Vietnam to Cambodia: Complete Guide to Travel

Main Border Crossings between Vietnam and Cambodia

• Moc Bai – Bavet
• Tinh Bien – Phnom Den
• Ha Tien - Prek Chak
• Xa Xia – Prek Chak
• Le Thanh – O Yadao
• Vinh Xuong - Kaam Samnor 

Vietnam to Cambodia route maps

How to Travel from Vietnam to Cambodia

By Flight 

Taking a flight is the fastest and most convenient way to travel from Vietnam to Cambodia, with almost hassle-free customs procedures. 

• Length: about 2 hours from Hanoi to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh; 1.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh. 
• Airfare: from US $100 for an economy-class ticket in the low season (July to September) and might double in the peak season (October to March).
• Popular airlines: Vietnam Airlines, Cambodian Angkor Air, AirAsia, etc.
• Depart from: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang

Check on Vietnam Flight to find the best flight deal.

Cambodia Air flight from Vietnam to Cambodia

Vietnam to Cambodia Bus 

Bus is the most economical way of transport to travel from Vietnam to Cambodia. 

• The most popular border crossing between Vietnam and Cambodia by bus is the Moc Bai (Vietnam) - Bavet (Cambodia) border gate. 
• Length: approximately 6.5 hours (Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh)
• Normally, tourists will travel to Phnom Penh and stop here for a visit. Then transported by another bus to Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, or Battambang.
• You can buy Vietnam to Cambodia bus ticket at the terminal, but it is highly recommended to purchase it in advance to secure a seat, especially if you don’t know the public holidays for both countries when tickets can be sold out quickly.

Vietnam to Cambodia Bus

Vietnam to Cambodia Private Car 

It will be more convenient and flexible to visit Cambodia by private car as you can decide where you wanna stay longer or leave soon. 

There are 3 most popular border gates that tourists choose to travel: Tinh Bien (An Giang province), Moc Bai (Tay Ninh province), and Ha Tien (Kien Giang province). 

• Moc Bai border gate is located around 70 km to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Normally tourists traveling from Vietnam to Cambodia would depart from Ho Chi Minh City. If you hire a private car to transport from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh, the traveling takes around 5 hours 30 minutes for a 235 km ride, including 70 km from Ho Chi Minh City to Moc Bai border gate, and 165 km from the border gate to Phnom Penh.
• Coming from the Mekong Delta (Can Tho City), you are going to want to cross at the Tinh Bien border crossing. The start of your journey is a 4 hour bus ride from Can Tho to the Vietnam border crossing town of Tinh Bien. After you’re stamped out of Vietnam at the Tinh Bien border crossing, you have a 6 – 7 hour ride to Phnom Penh waiting for you. But if that seems unbearable, heading to Kampot instead of Phnom Penh is a much shorter ride, about 2-3 hours.
• You also have another option to travel from Vietnam to Cambodia another way from the Mekong Delta as Cantho to Kep for 5 hours to ride by private taxi transfers by the stops at the Ha Tien border or Ha Tien to Sihanoukville for 2h45 minutes to drive by private van transports with the driver.

Car from Vietnam to Cambodia

Depending on the bus quality and different buses with or without English-speaking drivers, the price will vary a bit higher or lower, but you can take a look at the average price shown in the table below to bargain a reasonable price.

Vietnam to Cambodia Cruise (Mekong Cruise) 

The mighty Mekong River links Vietnam and Cambodia, offering a plethora of cruise options that showcase magnificent carved temples, lush landscapes, and cities where rich imperial and colonial legacies coexist. Opting for an expedition cruise between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap enables you to explore more of the region in less time compared to self-powered journeys.

The 7-night river journey from Saigon to Siem Reap will enlighten and delight you with an unforgettable experience of the Mekong Rivers as well as the Vietnamese and Cambodian communities that inhabit this part of the world.

During the journey, you will have many opportunities to experience not only the major tourist attractions but also the life of the Vietnamese and Cambodian as you travel along the river. You will be led on the vibrant cities of Phnom Penh and Saigon, as well as experience rural life on visits to floating homes, farms, and traditional villages.

Vietnam to Cambodia Cruise

Popular routes from Vietnam to Cambodia

There are many cities in Vietnam you can travel direct to Cambodia, below are some most popular routes for you to decide.

Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh

Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh is the shortest and most popular way to travel from Vietnam to Cambodia, you can choose any of the transportation we mentioned above that fits your plan to travel. If you want a fast and convenient journey, take a flight within 1 hour, and you can arrive in Phnom Penh.

The bus is preferred by solo or small-group travelers, while large groups would choose the private bus rental service. And the Mekong cruises will take longer but give you chances to immerse in the authentic life of the locals in the Mekong delta.

Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh

Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap

Siem Reap is 600 km away from Ho Chi Minh, so if your time budget is limited, a direct flight is the best option. Bus and private cars will take around 12 hours to travel, so you can consider passing by other destinations on the way to reduce tiredness and save traveling time also. On the other hand, cruising is the best way to enjoy the real Mekong life if you are not in a rush.

Ho Chi Minh to Sihanoukville

On some days of the week, there are direct flights from Ho Chi Minh to Sihanoukville by Vietnam Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air, or Qatar Airways. The flight time is approximately 1.5 hours with a price range is around 100-150 USD. It’s the fastest but most expensive way. You can also take the bus or private car from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh and then continuously take a ride or train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville.

Chau Doc to Phnom Penh

There are no flights from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, and there’s no railway between the cities also. The best way to travel is by boat via the Mekong River by boat or ferry. The Chau Doc Phnom Penh ferry route connects Vietnam with Cambodia. Currently, there is just 1 ferry company operating this ferry service, Mandarin Cruises.

The crossing operates up to 7 times each week with sailing durations from around 4 hours. If you choose to travel by boat, it will cost about 25-65 USD, depending on which boat you choose. Traveling time to Phnom Penh from Chau Doc via the VinhXuong border is about 5 hours.

Hanoi to Phnom Penh

From Hanoi to Phnom Penh, flight is the most convenient way with only 2-3 hours of traveling. However, there are too many interesting things on the road from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh that you will not want to miss. You can consider traveling by plane, train, bus, or go biking from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, then travel to Phnom Penh from Ho Chi Minh any way you love to. That will be an incredible trip from Vietnam to Cambodia.

Hanoi to Siem Reap

Direct flight from Hanoi to Siem Reap is one of the most popular ways tourists choose to come to Cambodia from Vietnam.  Despite the high price, taking a flight can save a lot of traveling time and keep you in good health condition for the whole trip.

But if Hanoi is your first destination you come to Vietnam, or if you haven’t visited Ho Chi Minh City yet, you absolutely should make a visit to this energetic city before moving to Cambodia. And it is even more convenient to travel to Siem Reap from Ho Chi Minh as all the ways are mentioned above.

Visa Requirements

The Visa on Arrival requires:

• $30 USD (cash)
• Visa form (You’ll get this on arrival. Fill it out and hand to Border Guard)
• Valid passport (at least 6 months from the expiration date) with at least 2 blank pages left.
• One recent passport-size photo

Take a look at our detailed guide about Cambodia Tourist Visa

Local tips to get from Vietnam to Cambodia

• Cambodian Riel (KHR) is the official currency in Cambodia. However, USD is the most popular currency for tourists to this country, you should prepare changes (US $1 is better) to be easier to spend.
• Money exchange: you will certainly need it in all SouthEast Asia countries as sometimes the best things can only be bought in small vendors where you can’t pay by card or dollars.
• Light clothes and an umbrella since the weather in Cambodia is hot and humid with a lot of rainfall.
• A sim card with 4G data for internet demand.
• Although it is not a mandatory document, travel insurance is one of the necessary "tools" to protect you when traveling. You should make sure your travel insurance card is valid by choosing reputable insurance companies.
• Note that Moc Bai and Tinh Bien gates will open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day. However, the Ha Tien border gate closes at 4:00 PM.

Recommend Vietnam Cambodia itinerary

It depends on budget and duration, you can choose to travel by land package or cruise between Vietnam and Cambodia for the best experience. 

• The cruise itinerary will take 3 - 8 days from budget to luxury option for you. However, the most popular one is 8 days cruise between Vietnam & Cambodia through the vast Delta, so rich in human life and endeavor and cruising along the river to the countryside of Cambodia.
• Land package tour Vietnam Cambodia will take you between 9 - 3 weeks, depending on your plan. The most recommended is 2 weeks itinerary which immerses you in the culture and nature of Vietnam and Cambodia. In Vietnam, we will cruise the secluded waters of Halong Bay, explore the waterway of the Mekong Delta, and relax on the beach of Hoi An, exploring the two biggest cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. The natural wonder of Vietnam is combined perfectly with some cultural highlights of Hue, Hoi An ancient town, before going to the exquisite temple of Angkor and then the bustling city of Phnom Penh. This trip enables you to really discover the full range of sites that Vietnam and Cambodia have to offer.

In short, I hope that this article gives you useful information about how to get to Cambodia from Vietnam. Have a fun trip in this beautiful land! For more tours and useful tips, please check out our website: Bestpricetravel.com 

Hue Pham

Image source: Internet