Crossing Boarders from Vietnam into Cambodia : We took a bus with Mekong Bus Express from Pham Street District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh for $13USD. Departed at 1pm and took 6 hours. We walked through immigration (we gave tour guide on bus $30USD for Visas)
Entering the Country: We paid $35USD for a 30day tourist visa into Cambodia on the spot at Immigration.
Crossing boarders from Cambodia to Thailand : We took a bus from Siem reap in the morning over to Bangkok that took around 8-9 hours in total that stopped a lot. Costing ....
Leaving the Country: Was easy and quick with no fee
Entering the Country: We paid $35USD for a 30day tourist visa into Cambodia on the spot at Immigration.
Crossing boarders from Cambodia to Thailand : We took a bus from Siem reap in the morning over to Bangkok that took around 8-9 hours in total that stopped a lot. Costing ....
Leaving the Country: Was easy and quick with no fee
BUDGET : In 11 days we spent $420AUD between x2 people (Couple). So on Average we spent $20AUD ppa day, including all Accommodation, Meals, Drinks, Transport, Shopping, & Activities/Tours + Visa's $70USD ($100AUD) = 520AUD TOTAL
Bank Withdrawals: 250USD atm at the boarder, 120USD before Kampot = 370 - 70 for bangkok = 300USD
on my notes 365, 180, 180 - 100 = 630?
CURRENCY EXCHANGE: $1 AUD = .75USD (American Dollars) or Cambodian Riel $1USD = 4,000 Riel.
Bank Withdrawals: 250USD atm at the boarder, 120USD before Kampot = 370 - 70 for bangkok = 300USD
on my notes 365, 180, 180 - 100 = 630?
CURRENCY EXCHANGE: $1 AUD = .75USD (American Dollars) or Cambodian Riel $1USD = 4,000 Riel.
Might be a good idea to go to Cambodia in the right seasons so you avoid the rains through the day and nights and the feel of a ghost town at times with not many people. Or if you like less crowds and the wet weather then its the place for you, and you’d be a great help to the locals with small businesses needing business from whatever tourist they can.
We got there at the end of October so was still raining some mornings and nights all around Cambodia but didn’t stop us from too much, peak seasons are from Nov-March!
Cambodia i found VERY SAFE and the people SO LOVEY a lot nicer then the people in Vietnam, overall.
A LOT of people speak English in Cambodia!
Beer is also SO CHEAP here so drink up, because its .50c a schooner and up to $4+ for a long neck in Laos and Thailand!
Wifi in all parts of Cambodia, even where we volunteered the cafes had free wifi and Movies showing, set up like a cinema!
We got there at the end of October so was still raining some mornings and nights all around Cambodia but didn’t stop us from too much, peak seasons are from Nov-March!
Cambodia i found VERY SAFE and the people SO LOVEY a lot nicer then the people in Vietnam, overall.
A LOT of people speak English in Cambodia!
Beer is also SO CHEAP here so drink up, because its .50c a schooner and up to $4+ for a long neck in Laos and Thailand!
Wifi in all parts of Cambodia, even where we volunteered the cafes had free wifi and Movies showing, set up like a cinema!
Sandy roads and land
Lots of water ponds & paddies More country & vegetation Buffalo, cows & chickens A few Palm trees & coconut trees Men walking through deep water in fields Thatched roofing & hammocks occasionally Houses on stilts most made from wood, esp driving towards Angkor Borei. And almost every home has their own cow Around Angkor Borei felt a bit like BOCAS del toro. Known as the farming land Lots of English international school around CAMBODIA Loads of rubbish and pollution around the South in the towns |
At the end of wet season rains once a day keeps the fields wet
Cambodia trailer with motor See a lot of monks walking around Lots of pumpkin in CAMBODIA Sugar cane .25c and coconuts .50c Iced tea cafes with beers & food that have cafe set up like cinema with chairs and tables all facing the to screens playing movies Food streets, fresh produce street, mechanic street, fabric street, beer street Furniture, wooden, and homeware area 182 street Lychees Petrol in glass bottle |
PHNON PENH
How to get to Phnom Penh from HCMC
We got the Mekong Express bus from Ho Chi Minh City at 1pm (picked up from travel agent, Pham Ngu Lao street) for $13 USD pp (online) it takes 6 hours. We arrived in Phnom Penh around 7pm. If you know where you are going ask yo get dropped off in district 1 or so. Otherwise, you'll get a tuk tuk for around $2-4 to where you need to go from the bus station where the bus stops.
Tuk tuks costs around $2 for 5-10minutes distance, $3 for 15 minutes, and $4 for 20minutes.
We got the Mekong Express bus from Ho Chi Minh City at 1pm (picked up from travel agent, Pham Ngu Lao street) for $13 USD pp (online) it takes 6 hours. We arrived in Phnom Penh around 7pm. If you know where you are going ask yo get dropped off in district 1 or so. Otherwise, you'll get a tuk tuk for around $2-4 to where you need to go from the bus station where the bus stops.
Tuk tuks costs around $2 for 5-10minutes distance, $3 for 15 minutes, and $4 for 20minutes.
Phnom Penh was a little quite when we were there and was raining a little bit.
There is a temple in town close to the tourist area!
Make sure to stay in the tourist area, which has good priced hotels, street foods and carts, close to the river and tuktuks everywhere
Phnom Penh is variable flat, but very big and spread out with the mekong running through the middle of the town!
It wasn’t my favourite place, but 1-2 nights to visit the museum and killing fields is a must
Be careful at night if late around dark places where there is poverty and homelessness
There is a temple in town close to the tourist area!
Make sure to stay in the tourist area, which has good priced hotels, street foods and carts, close to the river and tuktuks everywhere
Phnom Penh is variable flat, but very big and spread out with the mekong running through the middle of the town!
It wasn’t my favourite place, but 1-2 nights to visit the museum and killing fields is a must
Be careful at night if late around dark places where there is poverty and homelessness
The first place we SEEN MONKS
Tuk Tuks is the best way TO GET AROUND
Must EAT HAPPY PIZZA
ATMS are EVERYWHERE
very safe and the people ARE VERY FRIENDLY
Tuk Tuks is the best way TO GET AROUND
Must EAT HAPPY PIZZA
ATMS are EVERYWHERE
very safe and the people ARE VERY FRIENDLY
SLEEP
Street 178 at the River Side Hotel. Rooms 103 & 110 have balconie and windows to the front of the street which are nice, fans, ensuite and wifi, bar and restaurant downstairs and pool table! Lovely jubly hostel Happy house hosel White river hotel |
EAT & DRINK
No: 23E0 street 178 - vegetable cakes .30c noodles veggie egg $1 Street food cart, X2 vegetable cakes for .25c of the street in soup and sweet chile sauce Street food at the end of the road of the guesthouse has breakfast for 1USD and dinners for 2USD. Juice shack around the corner from the guesthouse, towards the river has $1 juice 's and are delicious! Happy herb pizza is a MUST. Its rated on trip advisor, make sure you ask for extra HAPPY, we stayed happy even when we woke up. Friends restaurant i never went but i was recommended & Rom Deng restaurant you can try fried tralanchala. A popular restaurant next to 32E wine tasting (google it) |
ATTRACTIONS
The Killing Fields only 15 km from Phnom penh. S-21 Museum the poll pot, the hitler of Cambodia. Russian market for h&m shopping and other goods. Riverside esplanade isnt that exciting but gives you something to do at night, walk along the lake and find some bars with some upstairs rooftop bars for sunset time. Sisowath quay area for drinks |
BUDGET
$5 lunch on the boarder $8 hotel in Phnom Penh $4 & $2 tuk tuk to hotels $5 dinner $1 beers $6 for a hair wrap $1 to a girl $3 for dinner $2 for breakfast = $37 $10 to school $6 shuttle to Phnom Penh $4 tuk tuk $8 accom $2 juices $1 (50c bread .50c shampoo) $3 beers hostel $14 buses to Siem reap $13 dinner pizza & ice cream $6 extra ticket |
ANGKOR BOREI
How to get here from Phnom Penh
We had to go to .. to catch a Mini van which costed $5-6 USD per person and took around 5 hours to get there.
We organised this van through the teacher at the english school!
We had to go to .. to catch a Mini van which costed $5-6 USD per person and took around 5 hours to get there.
We organised this van through the teacher at the english school!
You won’t see any tourist, only other volunteers like yourself!
Surrounded by rice fields, buffalo, farm animals, and lots of coconut trees, bamboo huts, and wooden houses on stilts!
Big river runs next to the town, you can get the boat to …
No ATMS so make sure you get money out at Phnom Penh
Transport is vass here too, only a couple of mini vans leaving for phnom penh a day and maybe the boats to …. like 1 or 2-3 times a day at specific times.
Not many people can speak good english, but enough to get by
People are very friendly and willing to help out e.g. hitch hiking ect.
Surrounded by rice fields, buffalo, farm animals, and lots of coconut trees, bamboo huts, and wooden houses on stilts!
Big river runs next to the town, you can get the boat to …
No ATMS so make sure you get money out at Phnom Penh
Transport is vass here too, only a couple of mini vans leaving for phnom penh a day and maybe the boats to …. like 1 or 2-3 times a day at specific times.
Not many people can speak good english, but enough to get by
People are very friendly and willing to help out e.g. hitch hiking ect.
Very remote and spread out village
Way off the beaten track
There are a few mosquitos here
Sit in the cafes drinking iced coffee and watching one of the movies in Cambodian :)
$4 tuk tuk
$10 getting to Angkor Borei
$40 US school
$4 beers, $7 usbs, $6 meals Sony)
Way off the beaten track
There are a few mosquitos here
Sit in the cafes drinking iced coffee and watching one of the movies in Cambodian :)
$4 tuk tuk
$10 getting to Angkor Borei
$40 US school
$4 beers, $7 usbs, $6 meals Sony)
SIHANOUKVILLE
How to get here from Phnom Penh
A 5 hour mini van shuttle from Phnom Penh from $5-10 depending on the quality of the bus
Some shuttles might drop you just outside Shinoukville, which means you'll get a motortaxi or tuk tuk into town for around $2-3pp
Sihanoukville has an amazing party scene , you'll loose track of the days here, and like most people overstay your monthly visa by getting stuck in this trap.
A 5 hour mini van shuttle from Phnom Penh from $5-10 depending on the quality of the bus
Some shuttles might drop you just outside Shinoukville, which means you'll get a motortaxi or tuk tuk into town for around $2-3pp
Sihanoukville has an amazing party scene , you'll loose track of the days here, and like most people overstay your monthly visa by getting stuck in this trap.
For the younger crowds who love to drink and meet mind like travellers
Small party town but with everything you need
MUST VISIT if it sounds appealing to you, along with KOH RONG MUST VISIT
Easy to get volunteer work here working at hostels and bars in exchange for free access, meals and drinks!
Situated right on the beaches with boats tp get you from place to place, or mostly walking distance!
Information desks and travel agents that all speak good english with tour information in and around Sihanoukville
get around by Tuk Tuks and on the back of locals motorbikes
Nice and hot in the day with a beach and bars with day lounges and comfy chairs to sit in the sun
Find a Cambodia booklet with info on the south, it is very helpful
It has plenty of hostels, guesthouse and hotels to choose from, along with restaurants, plenty of travel agents to organise island trips, buses around cambodia and day tours.
There are 3 beaches walking distance and another 1 or 2 you can get to by motortaxi or tuk tuk.
Small party town but with everything you need
MUST VISIT if it sounds appealing to you, along with KOH RONG MUST VISIT
Easy to get volunteer work here working at hostels and bars in exchange for free access, meals and drinks!
Situated right on the beaches with boats tp get you from place to place, or mostly walking distance!
Information desks and travel agents that all speak good english with tour information in and around Sihanoukville
get around by Tuk Tuks and on the back of locals motorbikes
Nice and hot in the day with a beach and bars with day lounges and comfy chairs to sit in the sun
Find a Cambodia booklet with info on the south, it is very helpful
It has plenty of hostels, guesthouse and hotels to choose from, along with restaurants, plenty of travel agents to organise island trips, buses around cambodia and day tours.
There are 3 beaches walking distance and another 1 or 2 you can get to by motortaxi or tuk tuk.
Party CENTRAL
And TOURIST TRAP
Dirt cheap ROOMS & DORM BEDS
Hostels with POOLS
And the beaches RIGHT AT YOUR DOORSTEP
Most places WITH AIR CON
ATMS to get more and MORE CASH OUT
Bars that are open EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK
Hostels that have cheap and FREE DRINKS, POOL AND LIVE MUSIC
Western food available and lots of CHEAP SEAFOOD AND .50C BEERS
And TOURIST TRAP
Dirt cheap ROOMS & DORM BEDS
Hostels with POOLS
And the beaches RIGHT AT YOUR DOORSTEP
Most places WITH AIR CON
ATMS to get more and MORE CASH OUT
Bars that are open EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK
Hostels that have cheap and FREE DRINKS, POOL AND LIVE MUSIC
Western food available and lots of CHEAP SEAFOOD AND .50C BEERS
SLEEP
The Big Easy Hostel was the best for value. It felt like a pub back home, open big bar, pool tables, open bistro/restaurant near the bar, with big TV screens playing sports, and a stage for Live music 3 times a week. Dorms are $4 with AC and Bathroom connected. Privates are $8-10 with Fan, ensuite. Beautiful private room with fan for $8. Utopia is the cheaper more budget party hostel. They offer dorms with fan close to the bar upstairs for only $2USD. And dorm beds with AC for $3. They are mattresses on the floor in a grid type layout, it has outlets for power and dimmed lighting. This hostel has a bar, restaurant, live music, pool tables, a swimming pool, wifi ect! |
EAT & DRINK
Tony & friends bar and grill very close to/opposite Utopias. I had grilled salmon, with battered chips, coleslaw and dressing with free garlic bread for only $3 and they had .75c draft beer! Italian down the road, they offer two meals of Pasta and either chicken salsa or beef, with free garlic bread and chello which can be shared with a couple for only $6. Big Easy Hostel has a huge menu from steaks, schnitzels, pastas, pizzas, Mexican, burgers, and khmer food noodles, rice, soups ect from $2-7 a meal! Start drinking at Utopia or Big easy during Happy Hours. Then follow the pub crawl.. or first you can make your way to Oceans 11 for free shots, Only if you are a very happy being (this place stays open till 7am)~ Dolphins Shack down on the beach a few minutes walk from the hostels is good all night. $1 beers, shots and spirits. A little further down the beach is another bar with fire shows on the beach, limbo ect. |
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KOH RONG ISLAND
How to get here from Sihanoukville
A speed boat from Sihanoukville is $20USD return ticket and is an open ticket can be used whenever you feel like returning. We got ours for $17 USD from Travel Agent ...
A speed boat from Sihanoukville is $20USD return ticket and is an open ticket can be used whenever you feel like returning. We got ours for $17 USD from Travel Agent ...
Tropical lush jungle island
very small you can almost walk around the whole island but you need boat because there are no trails and thick bush
beautiful bungalows everywhere
Cheap backpackers paradise
With a relaxed chilled vibe and also party vibe if you want that
Cheap $1 fresh juices and asian food
Nice beaches you can swim at
A peir to watch the sunset
very small you can almost walk around the whole island but you need boat because there are no trails and thick bush
beautiful bungalows everywhere
Cheap backpackers paradise
With a relaxed chilled vibe and also party vibe if you want that
Cheap $1 fresh juices and asian food
Nice beaches you can swim at
A peir to watch the sunset
Loads of tourists ALMOST ALL TOURISTS HERE
No ATMS here, get money in Sihanoukville
No cars here either , by foot and golf buggies on the sand
All sand footpaths, no paved or developed roads
VERY safe and friendly, away from all the troubles and drugs in Sihanoukville
Hostles and restaurants have info on what to do on and around the island
White sand AND BLUE WATERS
No ATMS here, get money in Sihanoukville
No cars here either , by foot and golf buggies on the sand
All sand footpaths, no paved or developed roads
VERY safe and friendly, away from all the troubles and drugs in Sihanoukville
Hostles and restaurants have info on what to do on and around the island
White sand AND BLUE WATERS
SLEEP
Island Boys The nicest private room we found for no more then $10 was at Island Boys. The room was spacious, with a big bed, and two windows that opened and you could see the skies and green trees, the room was all wooden with tin roofing but tall cieling. It was room 2! This hostel has a bar, restaurant, wifi. And best of the besides the room, you get x6 free beers with the room, so really, the room is only $5.50! Bunna's offers $5-6 privates and dorms! And there are other places that have $5 private rooms, but there are no windows at all, which makes it dark and dungy. But if you turn left from the pier of Buffaloes, and walk near Three Brothers, you'll find around 3 restaurants/hotels that offer $5 privates with ensuite, wifi, restaurant & bar. Monkey Island, White Beach Bungalows and retreat resort down the end of the beach when you turn right from the Buffalo pier. These range from $15-25 and are beautiful, even for friends it would only cost $7.50USD each for a bungalow down the beach. Here is where you swim also, where there are no boats and no pollution. |
EAT
Three Brothers has the most delicious menu for the cheapest price. They have vermicelli noodle with vegetables/chicken for $1. They have red curry vegetables/or chicken with a bowl of rice for only $3 and includes a free beer! They have local dishes, soups, curries, fried noodles, and chicken or veggie baguette toasted with salad for only $1! Ponleu Pish Guesthouse has fresh $1 Juices/smoothies/frappes of any choice (mango, passionfruit and banana with ice~) Dragon fruits & watermelon! Whatever you want! Coco's restaurant & Bar has $1 draft beers with comfortable cushion chairs on the sand out the front, nice decor! Tey also have an amazing menu, with Israeli/turkish food! They have 2 for 1 in the evenings with beers, cocktails and spirits. If you wonder down towards the Village (left from the pier, keep walking past Three Brothers and Near TyTy Guesthouse and turn right up, a small hill towards the mountains there are restaurants like Nice Menu, sigi Thai food & a few others. |
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KAMPOT
1 night here
How to get here from Sihanoukville
We took a mini shuttle from Sihanoukville for $5 at 12pm and arrived at 2pm, they leave around 3-4 times a day.
We took a mini shuttle from Sihanoukville for $5 at 12pm and arrived at 2pm, they leave around 3-4 times a day.
Small town so you can easily walk from the bus station to your hotel if its any of the below.
The town itself isn't very attractive and there isn't much to do in town besides a night market, the river has the bars and restaurants
rice mill
A quite kind of abandoned feel town
A little rundown
No new development or modern buildings
The river front is nice to drink beers and eat food and watch the boats pass and to watch the sunset
There are salt fields and pepper plantations but need to be there at the right time of the year to see it in action for good photos
Rabbit Island access from here
a few caves to explore
Awesome hostel to stay at with young travellers can be a down time chill out time at Acasia
Could miss this town if you’ve seen enough rivers with sunsets and pepper plantation and salt fields dont appeal to you
Blue white building army barracks
The town itself isn't very attractive and there isn't much to do in town besides a night market, the river has the bars and restaurants
rice mill
A quite kind of abandoned feel town
A little rundown
No new development or modern buildings
The river front is nice to drink beers and eat food and watch the boats pass and to watch the sunset
There are salt fields and pepper plantations but need to be there at the right time of the year to see it in action for good photos
Rabbit Island access from here
a few caves to explore
Awesome hostel to stay at with young travellers can be a down time chill out time at Acasia
Could miss this town if you’ve seen enough rivers with sunsets and pepper plantation and salt fields dont appeal to you
Blue white building army barracks
SLEEP
Blissful Guesthouse starts from $2 dorm beds, is popular and inexpensive located on Guesthouse street. Has wifi, bar, restaurant with lots to choose from, and most rooms have attached bathrooms. Orchid in guesthouse street also, has $5 private rooms with ensuite and wifi, restaurant and bar! Nice area with just a couple minutes walk to the river to the restaurants, he can organise tours and taxis ect. Arcadia Hostel is where i wish i stayed. My friend stayed here and it looks amazing! If you have no bookings, once you hop off the bus get the tuk tuk to take you here, along the river where you can sit on decks and swim from the hostel. Vibola Hotel is closer to the river, a beautoful hotel with a swimming pool and day beds, rooms with ensuite, wifi, restauarnt and bar and tour desk to book. Rooms from $18USD |
EAT & DRINK
Happy Special Pizza restaurant on the river front is quite popular, having chains in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. They have curries, rice, noodles, garlic bread, chips, all you can think of prices ranging form $1, good prices and all day .50c beers. Nice place to watch the sunset. Jacks Place not far from the river has a very cheap menu also with a lot to choose from! |
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S I E M R E A P
We got a bus (Sorya) from Phnom Penh (van picked us up from the hotel to the bus station) at 7am for $6USD and it took around 7hours.
To get from Siem Reap to Vientiane, hop a $5 mini-bus in Siem Reap to the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border, walk through, then head to the car park next to the 7-11 and catch a casino bus. To catch the casino bus, after you get stamped out of Cambodia and into Thailand, head straight and then turn right for Rong Kleu Market. Turn right at 7-11 and the buses are parked in the parking lot there. They go from Rong Kleu Market in Aranyaprathet to Mo Chit, Lumphini Park, and Bang Na in Bangkok, the trip takes five to six hours and cost 200 thb ($6.25).
From Siem reap to Phnom Penh in only 6 hours.
http://www.movetocambodia.com/transportation/how-to-get-from-siem-reap-to-bangkok/
http://www.seat61.com/Laos.htm#.VhjlH7Sqqko
To get from Siem Reap to Vientiane, hop a $5 mini-bus in Siem Reap to the Poipet/Aranyaprathet border, walk through, then head to the car park next to the 7-11 and catch a casino bus. To catch the casino bus, after you get stamped out of Cambodia and into Thailand, head straight and then turn right for Rong Kleu Market. Turn right at 7-11 and the buses are parked in the parking lot there. They go from Rong Kleu Market in Aranyaprathet to Mo Chit, Lumphini Park, and Bang Na in Bangkok, the trip takes five to six hours and cost 200 thb ($6.25).
From Siem reap to Phnom Penh in only 6 hours.
http://www.movetocambodia.com/transportation/how-to-get-from-siem-reap-to-bangkok/
http://www.seat61.com/Laos.htm#.VhjlH7Sqqko
SLEEP
Garden village Funky Flashpacker Hostel - Parties ! Mad monkey - Most popular Central Hostel $3 - Close to Pub Street The Hide Out - Central and relaxing, clean $5 |
EAT & DRINK
pub street - miss wongs one lane back Angkor famous restaurant .50c beers and free pop corn Project Y frozen yoghurt X Bar roof top Brick house food and drink Boxing bar and restaurant |
ATTRACTIONS
Pub Street Tonle sap lake & floating villages - good photos Night Market Tuk Tuk to downtown Angkor wat buddhist monks & Sunrises and Sunsets Siem Reap outskirts - Sunset quad biking tour. Bodhi Tree yoga retreat is where my friend also went and highly recommends, they have drop in classes at night! Or you can do weekly courses ect |
BUDGETS & OTHER
$8 Kampot accom $10 tuk tuk tour $12 food $5 bus to Takeo $20 return boat To village Takeo $5-10 taxi to Phnom Penh $5 food. $15 MUSUEM $10 bus to siem reap. |
Mondulkiri - Rolling hills and Elephant Valley Project
Ratanakiri - Serious trekking country and setting for Colonel Kurtz’s jungle camp in Apocalypse Now, Ratanakiri is one of Cambodia’s most remote and pretty provinces.
Kratie - Irrawady Dolphin.
4000 islands - hours & hours south of Vientiane ( take bus or can fly to place called Pakse) just about on Cambodia border. Stay in bungalow style accom bike ride around little island - main island is don khone (maybe spelt right haha) there are waterfalls n stuff.
Ratanakiri - Serious trekking country and setting for Colonel Kurtz’s jungle camp in Apocalypse Now, Ratanakiri is one of Cambodia’s most remote and pretty provinces.
Kratie - Irrawady Dolphin.
4000 islands - hours & hours south of Vientiane ( take bus or can fly to place called Pakse) just about on Cambodia border. Stay in bungalow style accom bike ride around little island - main island is don khone (maybe spelt right haha) there are waterfalls n stuff.