The easiest ways to travel from Vietnam to Cambodia are a 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, a 6–7 hour bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh through the Moc Bai – Bavet border, or a 4–5 hour speedboat on the Mekong River from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh. Ho Chi Minh City is about 230 km from Phnom Penh by road, and Indian passport holders can get a Cambodia e-Visa online or a visa on arrival at the main airports and land borders.
This guide from Vietnamtour.in explains how to travel to Cambodia from Vietnam in 2026 by air, by road and by river, with the border crossings, the visa for Indian travellers, prices in rupees and tips for combining both countries in 1 trip.
Vietnam to Cambodia at a glance:
| Route | Mode | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh | Flight | About 1 hr | Short trips |
| Ho Chi Minh City – Siem Reap | Flight | About 1 hr 15 min | Angkor Wat first |
| Hanoi – Siem Reap or Phnom Penh | Flight | About 1 hr 45 min – 2 hr | Starting in the north |
| Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh | Bus via Moc Bai – Bavet | 6–7 hr including the border | Budget travellers |
| Chau Doc – Phnom Penh | Speedboat via Vinh Xuong | 4–5 hr | Mekong Delta routes |
Prices in this guide are 2026 estimates converted at ₹1 ≈ 273 VND and US$1 ≈ ₹95; bus and boat fares change with the operator and season.
By Flights
Flights from Vietnam to Cambodia take about 1 hour from Ho Chi Minh City and about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours from Hanoi, landing at Techo International Airport (KTI) for Phnom Penh or Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (SAI) for Angkor Wat. Vietnam Airlines, AirAsia Cambodia and Cambodia Angkor Air fly the main routes, and booking 3–4 weeks ahead gives the best fares.
Both Cambodian airports are new: Techo International Airport began commercial operations on 9 September 2025, replacing the old Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH), and Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport opened in October 2023, replacing the old Siem Reap airport (REP). Tickets and visa forms should now show the codes KTI and SAI, and both airports are farther from the city centres than the old ones, so transfers take longer.
The flight is the best choice for travellers with limited time, especially those going straight to Angkor Wat. A Vietnam to Cambodia flight is also the easiest way for families with children or elders.
Land Crossing
The most popular land route from Vietnam to Cambodia is the bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, about 230 km, which takes 6–7 hours including the border stop at Moc Bai – Bavet, for about 350,000–500,000 VND (₹1,280–₹1,830) one way. From Phnom Penh, travellers continue to Siem Reap, about 5–6 hours by bus, or to Battambang and Sihanoukville.
Buses leave from the backpacker area around Pham Ngu Lao Street in District 1 several times a day, from early morning to the afternoon. The best-known companies on the route are:
| Company | Type | Departure point | Approx. fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Sinh Tourist | Bus | 246 De Tham Street, District 1 | About 380,000–450,000 VND (₹1,390–₹1,650) |
| Giant Ibis | Bus | Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1 | About 450,000–500,000 VND (₹1,650–₹1,830) |
| Kumho Samco | Bus | Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1 | About 320,000–400,000 VND (₹1,170–₹1,465) |
| Mekong Express | Bus or van | Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1 | About 380,000–450,000 VND (₹1,390–₹1,650) |
Departure times change by season, so booking a day ahead through the operator or the hotel confirms the schedule. Private cars and vans can also cross the main borders, which suits families and groups; the distance from Vietnam to Cambodia by road depends on the route, from about 230 km for Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh to about 550 km to Siem Reap.
Land border crossings
The main land border crossing between Vietnam and Cambodia is Moc Bai – Bavet on the Ho Chi Minh City – Phnom Penh highway, and 3 other crossings are used by travellers: Tinh Bien – Phnom Den, Xa Xia (Ha Tien) – Prek Chak and Le Thanh – O Yadav. Each links a different region of Vietnam with Cambodia.
The 4 crossings used by travellers are:
- Moc Bai (Vietnam) – Bavet (Cambodia): The busiest crossing, used by most buses between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh.
- Tinh Bien (Vietnam) – Phnom Den (Cambodia): Near Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta, towards Takeo and Phnom Penh.
- Xa Xia, Ha Tien (Vietnam) – Prek Chak (Cambodia): On the coast, towards Kep and Kampot.
- Le Thanh (Vietnam) – O Yadav (Cambodia): In the Central Highlands, towards Ratanakiri.
At the border, travellers leave the bus, pass Vietnamese exit control, walk to the Cambodian post and rejoin the bus, which usually takes 45–90 minutes. Bus staff often help collect passports, and the main crossings are open from early morning to evening.
River Boat Border Crossings
The river route from Vietnam to Cambodia runs along the Mekong from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh, about 4–5 hours by speedboat, crossing the border at Vinh Xuong in Vietnam and Kaam Samnor in Cambodia. Chau Doc is about 250 km from Ho Chi Minh City, so the boat suits travellers already touring the Mekong Delta.
Speedboats leave Chau Doc in the morning and stop at the border for passport checks, and multi-day river cruises between the Mekong Delta and Phnom Penh, or as far as Siem Reap in the high-water months, offer a more comfortable option. The Vietnamese side of the river, from floating markets to Chau Doc, is covered in the travel guide to the Mekong Delta.
Cambodia Visa for Indian Travellers
Indian passport holders need a Cambodia tourist visa, available as an e-Visa online before travel or as a visa on arrival at the main airports and land borders, for about US$30–36 (₹2,850–₹3,420). Since August 2025, e-Visa holders can enter Cambodia only through the international airports (Techo, Siem Reap-Angkor and Sihanoukville), so travellers crossing by land usually get the visa on arrival.
Travellers also complete Cambodia’s online e-Arrival form, which includes the customs and arrival declarations. Indian travellers returning to Vietnam after Cambodia need a multiple-entry Vietnam e-Visa, or a new single-entry e-Visa for the second entry.
Tips for Combining Vietnam and Cambodia
The easiest way to combine Vietnam and Cambodia is to end the Vietnam leg in Ho Chi Minh City and fly or take the bus to Phnom Penh, then fly home from Siem Reap after Angkor Wat, which avoids backtracking. The tips that matter most are:
- Allow at least 2 nights in Siem Reap for Angkor Wat and 1–2 nights in Phnom Penh.
- Carry US dollars in small notes, as they are widely used in Cambodia alongside the riel.
- Get a multiple-entry Vietnam e-Visa if the route returns to Vietnam.
- Book buses with established companies and keep passports in hand at the border.
- Visit between November and March for the coolest, driest weather in both countries’ south.
The weather by month in Cambodia is set out in the guide to the best time to visit Cambodia, and the temples, lakes and cities worth a stop are ranked in the guide to the places to visit in Cambodia. The floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake fit into a Siem Reap stay, and evenings in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are covered in the guide to Cambodia nightlife.
FAQs about Travelling from Vietnam to Cambodia
Indian travellers planning the trip from Vietnam to Cambodia most often ask about the best route, the distance, flights and the visa.
What is the best way to travel from Vietnam to Cambodia?
The best way to go from Vietnam to Cambodia, or to reach Cambodia from Vietnam on a combined trip, is a 1-hour flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, while the bus via Moc Bai is the cheapest and the Mekong speedboat from Chau Doc is the most scenic. The choice depends on time, budget and whether the route passes through the Mekong Delta.
What is the distance from Vietnam to Cambodia by road?
The road distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh is about 230 km, 6–7 hours by bus including the border, and Phnom Penh to Siem Reap adds about 315 km, 5–6 hours. The Cambodia to Vietnam distance is the same in reverse.
Is there a direct flight from Vietnam to Cambodia?
Yes, there are direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, taking about 1 hour from Ho Chi Minh City and about 2 hours from Hanoi. Vietnam Airlines and AirAsia Cambodia are among the airlines on these routes.
Do Indians need a visa for Cambodia?
Yes, Indians need a Cambodia tourist visa, available as an e-Visa or on arrival, for about US$30–36. Land border travellers usually get the visa on arrival, as e-Visa entry is limited to the airports.
Plan Your Vietnam and Cambodia Trip
Travelling from Vietnam to Cambodia is simple by air, road or river, and the best route depends on whether Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh or the Mekong Delta comes first. Vietnamtour.in, a Vietnam tour company that has planned trips for more than 428,000 Indian travellers since 2015, arranges both countries in 1 itinerary, with flights or border crossings, visas and vegetarian or Jain meals organised in advance.
Travellers who prefer to have the flights, visas and transfers arranged together can compare the Vietnam Cambodia tour package options, and routes through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are listed among the Indochina tours from India, Vietnam-only routes among the Vietnam tour packages, and travellers who want a beach to finish can add Phu Quoc tour packages, an island close to the Cambodian coast. To plan your trip, share the travel dates, group size and departure city in the form below, and a Vietnam tour company expert from Vietnamtour.in will build the best route from Vietnam to Cambodia for you.
RELATED ARTICLES
