Getting there and away

Bus

Though it seems isolated, Ha Tien is reachable by buses from several locations, including from Saigon daily, though the long trip can be gruelling. Most people come instead from either Rach Gia or Chau Doc.

Buses leave from Rach Gia's central bus station hourly on the hour, taking about three hours. Minibuses leave more regularly from the same station, and make the trip in 2.5 hours. They're not for the squeamish though -- drivers shift between moving at a crawl to pick up passengers, to throttling at top speeds when full. Whichever mode of transport you take, the cost should be around 30,000 VND.

Getting to and from Hon Chong is a little trickier, as it lies off the transportation grid. You can either take a xe om for the entire trip for around 60-70,000 VND, or you can catch a bus heading for Rach Gia, hop off at the town of Ba Hon, and catch a xe om from there.

Boat

Boats can be chartered from Ha Tien to Phu Quoc, but this is definitely not recommended. Currently, the trip is made with fishing boats, which are considerably less safe than the ferries leaving from Rach Gia. There are suggestions that similar ferries might begin travelling between Ha Tien and Phu Quoc -- but for now, stay safe and travel from Rach Gia.

Getting Around

The border to Cambodia is open, with Cambodian visas on arrival costing US$25. As of now, there are no bus services available -- you'll need to hire a motodop in Ha Tien to take you. Finding a driver shouldn't be a problem, as you're likely to be harassed by them everywhere you go in Ha Tien. Otherwise, your hotel will be able to help you arrange transport.