1. Bus/Van to Siem Reap
2. Flights to Siem Reap
3. Taxi/Car to Siem Reap
4. FAQ + Travel Tips
🎫 Book a Tour Online
🎫 Book Ticket / Flight
From Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Siem Reap you can travel by bus or plane.
-
- Traveling from Saigon to Siem Reap covers approximately 600 km by land route via Phnom Penh. You have the option to commute by tourist bus or opt for a direct flight. Note that there’s no train service available from Saigon to Siem Reap. The most cost-effective mode of transportation is via bus or minivan, with fares starting at $25 – 33 per person. Many buses make a stopover in Phnom Penh (the capital of Cambodia), where passengers are transferred to another bus bound for Siem Reap (alternatively, there are direct flights from Saigon to Phnom Penh). For the quickest and most comfortable journey, consider flying directly from Saigon to Siem Reap. Flight duration is approximately 1.5 hours, with fares ranging from $90 to $180 per person. Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is conveniently located about 5 km from the city center, enhancing accessibility. Another travel option to Siem Reap is via bus and boat, passing through Chau Doc and Phnom Penh. There are boat services connecting Chau Doc and Siem Reap via Phnom Penh. Prior to booking bus tickets or flights to Siem Reap, ensure to carefully review the provided instructions. Secure your tickets or flights from Saigon to Siem Reap through Cambodia online.
-
- Siem Reap in Cambodia – serves as the gateway to the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex. Siem Reap stands out as one of the most frequented cities in Southeast Asia, renowned for its historical significance embodied by the Angkor Wat temple complex. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat lies approximately 5 km north of Siem Reap City. Another notable attraction is the Tonle Sap lake located within the city’s vicinity. Siem Reap also serves as a convenient base for exploring neighboring countries such as Thailand (Bangkok) or Laos, with options including bus or van routes to Don Det in Laos. Phnom Penh, situated about 330 km from Siem Reap, offers continued tourist bus services to Siem Reap. Travelers have two primary transportation options from Saigon in Vietnam to Siem Reap in Cambodia: via tourist bus/minivan through Phnom Penh or by direct flight. Detailed instructions on reaching Siem Reap from Ho Chi Minh City are provided below in this article. Additionally, it’s advisable to acquaint yourself with the weather conditions in Siem Reap before your arrival through this article: Weather in Siem Reap.
| Transfer Mode – Saigon to Siem Reap: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bus / Minibus (via Phnom Penh) | 12-14 hours | $30-50/pp |
| Direct Flight | 1.5-2 hours | $90-150/pp |
| Private Car / Taxi | 12 hours | $280-515/car |
How do I get from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap?
1. BUS / VAN from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Traveling by bus from Ho Chi Minh City is the most used low-cost transfer option to Siem Reap in Cambodia. You have to expect that this method will take a lot of time and you will transfer in the city of Phnom Penh. All buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap (with a transfer in Phnom Penh) go through the Moc Bai – Bavet border crossing, which is the main crossing from southern Vietnam to Cambodia and is approximately 60 km from Saigon.
This transport option therefore has 2 steps – a bus to Phnom Penh and a bus or minibus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. There are many bus companies that travel between the cities of Saigon – Phnom Penh – Siem Reap and they will offer you modern seater or sleeper buses or comfortable minibuses and minivans.
Buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh are operated by companies such as Long Phuong Cambodia, Mekong Express, Giant Ibis, Duc Duong Bus, Vet Air Bus Express, The Sinh Tourist, Kumho Samco and Virak Buntham. Bus travel time from Saigon to Phnom Penh will take you on average 5.5-7 hours and tickets will cost around $21-40/pp.
Buses depart from various locations in Ho Chi Minh City, such as several locations on Pham Ngu Lao Long Phuong Street, and arrive at various locations in Phnom Penh as well. You will always see this information when ordering bus tickets online on the mentioned platforms.
In Phnom Penh you will have to use another bus or a comfortable and faster minibus for the trip to Siem Reap. So this method is also ideal for those who want to get to know the city of Phnom Penh a little more. The bus timetables are very long and there are many different companies going to Siem Reap.
Some of them are Giant Ibis, Mey Hong, PSD Express, Larryta Express, Virak Buntham, Mekong Express, Bayon VIP, Cambodia Post VIP and others. Traveling by bus or minibus from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will take you approximately 5.5-7 hours and you will pay an average of $8-17/pp for tickets.
You can easily search and book bus tickets for all buses online, even in advance. Always carefully read the all important information and useful instructions about the transfer, where it departs from, where it arrives at, possibly information about the weight of backpacks, etc.
2. FLIGHTS from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Another and of course the most convenient, fastest, but at the same time more expensive transport option from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap is a direct air connection. So, if you are not concerned about the budget of your travel and want to arrive in Siem Reap as quickly as possible, this option may be the right one for you.
Direct flights are operated from Tan Son Nhat Airport in Saigon to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport and are operated by Vietnam Airlines, Cambodia Angkor Air or low-cost airline Lanmei Airlines. It should be emphasized that the flight schedule of direct flights can be more limited, and flights with a transfer are also possible, but it is advisable to consider whether a flight with a transfer makes sense at all.
The flight from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Siem Reap in Cambodia takes approximately 1.5 hour (with a total of approximately 4 hours waiting at the airport). Direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap cost between $120-200/pp, but it depends on the season, number of connections, prices can change over time.
Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is approximately 45 km from the city center, this is a new airport that opened at the end of 2023. A direct flight is of course the best and most comfortable option of transport to Siem Reap, however some travelers may be put off by the cost of these flights.
3. PRIVATE CAR from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Private taxi / car from Saigon to Siem Reap – this is also possible and you can easily book such a car online. This option, i.e. transport by private car to Siem Reap, is offered by Sima Car. This company offers modern air-conditioned cars such as SUVs for 4 people or modern luxury minivans for up to 5 people.
Transportation from Saigon to Siem Reap by private car is the most expensive transfer option between these cities and the journey time is 12 hours on average. A private car transfer from Saigon to Siem Reap costs approximately $280-515/car, depending on the type of car you choose.
You can also choose a private car transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, there are several private transport services on this route and they offer different types and types of modern and comfortable cars.
BOOK PRIVATE CAR to Siem Reap ➜
4. BUS + BOAT from Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap (via Chau Doc)
Traveling by bus and boat via Chau Doc in Vietnam to Siem Reap is also possible. This is an alternative route option from Saigon to Siem Reap and may be interesting for those travelers who want to come from Vietnam to Siem Reap by boat. This transportation option has a total of 3 steps: by bus from Saigon to Chau Doc, by boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh via the border crossing, and by boat from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.
Chau Doc is a border town in southern Vietnam and there are boats suitable for tourists to Phnom Penh, it takes about 5-6 hours, so these boats go through Vinh Xuong border crossing. However, the timetables of these ships are very limited. In Phnom Penh, you can then use other tourist boats to Siem Reap, which go through Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake.
You can buy boat tickets from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap at travel agencies in Phnom Penh, it is a good idea to inquire about tickets, for example, where you will be staying. It’s good to mention that this mode of transport takes the most time, it depends on connections and ships, so it might be better to split this option into 2-3 separate steps.
5. BOOK A PRIVATE TOUR + Tickets in Siem Reap
-
- you can also book your private tour or tickets for tourist attractions in Siem Reap
- it is possible to book various types of tourist tours (boat trips, bicycle tours, historical…)
- these private tourist tours in Siem Reap by local tour guides from Cambodia
- you can also book private transfers between the town and airport
- Book a private tour / trip or other tourist activity in Siem Reap online
BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Siem Reap ➜
❓ FAQ — Travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap:
1. How to book and buy tickets + flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap?
-
- You can book tickets + flights from Saigon to Siem Reap on 12go.asia ➜ or Baolau ➜.
- You can book another travel route, e.g. Ho Chi Minh > Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh > Siem Reap…
2. How long does it take from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap?
-
- Travel by bus/minivan from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap takes about 12-20 hours.
- Travel by plane from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap takes about 1.5 hour (direct flight).
- Travel by private taxi/car Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap (via Phnom Penh) takes about 12 hours.
3. How much does it cost to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap?
-
- Transfer by bus/minivan from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap via Phnom Penh costs about $30-50/pp.
- Transfer by plane from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap costs about $120-300/pp (direct flight).
- Transfer by priavate car from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap costs about $280-515/car.
4. What is the travel distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap?
-
- Travel distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap is about 600 km by bus/van (via Phnom Penh) and about 460 km by plane. This travel distance can change according to bus company.
5. What is the best way of transport from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap?
-
- If you want to skip Phnom Penh, the best way of transport from Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap is to travel by plane. It is a fastest option of transport (about 1.5 hour) and you will save a lot of your travel time.
6. What is the bus route from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap?
-
- A lot of buses go from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh and from Phnom Penh you can continue by another bus to Siem Reap. Read the instructions before and after you book your bus tickets to Siem Reap.
7. Is there also another way how to get to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh?
-
- If you do not want to travel to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh by bus, you can also travel by boat or you can use plane, there are direct flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, there is no train from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. There are also some private cars/minivans or minibuses. Check this story: How to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap?
8. Where do you get E-visa to Cambodia?
-
- You can obtain your e-visa to Cambodia online at the official goverment website: www.evisa.gov.kh.
9. Is there a direct train from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap?
-
- No, there is no railway between Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh – Siem Reap. But there is plan in the future to build a new railway from Vietnam to Cambodia. And a new railway from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap should be also opened.
10. Is it possible to travel by train in Cambodia?
-
- Yes, but the railway network and schedule is very limited, there is a train of Royal Railway. You can travel by train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and from Phnom Penh to Poipet. In the future there should be also build a railway from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap. You can check Cambodia Railway Map.
11. Where to travel from Siem Reap?
-
- From Siem Reap you can continue to travel by bus or plane to Bangkok (Thailand). There are some tourist buses and flights every day on this route. Buses go vai Poipet border crossing. You can also visit Battambang or Mondulkiri, there are minivans or private cars to this city. It is also possible to visit Koh Rong in Cambodia.
12. How to travel solo in Cambodia?
-
- Solo travel in Cambodia offers a unique and enriching experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of this Southeast Asian gem. Navigate Cambodia solo by securing comfortable accommodations, exploring diverse transportation options, engaging in local activities, and fostering connections with fellow travelers for an enriching and memorable journey through the Kingdom of Wonder.
13. What are the most interesting things or facts about Cambodia?
-
- Cambodia, a country steeped in history and resilience, is best known for the magnificent Angkor Wat, an architectural masterpiece and the world’s largest religious monument. Beyond its iconic temples, Cambodia offers vibrant floating markets, where boats laden with colorful produce create a lively spectacle. Cambodia seamlessly intertwines ancient traditions with modern vitality, making it a captivating destination for those seeking a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Read this article: 15 Interesting Things about Cambodia.
14. What is the weather in Cambodia and what to expect?
-
- In Cambodia, the weather is characterized by a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season, from November to April, brings lower humidity and minimal rainfall, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities. Conversely, the wet season, from May to October, sees heavier rainfall and higher humidity. It’s important to be prepared for sudden downpours during this time, and some areas may experience flooding. Checking local forecasts is advisable for more accurate and timely information on the weather in Cambodia.
15. Is traveling and exploring Cambodia cheap or expensive?
-
- Cambodia’s affordability extends to various aspects of travel, including cultural activities, scenic treks, and beach retreats. Engaging with friendly locals and enjoying the diverse culinary scene are enriching experiences that come at reasonable prices. While providing budget-friendly options, it’s advisable to have a financial buffer for unexpected expenses to ensure a seamless and stress-free journey. Read this article: Prices in Cambodia.
16. What is the currency of Cambodia and how to exchange money?
-
- Cambodia’s official currency is the Cambodian Riel (KHR), but the US Dollar (USD) is widely accepted and used in various transactions. The exchange rate is approximately around 4,000 KHR for 1 USD. Travelers can exchange money at banks or currency exchange booths, with banks typically providing better rates, albeit having more limited operating hours. While credit cards are accepted in some upscale establishments and restaurants, cash remains the preferred form of payment, especially in more rural regions. Therefore, it’s recommended for visitors to carry both US Dollars and Cambodian Riel, especially when venturing into less touristy areas.
BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Siem Reap ➜
🎫 Book your bus tickets or flight from Saigon to Siem Reap + Schedule:
(You can change your departure or arrival, eg. from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, Siem Reap to Bangkok)