Mekong Express Bus Line

Have been reading the good reports on this Bus Service, but i am unsure whether to chose this over a Taxi from P.P to S.R as there will be two of us and we will have one large and one small suitcase each.

Are there any luggage restrictions with this service. do they have sufficient storage space etc.

Thanks for any info.

Gander.

Mekong Express Bus Line

There is heaps of room for your luggage on the bus Gander, just like our Greyhound bus service. Its a good trip. Heres a photo of the Mekong Express bus etc

Cathy

cathyandgarystravelpages.com/bus_%26_planes.htm

Mekong Express Bus Line

From what i have read of taxi service , probably better to go by bus , 2 seats per is a good idea also .

Thats what we did Odball, 2 seats each, was good to have room to stretch out etc.

Cathy

I%26#39;ll arrive SR this wed and thinking to purchase the Mekong Express tickets only upon my arrival. Will be travelling to PP on 26 Apr. Do you think I could still get tickets ? I MUST get on the 7.00am trip. There are 3 of us. Or do I need to make a booking now ? But I dunno how to go abt it. Pls advise. Thanks !

As a frequent traveller to and within Cambodia for the past 16 years,I will only use the Mekong Express Bus Company, of the six or seven companies operating this and other routes within Cambodia and to Saigon/HCMC. Their high season services depart at 0730, 0830, 1230 and 1430 daily in each direction. These older buses have an onboard toilet, host/hostess and allow you one (1)suitcase each not exceeding 22 Kg weight. Additional or overweight items are readily accepted but charged at $3. per item. Like an airline, bags are checked in and a receipt given and may only be reclaimed on production of the original numbered receipt. Fares, for foreigners, were $10. each way but have just gone up several dollars due to very high cost of imported diesel fuel in Cambodia. Forget the taxi it will cost you a bundle of $ and offers no advantage over the Mekong Express service. Journey nominally take six hours, including a half hour comfort and refreshment stop at the nominal half way point but often takes a bit less.

Hope this helps. Ian. Tour Developer (Indochina)

Hi there,

Just wondering, are we able to pre-purchase bus tickets online?

And is it common for people to pay for 2 tickets each if they want 2 seats?

Thanks :)

Sorry, but it is not currently possible to make bookings or to purchase tickets on line in advance. This is not a problem. On arrival, simply go to the Mekong Express Bus city office/terminal and book the tickets you require. The office is on Sisowath Quay,(Riverside) right opposite the City Port. Nearly every motodop and tuk tuk driver knows it. Usually, it is best to buy your ticket one or two days in advance of the required day of travel - this lets you chose your seat off the seating plan. However,in the high season they try to put on extra busses to meet the demand and many people just go straight from the airport on arrival to the Mekong Bus Office and are on their way to Siem Reap, Ho Chi Minh City or Sihanoukville within a couple of hours.

There is no need to purchase two seats. This simply reinforces the image of the arogant tourist, as Khmers also travel on these buses. Avoid the front row of seats on either side - no leg room. Only ';small'; bags are allowed inside the bus. All else has to be checked in and a receipt is given. Note the remarks above about weight and price per extra items like boxes, bicycles, additional suitcases, etc.

Angkorlad.

Excellent! thanks for the advice.

We will be in HCMC for 5 days before taking a bus to PP, so will have plenty of time to book tickets in advance.

Thanks for the heads up about the 2 seats. We will just book one each. Our luggage should be under 20kgs so should be fine too.

Really appreciate your help :)

Hello Cheesa. Thanks for your reply which is much appreciated. But if you are going to be in Saigon/HCMC then you can travel on the Mekong Express Bus from HCMC to Phnom Penh and on to Siem Reap/Angkor or stop in PP overnight/longer if you wish. The Mekong Express Bus Terminal/Office in HCMC is at PHAM NGU LAO (PNL)Street and the bus departs from corner of PNL Street and DE THAM Street. This way you can ticket/book right through to Siem Reap/Angkor. Leaving VN is a doodle as the bus hostie usually looks after everything for you at immigration control. Entering KH it is Tourist Visa-on-Arrival. Just one form in english to complete, one recent passport photo and US$20. in cash. The HCMC to Phnom Penh trip used to be seven hours, including two (2) 30 minute stops, possibly quicker now with road upgrades. The fare earlier 2008 was US$18. per pax.

All best regards.

Angkorlad.

Hi again,

Sounds good. So I can just go to the termainal/office a few days earlier to book our tickets. :)

We%26#39;re going to stay in PP for 4 nights so will not be continuing on to Siem Reap.

We were thinking of purchasing an E-Visa? What do you think...or should we just wait til we get there.

Thanks!