Travel - Internal
Air
Internal flights operate between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for Angkor (travel time – 45 minutes), Battambang, Koh Kong, Sihanoukville and Stung Treng. The upgraded Siem Reap Airport, the main gateway for visitors going to see the ancient temples at Angkor, is a 7 to 10-minute taxi ride from the city. Other airports include Bottambang, Mondulkiri, Phnom Penh, Rattanakhiri and Stung Treng.
Sea
Government-run ferries depart from the Psar Cha Ministry of Transport Ferry Landing between 102 and 104 Streets and go to Kompong Cham, Kratie, Stung Treng, Kompong Chhnang and Phnom Krom. Boats are also available from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, a route popular with travellers. Due to the present rise in crime, inter-city boat travel should be restricted to the fast boats to Kompong Cham and Kratie. Some boats have been reported as poorly maintained and over-crowded; some are reported to not contain life-jackets. Care should be taken to ensure the best and most safety-conscious boat travel available is selected.
Rail
Some rail services operate; they are cheap but take much longer than the buses. There are plans to restore the international service to Bangkok, but a great deal of repair work is needed. If possible, other modes of transport with better maintained infrastructure should be taken.
Road
Traffic drives on the right. Most roads are in very poor condition, although the highway to Vietnam is open. It is possible to drive from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in a day but there are formalities involved regarding the use of the same vehicle all the way. Right-hand drive vehicles (quite common in Cambodia) are not allowed entry to Vietnam. Both Cambodian and Vietnamese visas must be obtained in advance and the Vietnamese visa must mention ‘Moc Bai’ (the border point on the Vietnamese side) as a point of entry/exit, otherwise travellers run the risk of being turned back. The safety of road travel outside urban areas varies greatly from region to region. If travel is undertaken in vehicle convoy during daylight hours only, potential risks can be reduced. Reliable information about security should be obtained before considering extensive road journeys.
|
Print
Send to a friend
