Direct Bus from Can Tho, Vietnam, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Yes (as of November 2019) it’s possible to cross the Vietnam – Cambodia border by bus from Can Tho, Vietnam, to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.  If you ask someone in Saigon about traveling from Can Tho to Phnom Penh, they will tell you that no direct bus exist. But this isn’t true, because I recently took a direct bus along this route.  There are other ways to travel to Phnom Penh from the Mekong region (including a bus to Chau Doc and then a boat up the river to Phnom Penh), but a direct bus is the fastest route.

• Cost: 370,000 dong (~$16 USD) (as of November 2019 according to a recent traveler who left a comment on this page.. Thank you!)
• Cambodia Visa Fee: $40 USD at border crossing
• Departure time: 5:30am from Can Tho Bus Station
• Duration: 9 hours total (including border crossing and stops)
• Road conditions: Very good and smooth roads, very few bumps

STEP-BY-STEP OF THE JOURNEY

1. ARRANGE THE BUS WITH YOUR HOTEL OR HOMESTAY

Your hotel or homestay should know about this direct bus. The 9-hour bus trip operates daily.  I would suggest you book a day or two in advance. Once your hotel makes the reservation for you (if you need a great place in Cân Thơ, I stayed at Winter Spring Homestay. It was one of the best places I stayed in Vietnam), they will give you a reference number that you will need to provide when you arrive at the bust station. If your hotel does not know about the company, here is the name and address:

Bus Express & Travel (Cambodia) Co., Ltd

38 Đường Nguyễn Văn Linh

Hưng Lợi, Ninh Kiều, Cần Thơ, Vietnam

2. TRANSFER TO THE CAN THO BUS STATION VERY EARLY

The bus leaves promptly from the bus station at 5:30am so my hotel arranged a taxi to pick me up at 4:50am from downtown Can Tho and I arrived around 5:00am. Once you arrive at the bus station, you must provide the reference number, you pay the 370,000 vnd fee (~$16 USD) and they will give you a ticket.

3. LUGGAGE IS STUFFED INTO THE SIDE WINDOW

Don’t be alarmed when they fill up the bottom luggage bays of the bus and then proceed to load your luggage through a window in the back of the bus.  Check out this video I quickly shot of the luggage:

4. SEATING IS 2-2 AND FAIRLY COMFORTABLE WITH DECENT AIRCON

The seating is standard 2-2 arrangement and the seats are comfortable.  The air conditioning works but it wasn’t freezing as many buses can be in Southeast Asia. And don’t be alarmed when they collect your passport along with everyone else’s passport. You will get it back after you exit Vietnam.

5. BUS STOPS ONCE BEFORE BORDER FOR BREAKFAST

About two hours into the trip, the bus makes one stop before the border crossing.  Be sure to order something at the local restaurant since you won’t have any other food options for the remainder of the trip (or pack some food to eat along the way). [UPDATE NOVEMBER 2019: breakfast and a small water bottle is provided on the bus]

6. VIETNAM / CAMBODIA BORDER CROSSING RELATIVELY SMOOTH

The border crossing is very remote and relaxed. You most likely will be the only people crossing the border at this time. The bus will stop at the Vietnam border crossing where all of the collected passports are stamped to exit the country. Once all passports have been stamped, the bus will drive a few hundred meters across the border to the Cambodia site. At the Cambodia entrance, tourists can purchase a Visa on Arrival.  Be prepared to pay $40 USD and have a passport photo with you.  I believe the current fee is $35 but you have no choice getting scammed the extra $5 for the guy filling out the visa at this very remote border crossing.  But overall, the process is very smooth.

7. NO BATHROOM BREAKS FROM BORDER TO PHNOM PENH

After crossing the border, the bus heads directly to Phnom Penh with no stops.  So make sure you use the bathroom at the border crossing before exiting Vietnam, while waiting for the Vietnam exit stamp.

8. FINAL STOP IS NEAR PHNOM PENH OLYMPIC STADIUM

The bus will arrive at the final destination in Phnom Penh. The address in Phnom Penh is #09 DEo, Street 230, Phsar Deumkor Commune, Tuol Kork District, Phnom Penh.

9. WALK TO PETROL STATION NEAR STADIUM FOR AN ATM AND FREE WIFI (AND AIRCON)

Of course when you arrive, there will be many tuk tuk drivers offering to take you to your hotel. Feel free to arrange a ride with them but be advised they will charge you a much higher rate.  4,000 khmer is equal to 1 USD. And it should only take 2-3 USD to get to most downtown locations.  I suggest walking towards the stadium to the petrol station on the corner. You can log into the free wifi as well use the ATM. Be advised that the ATM will give you US dollars which is the main currency used in Cambodia.

10. DOWNLOAD PASS APP TAXI SERVICE TO TRAVEL TO YOUR HOTEL OR DESTINATION

Instead of Uber or Grab, a new company has started in Cambodia call PassApp.  You can download this app in advance or when you arrive to get cheaper transportation to your destination. I ordered a car with aircon and my driver was nice enough to stop at a phone company on the way to my hotel (at no extra cost) to help me get a local SIM card.

LODGING IN PHNOM PHEN

If you need a nice boutique hotel to stay located a great, safe neighborhood within walking distance to restaurants and bars, stay at Manor House Boutique Hotel. It has a great pool also!

Have you taken this route between Can Tho and Phnom Penh?  I would love to hear your experience or any updates you have.  Leave me a comment below.