Mekong Delta to Phnom Penh
Sep 18th, 2006, 05:56 AM
#2
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From Chau Doc to Phnom Penh there are several boat options.
1 The Victoria Hotels group offer you a comfortable 10 seat speedboats for the 4hrs trip. Leaves at 7am and cost $75. Check this site for more information http://www.victoriahotels-asia.com/t...udoc/toget.php
This is the most expensive but more lux than the others.
2 There is a new fast boat service from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh that takes around 4 hrs and cost $25. These are new boats, quite comfortable and are equipped with a toilet. They are much better than the regular fast ferries and just about as good as the Victory Hotel ferry. The Vice director is Bien Sy Tuan (cell: 0918.49.4743) or Email: [email protected]. The Phnom Penh travel agent for booking is Sun Rise Booking No 249 St. Preah Sisowath. Phone 0855.23.223.579.
3 Then there is the regular speedboat for $15. Travels at high speed and is not that comfortable.
Of the 3 I would take option 2
Note: the boats makes a stop at Vinh Xuong Gate in Vietnam to do exit visa. Then stop again at Khau Kaam Samnor Gate in Cambodia for immigration procedure then continue to Sisovat Pier in Phnom Penh. Visa into Cambodia is available here - $20 plus 2 phots.
1 The Victoria Hotels group offer you a comfortable 10 seat speedboats for the 4hrs trip. Leaves at 7am and cost $75. Check this site for more information http://www.victoriahotels-asia.com/t...udoc/toget.php
This is the most expensive but more lux than the others.
2 There is a new fast boat service from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh that takes around 4 hrs and cost $25. These are new boats, quite comfortable and are equipped with a toilet. They are much better than the regular fast ferries and just about as good as the Victory Hotel ferry. The Vice director is Bien Sy Tuan (cell: 0918.49.4743) or Email: [email protected]. The Phnom Penh travel agent for booking is Sun Rise Booking No 249 St. Preah Sisowath. Phone 0855.23.223.579.
3 Then there is the regular speedboat for $15. Travels at high speed and is not that comfortable.
Of the 3 I would take option 2
Note: the boats makes a stop at Vinh Xuong Gate in Vietnam to do exit visa. Then stop again at Khau Kaam Samnor Gate in Cambodia for immigration procedure then continue to Sisovat Pier in Phnom Penh. Visa into Cambodia is available here - $20 plus 2 phots.
Sep 18th, 2006, 06:07 AM
#3
I did the boat trip four years ago, at then end of delta trip arranged by Delta Adventure Tours. This is what I wrote afterwards about the trip across the border:
Finally, we effected a midstream transfer to two small speed boats, and took off for Cambodia. At the Vietnamese border post, where a cluster of concrete buildings sat well up the bank from a wooden jetty, the guide collected our passports and we were processed en masse. A few minutes later we disembarked in Cambodia, where three uniformed immigration officials scrutinized and stamped our documents, and a fourth determined that we matched our passport photographs. Despite the excess of officials, there was a more laid-back feeling about the Cambodian border post, and I discovered a well-populated dovecote in its compound.
The contrast between the countries was immediate. In Vietnam, the Mekong had been busy with boats and lined with floating fish farms and industrial-looking buildings. Now we motored into a pastoral painting -- little river traffic, and that mostly small fishing skiffs; banks green with low trees and grass; the only signs of life a few bamboo houses and an occasional cow. If I had needed additional justification for spending two days on the river instead of an hour in a plane, experiencing this abrupt transition would have provided it.
Finally, we effected a midstream transfer to two small speed boats, and took off for Cambodia. At the Vietnamese border post, where a cluster of concrete buildings sat well up the bank from a wooden jetty, the guide collected our passports and we were processed en masse. A few minutes later we disembarked in Cambodia, where three uniformed immigration officials scrutinized and stamped our documents, and a fourth determined that we matched our passport photographs. Despite the excess of officials, there was a more laid-back feeling about the Cambodian border post, and I discovered a well-populated dovecote in its compound.
The contrast between the countries was immediate. In Vietnam, the Mekong had been busy with boats and lined with floating fish farms and industrial-looking buildings. Now we motored into a pastoral painting -- little river traffic, and that mostly small fishing skiffs; banks green with low trees and grass; the only signs of life a few bamboo houses and an occasional cow. If I had needed additional justification for spending two days on the river instead of an hour in a plane, experiencing this abrupt transition would have provided it.
Sep 18th, 2006, 04:26 PM
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Thanks for the information.
Our visit will be in January, I think that this is the dry season (I could be wrong); will the river be too low?
Another thought: what is the best way to travel to Chau Doc from HCMC?
Our visit will be in January, I think that this is the dry season (I could be wrong); will the river be too low?
Another thought: what is the best way to travel to Chau Doc from HCMC?
Sep 18th, 2006, 08:18 PM
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From HCMC to Chau Doc there are buses and min buses in the morning and early afternoon for the 270kms trip.
If you are not that set on taking a boat then you can actually do this quicker by taking a bus via Moc Bai to Phnom Penh. The Mekong Express is the best, large, comfortable, air-conditioned and with hostess. Leaves around 11am and takes about 6 hours including border formalities which are easy and helped with by the hostess. Visa can be obtained at the boarder for $20. The road is paved the entire way, except for a couple of short, rough dusty patches where new bridges are under construction in Cambodia (they may be finished by now) and of course the Neak Luong ferry crossing. Cost about $13
Or you can splurge and take a taxi all the way. From HCMC to Moc Bai the cost is around $30 for the 2hr trip. From here to PP cost will be $30-40 depending on your negotiation skills and take 3.5 hours.
If you are not that set on taking a boat then you can actually do this quicker by taking a bus via Moc Bai to Phnom Penh. The Mekong Express is the best, large, comfortable, air-conditioned and with hostess. Leaves around 11am and takes about 6 hours including border formalities which are easy and helped with by the hostess. Visa can be obtained at the boarder for $20. The road is paved the entire way, except for a couple of short, rough dusty patches where new bridges are under construction in Cambodia (they may be finished by now) and of course the Neak Luong ferry crossing. Cost about $13
Or you can splurge and take a taxi all the way. From HCMC to Moc Bai the cost is around $30 for the 2hr trip. From here to PP cost will be $30-40 depending on your negotiation skills and take 3.5 hours.
Jan 1st, 2007, 10:06 PM
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We traveled from Chau Doc to Phnom Pehn in Dec. 06. We went on the Tutrang travel boat and it was very comfortable I thought it was a great way to enter Cambodia. But I would definitly reccommend spending a couple of nights in the Mekong Delta prior to taking the boat. We stayed in Can Tho and Chau Doc. It was a highlight of Vietnam.
We used Ann Tours for our trip in the Delta, and we were extemely happy with their services. In the Delta, they used Mekong Travel as a sub, and it may be cheapter to go direct with Mekong Travel if you don't mind coordinating a couple of different services. Mekong Travel is a new company, with its web site still under construction. The owner has lived in the Delta all her life, and did a great job. Her email is [email protected]. The one thing we would have changed, was to drive from Can Tho to Chau Doc, rather than take a boat - that boat trip plus the boat trip to Phnom Penh was a quite a bit of time on the river. Some people we had met earlier in our trip went by car and said that the scenery was great and there were many interesting things to see along the way.
If you have any questions feel free to ask.
I am trying to put together a brief trip report.
We used Ann Tours for our trip in the Delta, and we were extemely happy with their services. In the Delta, they used Mekong Travel as a sub, and it may be cheapter to go direct with Mekong Travel if you don't mind coordinating a couple of different services. Mekong Travel is a new company, with its web site still under construction. The owner has lived in the Delta all her life, and did a great job. Her email is [email protected]. The one thing we would have changed, was to drive from Can Tho to Chau Doc, rather than take a boat - that boat trip plus the boat trip to Phnom Penh was a quite a bit of time on the river. Some people we had met earlier in our trip went by car and said that the scenery was great and there were many interesting things to see along the way.
If you have any questions feel free to ask.
I am trying to put together a brief trip report.
Jan 2nd, 2007, 04:59 AM
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Thanks Sally
I do have several more questions: what time did the boat depart? What time did it arrive? What is the size of the boat in terms of number of passangers?
Glad to hear that you enjoyed The Delta; we do intend to spend 2-days in Chau Doc at The Victoria Hotel. Did you enjoy Phnom Penh?
I do have several more questions: what time did the boat depart? What time did it arrive? What is the size of the boat in terms of number of passangers?
Glad to hear that you enjoyed The Delta; we do intend to spend 2-days in Chau Doc at The Victoria Hotel. Did you enjoy Phnom Penh?
Jan 2nd, 2007, 09:00 AM
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The boat left at 7:30am from the Victoria hotel pier. It held 40 people, but was only half full when we took it. The stop at the Cambodia border took about 45 minutes. We arrived at 12:30 and were picked up at the landing in Phnom Penh.
I felt Phnom Penh was important to see. Our guide insisted we see the killing fields and Tuol Sleng first , so we could leave after having seeing the more upbeat parts of Phnom Penh. I enjoyed the Royal Palace along with the museum and there are some interesting Wats. Also it is a good city for just walking around.
We had dinner at FCC and it was great.
It is not the most upbeat city but I am glad we went.
I felt Phnom Penh was important to see. Our guide insisted we see the killing fields and Tuol Sleng first , so we could leave after having seeing the more upbeat parts of Phnom Penh. I enjoyed the Royal Palace along with the museum and there are some interesting Wats. Also it is a good city for just walking around.
We had dinner at FCC and it was great.
It is not the most upbeat city but I am glad we went.
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