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boat or bus? Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

  • nzchanty

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    Wanting to know which is the fastest means of travel from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. We will be travelling in about a weeks time.

    #1 Posted: 30/1/2008 - 19:08


  • somtam2000

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    Domestic flight is fastest, followed by share taxi, then bus, with the boat being the slowest means of transport between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

    #2 Posted: 31/1/2008 - 17:45

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  • avipatkar

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    How much time it would take by boat to travel From PP to SR and also back to PP? What would the travel cost separately - bus or boat?

    What about travelling by boat fro SR to HCM City? How much time and money it would cost 2 of us? What about crossing the international border? Will it be easy or bothersome?

    #3 Posted: 13/8/2011 - 19:48

  • AbigailatPe-
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    You can book a combined boat and bus crossing from PP to HCMC, which is a nice way to see some of the river. The border crossing is easy enough - generally you have to wait about half an hour. If you're going into Vietnam, you need to have your visa beforehand - can be bought in PP within 48 hours. Not sure about crossing from SR to HCMC, though.

    #4 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 08:19

  • avipatkar

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    Hi AbigailatPe-nhandInk


    I will be entering PP from Saigon by road. My Vietnam visa is arranged by the tour operator. Cambodia trip of 6 days including PP and SR I am planning to do on my own,
    Do you advise that I must secure Cambodian Visa in advance through consulate or is it easy to get on Arrival with the help of Visa Approval Letter form Consulate available on line? I will be carrying all the relevant documents and at the border crossing I assume that there would be immigration office for stamping the Visa on passport.

    #5 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 13:54

  • eastwest

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    Cambodian visa in advance is not necessary. If you take a bus from Saigon to PP the bus-helper will arrange all of that for the whole bus. Having it in advance will not make a time difference because most people on the bus will need one. If you take private transport it would make a difference.

    Six days is sufficient but if you're in a hurry to get there (SR) take a bus company that has a connecting bus to SR from PP. Mekong Express and Sorya are even known to hold those buses until the bus from Saigon has arrived.
    That will be a long day on the bus however and wouldn't be my choice.

    #6 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 14:34

  • sayadian

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    'the bus-helper will arrange all of that for the whole bus.'
    ..and charge you $5 for something you can do yourself in 5 minutes.Tourist visa is $20 and a very simple process. You don't need these middlemen to 'help' you (themselves to your money more like.)

    #7 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 16:35

  • eastwest

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    @ sayadian

    You clearly haven't taken a bus on that route. Visa price is $20 just like anywhere else and if you think you can muscle yourself through a mass of 200 people and get it done yourself you clearly haven't been there.
    Even if I had to pay an extra $5 it would have been the best money spent.
    With bus-helper I meant the guy who actually works on the bus and does that for everyone on the bus in order to speed things up. They know the immigration officials and get stamps for the whole group.

    #8 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 17:03

  • KatMachine

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    Hi, I did it on bus. A narrative of my trip from siem reap to Phnom Penh from my travel blog might help you, safe travels!
    Edit: snip - please no blog drops like this

    #9 Posted: 15/1/2012 - 20:28

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