Cambodia Travel Itinerary

Cambodia Travel Itinerary (Saigon - Phnom Penh - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Cao Lanh) Cambodia is considered one of the world's top cultural destinations. For Vietnamese travelers, visiting Cambodia is relatively easy. After nearly two years of lockdowns and travel restrictions due to the pandemic, Cambodia has reopened its doors to tourism. We recently had the opportunity to visit this fascinating country. In this first part, I’d like to share the travel itinerary and transportation details from our trip. If this post receives a lot of interest, I’ll share more about the destinations and stories from our journey. Day 1: We traveled from Saigon to Phnom Penh by Kumho bus, costing 720,000 VND per person per trip or $30. (No additional fees are required when traveling from Vietnam to Cambodia.) Upon arriving in Phnom Penh, we took a tuk-tuk to the Mey Hong bus station to catch the 11 PM bus to Siem Reap. We traveled with Mey Hong, and the sleeper bus ticket costs $12 per person per trip. Tickets can be purchased directly at the counter in Phnom Penh and paid for with a Visa card. Day 2: We arrived in Siem Reap at 5 AM, where a tuk-tuk from the hotel was ready to pick us up. - On the first day in Siem Reap, we explored the area to gather general information and rested to prepare for a full day of activities the next day. It’s recommended to stay near the night market for convenient evening outings and access to food stalls. - At noon, we went to the market for lunch. Note that there are fewer food vendors during lunchtime, as most operate in the evening. - Food prices start at $1.5, smoothies cost $1, and you can buy water and other essentials at Seven Eleven for very affordable prices. 😂 - Renting a motorbike is a great way to explore comfortably, costing $10 per day. You’ll need to leave your driver’s license as a deposit. Be sure to take photos and thoroughly check the bike before renting. Bicycles are also available for the same price. - Since we were traveling independently, we took the opportunity in the afternoon to purchase tickets at the ‘Angkor Park Pass Ticket Counter.’ It’s advisable to buy tickets the afternoon before, after 4:30 PM, to avoid long queues the next morning and missing the sunrise. Note that there are no ticket counters inside Angkor, so you must buy tickets here. - Angkor tickets cost $37 for one day, but currently, they can be used for two days within a five-day validity period. You’re allowed to ride motorbikes into the park, park them near each temple, and then walk in. Day 3: We started exploring the small circuit of Angkor at 5 AM (Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom with Bayon, Ta Keo, Ta Prohm). In the afternoon, we visited Sras Srang temple to watch the sunset. Day 4: In the morning, we explored the grand circuit (Ta Som, Neak Pean, Preah Khan). In the afternoon, we visited Tonle Sap Lake, which features floating villages (nearly 50% of the residents here are Vietnamese). Note: If you have extra time, you can head to Phnom Kroam to enjoy panoramic views and the sunset, as it’s the only hilltop viewpoint in Siem Reap. In the evening, we took the bus back to Phnom Penh. Day 5: Upon arriving in Phnom Penh, we caught a bus from Phnom Penh to Sa Dec and then to Cao Lanh.