Mekong Express

Mekong Express started operations in 2002 and has long been regarded as one of the leading and fastest-growing private bus operators in Cambodia.

Phnom Penh–Siem Reap

The major route operated by Mekong Express connects Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh, with Siem Reap, the gateway to the famous ruins of Angkor Wat. There are four departures each day with buses leaving both cities between 07.30 and 12.30 each day, with the five hour trip costing USD14.

Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville

From the operator’s base in Phnom Penh you can visit destinations across the whole of Cambodia.

There are also four services each day heading from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, home to glorious beaches along Cambodia’s coastline. Buses depart from 09.30 each day and the journey lasts around four hours. Tickets are priced at USD14 per person in either direction.

You can also reach Siem Reap directly from Sihanoukville; there are two buses each day leaving the beach town to travel up the country (at 07.00 and 08.30). The journey will last over nine hours so you will arrive into Siem Reap for late afternoon and is priced at USD26.

Phnom Penh–Battambang

Battambang is a destination that is often overlooked by visitors but is well worth exploring a far more laid-back Cambodian city. There is one bus each day from Phnom Penh leaving at 13.30, scheduled to arrive around 19.00. From Battambang there is also one service each day that leaves at 07.30 (arriving back into the capital at 12.55). The journey will take between five and six hours in total and is priced at USD14.

International service: Vietnam

Mekong Express also offers international services, with departures heading across the border to Vietnam. You can reach Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, from either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, although the journey will take twice as long from the latter city.

There are two departures from Phnom Penh every day, leaving at 06.30 and 15.30, and the journey lasts for five hours. There are also two buses from Hanoi to Phnom Penh with the same departure times and also costing USD17.

If you want to visit Hanoi directly from Siem Reap then there is one bus each morning at 07.30 that will take 10 hours in total and you are scheduled to arrive in Hanoi for 17.30. The return journey leaves Hanoi at 07.00 and tickets are priced a USD26 per person in either direction.

Mekong Express often boast quicker journey times than some other operators along these routes, however, this probably means that you will have shorter or fewer breaks and the drivers may be driving quicker than you would necessarily like.

The buses all offer Wi-Fi which is very useful on a long journey, especially if you need to contact someone or to work out how to reach your hotel when you arrive at the bus station.

The range of departure times offered by Mekong Express is not the best. There are no overnight buses available, which might be useful for the longer trips such as Siem Reap to Sihanoukville or international connections like Siem Reap to Hanoi.

If you are travelling a long distance on Mekong Express then you will lose a day of your holiday that could be used exploring this beautiful country.

Even on the most popular route between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the options are limited. There are no departures from either city after 12.30 which can be inconvenient if you are catching a flight the following morning as you will be required to pay for accommodation.

Note that there are no toilets on board any of these services, which is in fact a common case throughout Cambodia; although there are frequent breaks where you can use the bathroom or buy some extra snacks for the trip. The buses themselves are not always in the best condition and on some of the shorter trips you may find yourself on a minibus rather than a larger luxury or VIP bus, which is likely to be far more cramped and uncomfortable.

As is the case with bus trips across Cambodia, delays are pretty common and often unannounced, so it is always best to allow plenty of flexibility into your schedule just in case. This is especially important if you have a flight to catch!

Mekong Express services are competitively priced but are not always the most popular operator for those looking to travel across Cambodia. This is mainly due to the limited schedule on the routes which can often be inconvenient for travellers.

Also, the fact that you may be required to travel by minibus on some routes can put visitors off as these are usually far less comfortable than a larger bus.