Travel By Land

Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia Overland Travel Guide

There are multiple overland crossings that can be used when you are in Cambodia to continue your travel without having to pay for an airfare. As most people come in from Thailand and out to Vietnam I am going to focus on those crossings first, there are also boat crossings from Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City from Phnom Penh. I have tried to be as detailed as I can giving you the estimated times, costs and how to best get your tickets.

Most bus routes from Cambodia to HCM City, Thailand and Laos originate in Phnom Penh, so if you are using Phnom Penh as your hub my suggestion would be to stay at one of the places listed under the “Where to stay in Cambodia” section and then buy your tickets from a reputable travel agency that offers all of the main bus routes from the main vendors and visa services. I have stated it a number of times on my blog already but if you are looking for a decent travel agency my suggestion would be to use the guys at The Mad Monkey travel services. They speak perfect English and offer all of the bus and visa options you will need, they are also located slap bang in the Middle of the BKK1 area of Phnom Penh and your bus service will normally pick you up from there. Ok so click on the relevant option for more information:

Cambodia to Vietnam

Cambodia to Thailand

Cambodia to Laos

Phnom Penh Cambodia to Laos

Phnom Penh Cambodia to Bangkok Thailand

Leave Phnom Penh on the night bus, the night bus services will normally leave Phnom Penh between 11pm and 1am in the morning. This is a 14 hour bus journey and it will cost you around $20-$25 a ticket – you will only also be able to enter Thailand on a 14 day visa – if you get a flight you will get an automatic 30 day visa so it is up to you to balance if the extra $25.00 for a $50.00 flight is actually worth 14 hours of your life on a bus. Read more for detailed info

Siem Reap Cambodia to Bangkok Thailand

Buses run regularly between Siem Reap and Bangkok using the Aranyaprathet, Thailand/Poipet, Cambodia border post. Depending on your bus company you may well stop every hour or so to pick up other travelers. The route time between Siem Reap and Bangkok is 8 – 10 hours depending on the road and traffic; also depending on the bus service you take. Read more

Sihanoukville Cambodia to Bangkok Thailand

My advice is don’t use this route unless you are looking at a bus journey or epic proportions if you route from Sihanoukville to Bangkok, certainly a 20 hour plus stuck on a bus with multiple changes of bus and mini bus. The bus between Sihanoukville and the Hat Lek border post is a good 6-7 hours but could be another option for you if you just want to get into Thailand. Read more for detailed information

Sihanoukville Cambodia to Trat via Hat Lek

From Sihanoukville get the bus Koh Kong and then travel overland to Trat over the Hat Lek border point. There is absolutely nothing to do in Hat Lek so best to get in and out. Read more for details

Other Crossings from Cambodia into Thailand

There are other crossings into Cambodia from Thailand – keep in mind that depending on how relationships between the Thai and Cambodian government are going at the time that these border crossings may be closed. Read more for details

Travel between Cambodia and Vietnam

Generally you can get visa’s for Cambodia at all of these points of entry – however you can not get a Vietnam visa issued at these crossings. Read our blog on Vietnam Visas prior to trying to cross into Vietnam from these checkpoints. If you are going the other way from Cambodia into Vietnam you will need a visa issued before you travel. Get Vietnam Visa information here.

Phnom Penh Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

There are a number of bus services from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh, my advice is to get the night bus. The journey will take you around 7-9 hours dependent on the bus company that will take you and the route. Get to The Mad Monkey on street 302 in the BKK 1 district of Phnom Penh – this is actually a hostel with a travel service but they offer all of the major bus routes. You can book a bus from them on the day that you travel, leave your bags in their office and then jump on the bus that will leave between 11pm and 1am the same day. Read more for further details

Siem Reap Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

All of the main road routes between Cambodia and HCM route via Phnom Penh, don’t believe any of the marketing about direct bus routes. All bus routes route via Phnom Penh period. If you want to travel from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh then you will need to get a 4-5 hour bus to Phnom Penh and then the bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City. Read more for details.

Sihanoukville Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

Again this journey is going to require you to route via Phnom Penh, think carefully if you really want to have a 18 hour bus trip between the two. My personal choice is to get a bus to Phnom Penh, overnight there or kick around the town for a few hours (Check places to stay) and then get the night us into Ho Chi Minh city.

If you want to really experience Cambodia and see the most on the trip between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh then don’t get on the bus, my advice is to get on the boat between the two.

Boat from Phnom Penh Cambodia to Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

There are a number of options for you to see the most of Cambodia traveling via boat from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City. Certainly if you are a tourist then this would be my suggested option for you. There are a number of trips available – I have tried to list the best ones here.

When booking these trips for my clients or tour groups I always use The Mad Monkey Travel Services. I use them because they speak English (Its run by three Brits) and because I know they wont try and rip me off on the fees. The margins tour operators can put on these trips can be astonishing so don’t get ripped off.

I have listed the best boat options that I have used and the prices – and included a link to The Mad Monkey Travel service as well on each of the descriptions.

You can book all of these trips by either walking into the Mad Monkey Hostel on Street 302 and the junction of Street 51 or you can book by by visiting the website. You can even buy the tickets online and they will deliver them to you within 24 hours.

Two Days Boat Trip Between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City

This is my suggested route to HCM if you are leaving Phnom Penh and want to travel by boat, especially if you are short on time. When you balance it out you only get into HCM about 12 hours later than you would by bus anyway and you spend around an extra $15.00 for the tour as compared to the $15-$20 you would spend on the bus. You can book this trip online using Mad Monkey Travel Services, the cost is $35.00. Read more for a full itinerary

Three Day Boat Trip Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh via Can Tho

This is a three day boat trip up the Mekong river taking you between Phnom Penh to Ho-Chi-Minh with overnight in Can Tho City - You can buy tickets online at The Mad Monkey Travel Services. Read more for the full itinerary.

Four Day Mekong Boat Trip - Phnom Penh to Vietnam Visa Can Tho

This is a four day long Mekong Delta Trip with a home stay in the middle that you can use as an attractive alternative to the bus. I have actually done this tour a number of times with my customers and I would recommend it. It provides a good balance between comfort on one hand and the experience of the village and Cham people life on the other. You can buy this tour online at The Mad Monkey Travel services. Read more for a full itinerary.

Four Day Mekong Boat Trip - Phnom Penh to Vietnam

This is a four day trip with home stays in local villages, you can buy the tour online from The Mad Monkey Travel Services. Read more for further details of the itinerary

Other Border Crossings into Vietnam from Cambodia

There are a number of other border crossings from Cambodia into Vietnam. They are as follows. If you are going to cross into the country using one of these crossing points make sure you have a Vietnam Visa in your passport prior to trying to cross. View the border crossings - Read More

Cambodia Laos Overland Border Crossing

Again you can get your visa on entry on this one crossing with Laos, just make sure you have your photos and paperwork ready prior to getting to the border crossing. See our advice on Laos Visa or read more for further detailed information.