Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh by Bus

Multiple Departure Times Every Day
Pick the schedule that works for you. Early birds can leave at 8:00 AM or 9:45 AM. Late risers? There's a 1:15 PM and 3:15 PM option too.

We Handle Your Visa Paperwork
Confused about border crossings? Don't be. Our staff collect your passport at the checkpoint and process your Cambodia visa-on-arrival while you relax. Simple as that.

Actually Comfortable Seats
These aren't cramped local buses. VIP seating means you get real legroom (we removed a full row just to give you more space), working outlets for your devices, and seatbelts that actually exist.

Free Perks on Board
Connect to WiFi throughout your ride. Grab complimentary snacks and cold water. Get refreshing towels when you need them. Some buses even serve free coffee.

Experienced Drivers Who Know the Route
Our drivers make this trip daily. GPS systems track every bus. Passenger insurance covers you the whole way. We take safety seriously.

Supporting Conservation Efforts
Part of what you pay goes toward protecting Cambodia's national bird—the Giant Ibis. Travel and help endangered species at the same time.

Ever tried to figure out the cheapest way to get from one country to another in Southeast Asia?

Flights seem easy until you add up the taxi to the airport, the baggage fees, the overpriced airport food, and the taxi from the other airport. Suddenly that "cheap" $80 flight costs you $150 and half your day.

Here's what actually works: taking the bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh.

I know what you're thinking. Six and a half hours on a bus sounds... long. But here's the thing—you're sitting in a reclining VIP seat with AC that actually works, not squeezed into an airplane middle seat with your knees touching the person in front of you. You've got WiFi to browse or message home. There's an outlet right at your seat so your phone doesn't die. And someone else handles all the confusing visa stuff at the border while you stretch your legs and grab a coffee.

The cost? Under $38 for the whole trip. Compare that to what you'd spend flying, and it's not even close.

Plus (and I think this matters), you actually see the countryside between the two countries. Rice paddies. Small villages. Water buffalo just hanging out by the road. You miss all that at 30,000 feet. When you travel overland, you get a real sense of the place instead of just teleporting from one city to another.

Four buses run this route every single day. Morning, afternoon, whatever fits your plans. You board in the backpacker district of Saigon, cross the border at Moc Bai with professional help, and roll into central Phnom Penh ready to start exploring.

Let me walk you through exactly how this works so you know what to expect...

Location: Ho Chi Minh City - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Itinerary

WHAT YOU WILL DO
Step 1: Meet at the Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City
Head to the Giant Ibis terminal on Phạm Ngũ Lão Street (that's the backpacker area in District 1). Show up about 30 minutes before your bus leaves. Staff at the counter will check your booking and tell you your seat number.

Step 2: Store Your Big Bags and Get On Board
Heavy backpacks and suitcases get loaded into the luggage compartment underneath the bus. Keep your daypack, passport, money, phone, and anything breakable with you. Find your assigned seat and get settled.

Step 3: Enjoy the First Part of the Ride
Plug in your phone charger. The outlet's right there at your seat. Connect to the bus WiFi (staff will give you the password if it's not posted). Open your snack pack—usually a pastry from Blue Pumpkin, bottled water, and a cold towel. Lean back and watch Saigon fade into Vietnamese countryside.

Step 4: Cross Out of Vietnam at Moc Bai
After about 2.5 hours, the bus stops at the Vietnam border checkpoint. Everyone gets off with their passports. Walk into the immigration office and get your Vietnam exit stamp—this part you do yourself. Takes maybe 15 minutes unless three other buses showed up at the same time.

Step 5: Let Us Process Your Cambodia Visa
Back near the bus, our staff collect everyone's passports. You'll have paid a $5 service fee (either when you booked or you can pay now). They take all the passports to the Cambodia immigration window and handle the visa-on-arrival paperwork. You can wait on the bus, walk around the border area, use the bathroom, buy a snack—whatever you want. Takes about 20-40 minutes depending on how busy things are.

Step 6: Get Your Stamped Passport Back
Staff return your passport with your fresh Cambodia visa inside. You're officially allowed into the country. Everyone boards again and the bus continues.

Step 7: Drive Through Cambodia to Phnom Penh
This leg is about 2-3 hours. The scenery's different once you cross the border—different style houses, different roadside shops, slightly rougher roads. But it's interesting to watch the transition. If you've got a window seat, you'll get some good photos.

Step 8: Arrive in Downtown Phnom Penh
The bus pulls into the Giant Ibis terminal near the riverside area. Grab your bag from the luggage compartment. From here you can walk to nearby hotels, catch a tuk-tuk for a couple dollars, or just start exploring the city.

Done. You just crossed an international border on a bus and it was actually pretty painless.

ITINERARY
Four Daily Options—Pick What Fits Your Schedule
Early Morning: 8:00 AM Departure

8:00 AM – Leave Ho Chi Minh City terminal
10:30 AM – Reach Moc Bai border area
10:30-11:15 AM – Complete Vietnam exit; staff handle Cambodia visa
11:15 AM – Cross into Cambodia
2:30 PM – Pull into Phnom Penh
Best for travelers who like getting moving early and having the whole afternoon free in a new city.

Late Morning: 9:45 AM Departure

9:45 AM – Depart from District 1
12:15 PM – Border checkpoint arrival
12:15-1:00 PM – Immigration procedures
1:00 PM – Enter Cambodia
4:15 PM – Arrive in Phnom Penh
Perfect if you need a little extra morning time but still want to arrive before evening.

Early Afternoon: 1:15 PM Departure

1:15 PM – Board in Ho Chi Minh City
3:45 PM – Border stop
3:45-4:30 PM – Visa processing
4:30 PM – Continue into Cambodia
7:45 PM – Reach Phnom Penh
Good for people with late hotel checkouts or morning commitments in Saigon.

Late Afternoon: 3:15 PM Departure

3:15 PM – Leave Ho Chi Minh City
5:45 PM – Border crossing
5:45-6:30 PM – Immigration
6:30 PM – Enter Cambodia
9:45 PM – Arrive in Phnom Penh after dark
Latest option available. Make sure your accommodation knows you're checking in late.

KEY DETAILS

Total Distance: 280 kilometers between cities
Trip Length: Around 6.5 to 7.5 hours depending on border wait times
Type of Bus: VIP Seater with reclining seats and extra legroom
Number of Stops: 3 (main stop is at the international border)
Base Fare: Starts at $33-35 USD per person
Visa Help Fee: $5 USD for staff assistance at border
Cambodia Visa Cost: $30-36 USD (you pay this separately at the border, not included in ticket)
When Buses Leave: 8:00 AM, 9:45 AM, 1:15 PM, 3:15 PM daily
Insurance Coverage: Yes—passenger liability through Infinity Insurance
Bus Monitoring: Real-time GPS tracking on all vehicles
Internet Access: Free WiFi at 2-4 Mb speed throughout the trip
What's On Board: Water, snacks, cold towels, power outlets, functional AC, seatbelts

Pickup

Where You Board: Giant Ibis Transport Terminal
Street Address: 303 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Area: Right in the middle of the backpacker district (District 1)
When to Show Up: 30 minutes before your departure time
Bonus Service: Need to print your e-visa? We have free printing at the terminal

📍 Find it on Google Maps

What Happens at Pickup:

Walk up to the check-in counter
Show your booking confirmation (phone screen or printout both work)
Staff give you your seat assignment
Load your big luggage in the storage area
Board when they call your bus
Pro tip: There are cafes and shops around the terminal if you arrive super early and need to kill time.

Drop Off

Where You Arrive: Giant Ibis Transport Phnom Penh Terminal
Location: Mohasat Treiyani Kossamak Street 106, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Neighborhood: Near the riverside in central Phnom Penh
What's Nearby: Walking distance to many guesthouses; tons of tuk-tuks waiting outside

📍 See on Google Maps

What Happens When You Arrive:

Bus parks at the terminal lot
Everyone grabs their luggage from the storage compartment
Walk to your hotel if it's close, or hop in a tuk-tuk (drivers will offer rides—negotiate to about $2-3 for short distances)
Terminal staff can help call you a taxi if you prefer that
The riverside area is maybe a 10-minute walk from here. Lots of good restaurants and bars around if you're hungry after the ride.

Things To Bring

You Absolutely Need These:

✅ Passport (must be valid for 6+ months from when you enter Cambodia)
✅ US dollars in cash ($30-36 for the Cambodia visa itself)
✅ Extra $5 USD (for the visa processing service if you didn't prepay)
Stuff That'll Make Your Trip Better:

📱 Phone charging cable (there's an outlet at your seat—use it!)
🎧 Earbuds or headphones (WiFi's good for scrolling, but download videos ahead of time if you want to watch stuff)
🧴 Hand sanitizer + toilet paper (border bathrooms are... let's just say they're functional but basic)
🍫 Your own snacks (you get one pastry and water, but maybe you get hungry on long trips)
🧥 Thin jacket or scarf (some people freeze with the AC, some people are fine—better safe than sorry)
💊 Dramamine or ginger candy (if you're prone to motion sickness on buses)
📷 Camera (or just your phone—the countryside's actually pretty between cities)
💵 Small bills (for buying drinks or snacks at the border if you want)
Leave These at Home:

❌ Expensive jewelry you don't need
❌ Anything prohibited by Vietnam or Cambodia customs (check the rules if you're unsure)
❌ Super smelly food (other passengers will not appreciate durian on a 6.5-hour bus ride)

Inclusions

Here's what you get with your ticket:

✅ VIP Seat with More Legroom Than Standard Buses – We took out one whole row so you're not cramped
✅ WiFi Access for the Entire Trip – Speed is 2-4 Mb, so good for messaging and social media
✅ Snacks, Drinks, and Refreshing Towels – Blue Pumpkin pastry, bottled water, cold towels to cool off
✅ Power Outlet at Your Seat – Charge your phone, tablet, whatever you need
✅ Working Seatbelts and Strong AC – Comfortable and safe the whole way
✅ Help with Your Cambodia Visa – Staff take your passport and handle the paperwork ($5 fee applies)
✅ Insurance and GPS Tracking – All buses monitored; passenger liability coverage included
✅ Conservation Donation – Part of your fare helps protect endangered Giant Ibis birds

Exclusions

Your ticket does NOT cover:

❌ The Cambodia Visa Fee Itself – That's $30-36 USD you pay directly at the border
❌ Real Meals – The snack is just a snack; bring food or buy some at stops if you need more
❌ Hotel Pickup Service – You come to the terminal yourself (unless you arrange private pickup separately)
❌ Personal Travel Insurance – We have passenger liability insurance, but you should get your own travel insurance for medical stuff, lost belongings, etc.
❌ Tips – Not required, but if the driver or staff went above and beyond, a small tip is appreciated

Additional Info

About the Cambodia Visa
Tourist Visa: Costs $35 USD
Business Visa: Costs $45 USD
Processing Help: Our staff charge $5 to handle the paperwork for you

Good to Know:

Already have an e-visa? Print it out before you go (or print it free at our terminal)
Want to save the $5? You can process the visa yourself, but it takes longer and you need to know which lines to stand in
Border officials prefer exact change in US dollars
Visa-on-arrival is straightforward—our staff do this literally every day
How Booking and Cancellations Work

If You Need to Cancel: