How to get from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh
The best way to travel the 230 km distance from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh is by bus. This bus journey costs 660,000 VND ($27.50) and takes around 7 hours. Alternatively, you can take a 2.5-hour flight (incl. transfers), with rates from 2,929,000 VND ($120).
2 ways to get from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh
We recommend travelling by bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh. It’s the cheaper option with fares from 660,000 VND ($27.50). It’s also convenient because it takes you directly from the centre of Phnom Penh to the centre of Ho Chi Minh.
Travel time by bus is around 7 hours, already including the border-crossing and immigration stops at the Bavet-Moc Bai Checkpoint.
If crossing the border and processing your own passport stamps are too much hassle for you, you can also take a flight. Do note that flight rates start from 2,929,000 VND ($120) — over 4x the price of a bus ticket. Travel time is about 2.5 hours, excluding the waiting time for your flight.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Itinerary from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh
Flight
- Phnom Penh
- 30 minutes
- Phnom Penh Airport
- 1 hour
- Ho Chi Minh Airport
- 45 minutes
- Ho Chi Minh
Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh by Bus
Travelling from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh by bus isn’t too difficult. In fact, many travellers prefer this method because it’s cheaper than flying. Another advantage of taking the bus is that it produces fewer emissions and is, therefore, more eco-friendly.
You can choose from a few companies operating on this route. These include Long Phuong Cambodia, Kumho Samco and Giant Ibis.
Long Phuong offers the cheapest fares starting from 660,000 VND ($27.50). However, it gets mixed reviews. Some passengers have praised its helpful staff, while others have complained about poor customer service.
Kumho Samco and Giant Ibis are a bit more expensive, but they also get better reviews — both for their professional staff and comfortable buses. Also, Giant Ibis offers free hotel pick-up in Phnom Penh city centre.
Departure and arrival stations
Long Phuong departs from its headquarters in Phnom Penh city centre, beside the National Olympic Stadium. It arrives at Long Phuong Tours in Ho Chi Minh’s Pham Ngu Lao.
Kumho Samco leaves from its office in Phnom Penh city centre and parks at its terminal in Ho Chi Minh tourist centre.
Giant Ibis picks up passengers from any hotel in the centre of Phnom Penh. It arrives at Giant Ibis Transport, also along Pham Ngu Lao.
Bus schedules from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh
Immigration Stop and Bathroom Breaks
Most of the buses from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh cross the border at the Bavet–Moc Bai Checkpoint. The immigration stop at the border isn’t very organised or modern, but the staff of the bus companies will explain to you what to do and how to obtain your entry stamp.
Depending on your nationality, you need to apply for an e-visa to enter Vietnam through the Moc Bai border. Your e-visa should specify “Moc Bai landport” as your port of entry. If you choose the wrong entry port, you will be refused entry at the Moc Bai border.
The bus normally makes one bus stop just before the Vietnamese border. This serves as your last chance to spend your remaining Cambodian Riel!
TIP: Always keep a lookout for the bus personnel or fellow travellers from your bus so you don’t get lost.
Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh by Flight
If you don’t want to make the 7-hour border crossing via land, you can also take a flight.
Airfares from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh are quite expensive, though. Even during off-peak season, rates are at least 4x that of the bus.
Also, when you add the waiting time for your flight, this option doesn’t really save you a lot of time compared to the bus.
Step 1: City Centre to Phom Penh Airport
You can find Phnom Penh Airport some 11 km west of the city centre. There are 3 ways you can get there: a $0.40 bus, an $11 taxi or a $9 tuktuk. Travel time is 30 minutes to 1 hour.
If you’re already short on time, we recommend taking either a taxi or a tuk-tuk. Buses make too many stops and often get stuck in traffic.
For more details, check out our guide on Phnom Penh Airport.
Step 2: Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh by Flight
Cambodia Angkor Air and Vietnam Airlines operate direct flights from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh daily. Flight time is about an hour.
Ticket prices range from 2,700,000 VND ($110) to 4,200,000 VND ($175). Book your tickets in advance to get the best rates.
TIP: Skyscanner also gives an indication if flights are more eco-friendly. Choosing a more eco-friendly flight can make a big difference!
Step 3: Ho Chi Minh Airport to City Centre by Bus
From Ho Chi Minh Airport, you can take a 45-minute bus or taxi to cross the 8 km distance to the city centre.
On a budget? Take public bus #152. A ticket only costs 6,000 VND ($0.20). The bus drops you off at the roundabout across Ben Thanh Market, from where it is only a 10-minute walk to Pham Ngu Lao.
You can also get a taxi to take you straight to your hotel’s doorstep in Ho Chi Minh. Rates start from 150,000 VND ($6).
To help you navigate to your hotel from Ho Chi Minh Airport, read our article on Ho Chi Minh International Airport (Tan Son Nhat).
More routes to Ho Chi Minh
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Most popular routes in Vietnam
About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Could you please clarify what you mean by “letter of approval” needed to enter Vietnam at Moc Bai?
I have an evisa with Moc Bai as the specified port of entry. Is this sufficient?
Hello Richard, apologies for the confusion. The “letter of approval” is required in order to obtain a visa on arrival at the airport. Since you’re travelling by land through Moc Bai border, your e-visa specifying this port as your port of entry is sufficient. We now clarified this in the route. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
Hola. Sabes si los ciudadanos españoles necesitan una aprobación de visa para pasar por la frontera terrestre entre Phnom Penh a Ho Chi Minh cruzando por Bavet/Moc Bai.?
Hola Yolanda, si ingresas a Vietnam como ciudadano español, estás “exento de visa por hasta 15 días en Vietnam si tu fecha de llegada es al menos 30 días a partir de la fecha de salida de tu última estadía en Vietnam con exención de visa. ” Si tiene la intención de permanecer más de 15 días en Vietnam, debe solicitar una visa.
Puede consultar VisaIndex para más detalles. ¡Espero que esto ayude!
Thanks, a very good and informative insight to all buses travelling to Saigon and consequent flights and fares.
Hi Heather! Thanks for leaving a comment! Happy to hear this info was useful to you!