My receipt for the Mekong Express Bus ticket from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh was for 11 USD and there may have been a 2 USD charge by the hotel for the ticket. I stayed at the City River Hotel and purchased the ticket mid-afternoon on Monday and took the 8:30 a.m. bus on Wednesday. As I now recall there were buses at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. I was picked up at the hotel at 7:45 and taken to a bus station for transfer. The bus left on time and the handling of luggage was very efficient. The bus made one stop of about 30 – 45 minutes for lunch at about 11, maybe a little earlier. I did not eat as I had eaten a big breakfast at the hotel. A small box with snacks and a bottle of water was provided by an attendant on the bus. The bus had air conditioning and an ok toilet. The monitor at the front of the bus played music videos so my ear plugs were welcome. There were great views of the county side from the bus. Phnom Penh arrival was about 2:30. Drop off in Phnom Penh was met by the usual gaggle of tut-tuts and I took one to my hotel. I also took the Mekong Express to Saigon.

Hi,

I was just wondering how long your trip from Phnom Penh to Saigon took and how much it cost? Was the bus for this trip as good as the one from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh?

Thanks

Thank you for the response, jingles

Sorry for the delay concerning the bus from "Nom Pen" to Saigon. I took the Mekong Express Bus in October. The hotel did not have a ticket arrangment, but I got one down the street at a travel agency. No problem. Hotel pickup was at 7:45 for the 8:30 departure. Great way to travel and see country side too. No hassle. I did have a USA visa for Vietnan. Arrived about

2 ish in Saigon. Hope this helps.

yes i think the bus is the safest and best way to travel from pp to siem reap.and you get picked up from your hotel i think its about $8 to $12 depanding on the company the capital bus is the worst at $5 but everytime i have caught this i have spent a few hours on the side of the road hehe

Hello BarbadosSecret1,

Here is the full answer to your question from my post of 21 May 2009:

I have made this journey twice more since and nothing of any significance has changed at all:

May 21, 2009, 10:47 PM

Mekong Express – Phnom Penh – HCMC/SGN Timeline

Herewith the timeline for a Mekong Express bus trip between Phnom Penh and Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City on the 08:30 am bus on Sunday 10 May 2009:

08:00 am Arrived Orussei Bus Terminal for pre-departure administration checks as follows:

1. Passport Validity and unused pages for entry/exit stamps.

2. VN Visa present and valid for date/s of travel & entry to VN on day of travel.

3. Complete VN Immigration/Customs Entry/Exit Card

4. Exceptionally – VN Entry/Exit Health Card (form) (Swine flu scare -never asked for or even looked at!) NOW CHECKED by a health official before you are permitted to leave the bus on entering VN.

08:20 am Bags & boxes loaded and receipts given.

08:30 am Bus departs Orussei Bus Depot.

09:20 am Out of city chaos and on to good road.

09:45 am Arrive Neak Loeung Ferry crossing point

Join queue and wait to board.

Buy ripe mangoes from one of the many vendors that surround the bus.

Three ferries working today.

10:10 am Board a ferry.

10:17 am Drive off ferry at far river bank.

11:50 am Arrive KH border crossing point town of Bavet.

Stop for 20 minute meal/comfort stop.

12:15 pm Depart restaurant for border crossing post.

12:20 – 12:33 KH Immigration exit formalities. Uncontrolled but surprisingly quick and efficient.

12:40 Arrive VN border crossing post.

Unload bus. Identify and carry all personal items in to border crossing post building and join a chaotic crowd.

13:30 pm VN Immigration lets me through carrying my unchecked bags and boxes. Reload on to bus. Take my seat and await the others to complete formalities.

13:40 pm Depart VN Moc Bai border crossing control point for Saigon/HCMC.

15:30 pm Arrive Mekong Express Bus terminal/office at 275F Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1, HCMC. Fight of waiting taxi touts all quoting crazy US$ dollar fares and locate a metered taxi for the short trip to my hotel.

Note: 1. Trip is advertised as being about a six hour trip. However, there are many variables such as the time required to cross the river at Neak Loeung, traffic density and weather – wet/dry season, etc. Return trip on 08:30 am service on Friday 15 May took seven and a half hours.

I trust that it is of interest/assistance to those planning similiar trips.

With best regards. Ian

Sorry BarbadosSecret1, I forget to add that the current Mekong Express fare PNH to SGN/HCMC, or return, is US$12. and this is the same for all passengers regardless of nationality. It is actually good value.

Best regards. Ian

Thanks to everyone for all the help on this! Really appreciate it! Looks like a good inexpensive option.

Can I book tickets in advance with the Mekong Express. I intend to travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap by bus. However, I'm staying in Phnom Penh for only 2 days, will there be enough time to purchase my bus tickets?