Phnom Penh

Does anyone know how long the trip from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh would be by boat? Would it be better to do the reverse trip from HCMC to PP by boat and how long would that be and how expensive would a trip by boat be? Also does the Mekong Express run daily from

PP to HCMC? We are traveling in late June and July.

Phnom Penh

Whichever direction there are no direct boats between H.C.M.C./P.P. (unless you spend mega buks) most people do the trip via Chau Doc, it would be a very long day to do the trip in one go. Mekong Express, best company on the route by far, go daily.

Phnom Penh

Dear Lionbarb, Please see my earlier Angkorlad posts on this topic. Rest assured that the Mekong Express Limousine Bus company operate twice daily bus services between Phnom Penh and Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, and vice versa, throughout the year. Indeed, there is now talk of possibly/possibly a third service daily now that VN and KH have signed a special agreement for easier travel requirements between the two countries for their own nationals and which reputedly came in to effect on 05 December 2008. All foreigners still require a visa or a pre-arranged/pre-approved visa prior to arriving at the VN border control post as VN does not/not issue/grant visa-on-arrival, unlike Cambodia.

Mekong Express is not the only bus operator providing services on the PNH - SGN/HCMC - PNH route, again, please see my earlier posts on this.

I have taken tour groups from Saigon to Phnom Penh by boat. But be warned, you need good organizational skills and deep pockets $$ and plenty of time. Usual means is by ';Fast'; boat from SGN/HCMC to Can Tho on day one and remain over nigh (RON) at Can Tho. Day two is Can Tho to Chau Doc and RON. Day three is Chau Doc to Phnom Penh arriving at City Port Wharf, which is for all practical purposes directly oposite the Mekong Express Bus Office/city depot. This is an excellent and very interesting trip down the Saigon River and then cross-graining through various waterways to the lower Mekong Delta region and proceeding upstream to Phnom Penh. The lower Mekong within VN is very active with river traffic and some shallower draught international shipping of all sorts and a very interesting trip it is indeed. It can also be made by slow local water craft but you should allow a week for this and have good negotiating skills and a very high tolerance for all things ';local'; and any fellow travelers. I hope that this is of interest and assistance. All best regards. Angkorlad/Ian.

Thank you very much for both your answers. I looked up the Mekong Express web site and they said that they only went from PP to HCMC three days a week and that would have messed up our trip and we would have had to change our days in Saigon. We will now take the bus both ways so that we can enjoy the countryside.

Dear Lionbarb, If the Mekong Express Website says only three days per week, then you had better double check. My information is about ten weeks old as my December trip to Cambodia was sunk without trace by the recent civil disturbances and occupation and closure of both airports in Bangkok. Thing can and do change without notice in this part of the world. However, to the best of my knowledge and belief it has been a daily service for some time now. All best regards. Angkorlad/Ian.

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