Bus from HCMC to PP

Hi..I will be staying in HCMC for a day before proceeding to PP. I am planning to take the bus. There were 3 bus lines mentioned in this forum, namely: Mekong Express Bus, SAPACO, and Mai Linn. In your opinion, which is the best bus company to use, in terms of comfort, schedule, frequency of trips, reliability, and safety?

Can I buy the roundtrip bus tickets in advance? Like thru a website? There are 4 of us, and am afraid that it would be difficult to get seats a day before our intended travel. By the way, we will be traveling in the first week of March.

Your suggestion/opinion will be appreciated..

Bus from HCMC to PP

Hi Maxlie,

If you have enough time, consider going to P. Penh by taking a Mekong tour starting from HCMC which ends up in P. Penh. There are are tours for 2 days and 1 night ($35.00) and 3 days and 2 nights which I just took costing around $48.00 from Sinh Cafe (www.sinhcafevn.com). This includes hotel, travel by bus and boat with boat tours, free breakfast and free lunch ( one time only). Similar tours are also available from several other tour companies in District 1 (De Tham/Bui Vien/Pham Gnu Lao Streets.

You can purchase the tour ticket one day before the start of the tour and it is offered daily.

Re bus tickets from HCMC to P.P. there are many bus trips daily so buying tickets a day before is not a problem for the 4 of you.

I took the Sapaco bus from P.P. to HCMC for $12.00 and the bus was quite good and the driver drove safely. There is no need to buy your return ticket (PP to HCMC) at HCMC as it very easy to arrange. Your hotel/guest house in P.P. can easily arrange it for you two days before your trip ( or even one day before although you you might not get the seats you prefer). My Guest House in P.P. even issued the ticket right in their hotel for the Sapaco Bus to HCMC and also for my ticket from PP to S. Reap via the Apsara Khmer Travel which travels faster than the bus (the driver drove safely too). The bus companies send vans to pick you up from your hotel The tickets have assigned seats indicated on it, so you there is no need to fight for a seat even if others come before you.

Enjoy your trip Maxlie, Pinay Girl.

Cheers

Bus from HCMC to PP

Thanks MountOlympus for your valuable reply!

Will just need the bus tickets since I have made arrangements with tho hotel already.

As for the tours in PP, do you suggest that I get it in HCMC via Sinh Cafe, or just make the booking once I get to PP?

Hi Maxli,

Re PP- No need to join a tour , just do it on your own via tuktuk. On the P. Penh forum (this page) click ';Things to do'; on the left side of this page. Read the travelers review for each site. The more important sites are :

1) Killing fields- do this early as it is far and then proceed to no. 2 below

2) Toul Sleng Genocide Museum

get a tuktuk or a car for the morning tour and dismiss it after you get to the Genocide Museum, Have lunch.

After lunch, see

3) The Royal Palace and the Silver pagoda (one entrance fee)

4) Walk to the National Museum which is nearby

You can see the other places the next day or on your way back from Siem Reap.

Although you have not mentioned it, you should visit Siem Reap to see the temples. Spend more time in Siem Reap rather than than P.P. if time is a limiting factor.

Enjoy your trip.

Thanks Mount Olympus!

How much should we pay for a tuktuk/taxi to bring us and back to the hotel for a trip to the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Museum?