3 Ways to Get from Vietnam to Cambodia: by Plane, by Boat, or by Land
Many people will visit Cambodia and its beautiful Angkor Wat temples before or after going to Vietnam as it is a must-see stop in Southeast Asia. Vietnam and Cambodia are neighboring countries each with so much to offer travelers.
In this article, we will take a look at the following questions:
What are the different ways to travel from Vietnam to Cambodia and which is the most convenient? What do you need to know before crossing the border?
What to Know Before You Go
Passport: You must hold a passport with at least 6 months’ validity and 2 empty visa pages.
Visa: A Visa on Arrival is an available option at most border crossings to Cambodia. The cost is around USD35 per person. To get the visa, you should prepare and bring 2 passport-sized photos or you can pay an additional USD2-5 if you don’t have the photos. Based on our experience, some officials might take an additional service charge (USD1-10) when you enter Cambodia by Visa on Arrival. If you would like to avoid this hassle, you can apply for the E-visa in advance online (single entry with a maximum stay of 30 days).
Ticket departing Cambodia: For some visas, it is required to show proof that you have purchased tickets leaving Cambodia. This is not always checked, but it is better to prepare it in advance just in case.
Safety: Always be careful of your luggage. Seal your bags and keep them in your sight at all times. Don’t agree if another person asks you to take care of their luggage or asks you to hold something for them. Be cautious of others who may be trying to bring drugs or other prohibited items across the border. Safety in Cambodia.
Now that you know about all the documents you should bring with you, are you ready to go? There are 3 main ways to cross into Cambodia from Vietnam: by plane, by boat, and by land. You might be curious if there is an international train between these 2 countries. While this would be a great way to travel, at the moment there is no train option.>
Vietnam to Cambodia by Flight
Taking a flight is the fastest and most convenient way to get from Vietnam to Cambodia. Here is the flight information between the main airports in both countries.
Ho Chi Minh (South Vietnam) to Siem Reap: Flight time is around 1 hour and 15 minutes. There are 5 flights each day operated by Vietnam Airlines and Cambodian Angkor Air. The cost of these flights is around USD50-300 for economy class. The price varies depending on whether it is low season or peak season.
Danang (Central Vietnam, Hoi An’s closest airport) to Siem Reap: Flight time is around 1 hour and 20 minutes. There is 1 flight each day operated by Cambodian Angkor Air.
Hanoi (North Vietnam) to Siem Reap: Flight time is around 1 hour and 50 minutes. It takes longer to reach Cambodia from North Vietnam. There are three flights available every day operated by Vietnam Airlines and also one daily flight by Vietjet Air (budget airline). If you book a budget airline, pay attention to the luggage allowance because any don’t provide free checked bags.
Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh: Flight time around 1 hour. Similar to Siem Reap, there are 5 flights available every day that are operated by Vietnam Airlines, Cambodian Angkor Air, and Qatar Airlines.
Danang to Phnom Penh: Flight time around 2 hours and 15 minutes. There is 1 flight each day by Cambodian Angkor Air.
Hanoi to Phnom Penh: There is no direct flight available. You will need to have a layover in Ho Chi Minh or Siem Reap.
Vietnam to Cambodia by Boat
Traveling by boat is popular with those who’re interested in the boat/cruise tour. There are two main options:
The first one is from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh: The ferry departs daily, starting at around 7:30 in the morning. The journey takes about 5 hours including the time it takes to cross the border and go through immigration. Usually, travelers will need to stay 1 night in Chau Doc in order to catch the early morning departure.
Chau Doc is located in South Vietnam, 3 hours from Can Tho and 5.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh. Contact Asia Highlights if you are interested in booking your passage. We’re happy to arrange the transfer and ferry ticket for you.
The other option is taking the sightseeing Mekong Delta cruise. There are two options for the cruise including the 3 night/4 day trip from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh and the 7 night/8 day trip from Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap.
The Heritage Line has two ships that travel this route: The Jahan (5-star) and The Jayavarman (4-star). Usually, there are 2 departures each month from Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap and back. If you’re interested in taking this cruise, contact us for the specific schedule.
Vietnam to Cambodia by Land
The last option is to travel by land. Vietnam shares 7 border crogs with Cambodia and many provide Visa on Arrival service. The mossinst popular one is Moc Bai (Vietnam) – Bavet (Cambodia). Moc Bai is around 2 hours by car from Ho Chi Minh and once you cross it is around 4 hours to Phnom Penh. The most affordable way to do this crossing is to take a bus (around 230km from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh). These buses take about 6 hours and cost USD20-30. You need to exit the bus and bring all your luggage with you when passing through immigration. For a better experience, renting a private car is also an option.
After reaching Phnom Penh, you can take a flight to Siem Reap (around 1 hour). Driving from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap takes about 6 hours.
Traveling with Asia Highlights
When traveling with Asia Highlights, we will provide you with a hassle-free experience. You can check out some popular itineraries below for inspiration. If you want something different, we are happy to customize and tailor-make your trip for you.