Known to many as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is famous for its role in the Vietnam War and boasts many attractions from that era, including the Vietnam War Remnants Museum and the Independence Palace. But it’s not just a place for history buffs. Ho Chi Minh City has beautiful French colonial architecture and a lively atmosphere. If you’re thinking of visiting the best of Asia, head to Siem Reap. This Cambodian city also has a French influence but is best known as the gateway to the Angkor region. Despite the great distance that separates Ho Chi Minh City from Siem Reap, it is a popular tourist route and it is not difficult to find a way to cover this journey.
Options to go from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
The road distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap is 460 kilometers. This may not seem like much if you are used to Western roads and highways, but in Asia such a distance means a very long journey by bus or car. This is because the road conditions are not the best. In addition, you will have to cross the border from Vietnam to Cambodia. But despite the inconvenience, many buses make this trip daily, so you’ll never run out of options.
If you don’t feel like making such a long journey, you might be better off flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap. The flight takes less than 1.5 hours, so it is the most convenient and fastest way to travel between the two cities. Read on to find all the information about flights and buses so you can make the most convenient decision.
Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport © AsiaTravel / Shutterstock.com
Many tourists choose to fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap because they don’t have time to travel by bus. Flying is much more expensive, but if you’re on holiday and need to see a lot of things in a short time, this is undoubtedly the best way to travel long distances.
There are three airlines that serve the route from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap: Vietnam Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air and Lanmei Airlines. The first two are usually more expensive while Lanmei Airlines is a low-cost airline. With Lanmei you can find a good deal easier, but they don’t have flights as often which can be inconvenient.
In Ho Chi Minh City, you will depart from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which is the busiest in Vietnam. Come well in advance to check in and go through the security check as there are usually so many people that it may take longer than usual to complete the process. In Siem Reap, you will arrive at Siem Reap – Angkor International Airport. It’s also the busiest airport in Cambodia, but it’s not as busy as Tan Son Nhat, so you won’t have the same weather problems as in Vietnam.
Even if you add in the extra time needed for the Vietnam airport and airport transfers, flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap is still the fastest and most recommended transportation option if you can afford the price of the ticket.
From Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap by bus
If you choose to travel by bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, there are several tour operators that offer this service with at least four daily departures. However, as we have already mentioned, it is a long journey, which is not suitable for everyone, as it forces you to spend a lot of time in a rather small space. The bus journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap takes 13 to 14 hours, including stops and transfers, which usually take place in Phnom Penh. You will also have to cross the border, which can make the journey longer. It is best to get your visa before coming to Cambodia to avoid the stressful process. If for some reason you do not have a visa on arrival at the border, this can usually be arranged with the bus company. We recommend making all arrangements in advance to travel with greater peace of mind.
The three bus companies to choose from are SinhTourist, Mekong Express and Kumho Samco. Of the three, SinhTourist has a very good reputation, but they are known to have some passengers travel on other companies’ buses, so you cannot travel on a SinhTourist bus even if you buy a ticket from them.
Express buses operating from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap are usually standard buses with conventional seats, not sleeping berths. But when connecting in Phnom Penh, you can hop on one with reclining beds in Siem Reap.
If you want to travel at night to sleep on the way, it is better to choose one of the afternoon buses. They leave Ho Chi Minh around 3:00 PM and arrive in Siem Reap around 5:00 AM. An alternative is the bus, which leaves first thing in the morning around 7:00 AM and runs all day until arriving between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. The good thing about traveling during the day is that you will be able to admire fantastic landscapes along the way, and if you travel at night or decide to fly by plane, you will miss this opportunity.