minh :
Address : 268 Cong Hoa St , Ward.13, Dist Tan Binh
Tell : 08-66 84 64 27 -- 08-62 74 64 27
Hotline: 093 8569 108 // 093 277 9703
Email: ractravel@yahoo.com
III.Price:
1) Ho Chi Minh– PHNOMPENH - Ho Chi Minh
One Way : 11 USD
Return : 21 USD
Hi! If buying bus ticket from HCMC to Phnom Penh, is it from a travel agency or directly in the bus station (if there is such). Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteSa Hotel r Inn na mismo. They are so organized. Kahit sa Cambodia ganun din. Dimo na kailangan punta ng stations or agencies.
ReplyDeletetas susunduin na kayo mismo sa accommodation mo, ng shuttle ng bus company to where the bus is waiting .for free.
ReplyDeleteGood day! We will visit HCMC for only 5 days. Is there any way to squeeze in a day tour to Phnom Penh? HCMC-Phnom Penh-HCMC, night trip, maybe? If possible, please include itinerary. Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteOPEN BUS TO CAMBODIA
ReplyDeleteThere is no railway (at least, not yet) between Saigon & Phnom Penh. However, a number of bus companies each operate a range of daily air-conditioned buses in each direction, taking about 6½ hours (they usually quote 5-6 hours, but assuming 6.5 hours is more realistic). There's no point in flying for such a short trip, as flights on this route are expensive, and they save little time. Flying will take up to 4 hours once travel to and from airports, check-in & baggage reclaim are included. The bus costs less than a tenth of the flight price, and even includes a short crossing of the Mekong by ferry. By Thai Duong Tourism
OPEN Bus to Cambodia at Thái Dương Tourism
Open tour – Open Bus to Cambodia every day
II. Time Departure:
Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh - Ho Chi Minh
Morning : 04:30am ; 05:30am ; 06:45am ; 07:45am; 08:30am; 10:30am 11:30am;
Afternoon : 12:30pm ; 13:30pm; 15:00pm ; 16:00pm Price 11 $ pax
Night Bus : 12:30 Slepper Bus 13$/pax
Sai Gon - Siem Reap - Sai Gon
06:45am ; 08:00am = 06:45am ; 08:00am Price 18$ pax
Ho Chi Minh- Sihanouk Ville - Sai Gon
06:45am ; 08:00am = 06:45am ; 08:00am Giá vé 18$/pax
II. Booking Office Ho Chi Minh :
Address : 268 Cong Hoa St , Ward.13, Dist Tan Binh
Tell : 08-66 84 64 27 -- 08-62 74 64 27
Hotline: 093 8569 108 // 093 277 9703
Email: ractravel@yahoo.com
III.Price:
1) Ho Chi Minh– PHNOMPENH - Ho Chi Minh
One Way : 11 USD
Return : 21 USD
Website : www.bustocambodia.com
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I really appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your
ReplyDeletefurther post thank you once again.