Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh Bus: Border Crossing & Visa Run 2026

Here we are in vibrant Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

It's been about 15 years since my last overland journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Cambodia by overnight bus. My memory of that trip is hazy, so I decided it was high time to revisit Cambodia. My main reason, of course, was to finally see the majestic Angkor Wat!

If you're planning a similar bus trip from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh, crossing the Moc Bai-Bavet border like I did, then this guide is for you. There are a few key things to be aware of, so let's break it down step-by-step.

Booking Your Bus Ticket

📍 Phuongheng Bus (Ho Chi Minh City Departure)
291 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Bến Thành, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

📍 Nam Phuong Heng Bus (Phnom Penh Arrival)
279 Preah Sihanouk Blvd (274), Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The locations saved on my map are the bus ticket office in Ho Chi Minh City and the arrival bus station in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The journey from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh takes approximately 7 hours. Buses depart daily at 5 AM, 7 AM, 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, and 3:30 PM, offering five convenient timings throughout the day.

Initially, I planned to book with Kumho Samco, a well-known bus company, but unfortunately, they've since ceased operations.

The staff at Phuongheng were friendly, and the bus itself was in good condition. While the 8:30 AM bus might seem ideal, be aware of morning rush hour traffic. I opted for the 7 AM departure to avoid delays.

The bus ticket to Cambodia cost ~$19. For a 7-hour journey, that's incredibly affordable! I paid for the bus ticket at the office. During the ride, the bus attendant collected passports and $40 for the visa.

My friend regularly does a 'visa run' to Bavet (the Cambodian border) and back to Ho Chi Minh City. This is necessary because the visa-free stay period for Vietnam is 45 days. Since he works in Ho Chi Minh City, he has to do this every month and a half, which can be quite a hassle.

The options for a visa run are:

1. Ho Chi Minh City → Bavet (Cambodian border) round trip ticket. This option includes assistance with both Vietnam exit and Cambodia entry stamp procedures. Cost: ~$34.

2. Ho Chi Minh City → Moc Bai (Vietnamese border) round trip ticket. This option does NOT include assistance with immigration and visa procedures, so you'll need to handle the process yourself. Cost: ~$19.

On top of these ticket prices, there's a separate visa fee of $40.

*You might think option 2, at ~$19, is much cheaper if you handle it yourself. But trust me, paying ~$34 for option 1, where the staff handles everything, is far more convenient and worth the extra cost.

I also met a Korean tour guide from Nha Trang who was doing a visa run, just like my friend. He mentioned that by paying $90 for the visa instead of $40, you could get a 90-day stay, which is longer than the standard 45 days. This is considered an emergency visa and typically gets approved after waiting 3-4 hours at the Bavet (Cambodian border) office.

For my simple tourist trip to Cambodia, my total cost was ~$19 for the bus ticket plus $40 for the visa.

Boarding the Bus

I arrived at 6:45 AM, showed my ticket, and waited for the bus.

The yellow bus pulled up. I handed over my suitcase to be loaded,

The bus was comparable to a standard tour bus, with seats that reclined almost 130 degrees, making for a comfortable ride.

We were provided with a bottle of water, a Milo chocolate milk, and a small pastry. Wi-Fi was available, but only worked within Vietnam; it cut out as soon as we crossed the border.

Having endured an 8-hour bus ride from Hanoi to Sapa previously, I had no trouble sleeping soundly on this bus.

The pastry was surprisingly delicious! Just be careful not to touch the top with your hands, as the cream can get messy. Best to just eat it directly. We made one stop at a rest area.

The attendant asked about my destination and purpose. I told him I was going to Phnom Penh, and he collected my passport plus $40. But here's where things got interesting...

Border Crossing Procedures

We arrived at the Moc Bai border. Everyone disembarked and headed into the Vietnam exit immigration office.

We followed the crowd inside. After about a 10-minute wait, the attendant who collected our passports came back and gestured for us to follow. Once we passed through immigration and received our passports along with an immigration card, we re-boarded the bus and drove approximately 200 yards to Bavet, the Cambodian border post.

At the Cambodian border, we again disembarked for entry immigration.

I'd heard countless stories about this border, with rumors of officials specifically targeting Koreans to demand extra cash, or fabricating excuses to deny entry if payment wasn't made. I was mentally prepared to pay an extra dollar or so.

To my surprise, my passport was stamped and I was through in less than a minute! It seems that recent crackdowns on scam operations and the increased use of e-visas have significantly tightened border controls, which is great news for travelers. After clearing immigration, you'll find your bus waiting just outside the building. Hop back on!

A quick note on money: I had paid $50 for my visa, expecting $10 in change. The attendant seemed to 'forget' about it until I explicitly asked, then he sheepishly handed over the $10. Sneaky! So, make sure you have the exact $40 for your visa to avoid any issues with change.

And just like that, our journey was complete. Departing at 7 AM, we arrived at the Phnom Penh bus station at 2:15 PM (on 10/04/2026). About five minutes before the main station, another passenger got off, and since it was closer to my accommodation, I followed suit. It was a long but rewarding journey!

If you're looking to travel to Cambodia and want to save on expensive flight costs, taking the bus from Ho Chi Minh City is definitely the way to go.