Cambodia: Sikhanoukville

It was my birthday and I told myself I want to spend it on the beach. From the capital of Cambodia  (Phnom Penh), I headed down to Sihanoukville also known as Kampong Som. It wasn't as impressive as the beaches back home, but it is good enough to relax at the beach and so I spent my time just sitting or lying down listening to the waves while staring at the sky. How to get here: Coming from Phnom Phen, Cambodia, I got in what they call a hotel bus going there. It is a bus with bunk beds where you can sleep through out the journey. Fare: 12 USD Travel Time: 4 1/2 hours From the Bus terminal you can hire a tuktuk to your hotel Fare 2USD The main attraction here are the beaches. I first went to Ochheauteal Beach which is by far the most popular and touristed in town. A lot of vendors selling snacks and food in the area and here are some of my favorites: Since I'm looking for a more peaceful place, I headed to Otres Beach which less crowded than Ochheauteal beach. It has more relaxed atmosphere. Related Post: Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary and Expenses AirAsia ASEAN Pass Border Crossing: Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Phen via Mekong Express (Mocbai-Bavet Border)  Mui Ne Vietnam Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Cambodia: Phnom Penh

Cambodia: Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital and most populated city of Cambodia and I have seen that as it was already around 10PM and there were still lots of people in the streets. I was suppose to skip this place as there are just few things to see but good thing I didn't as i have learned a lot about the country, it's culture and people.

How to get here:

I got here from Ho Chi Minh via Mekong Express, here's detailed post including border crossing: click here. There are also flights coming to and from Phnom Penh International Airport.

Getting Around Phnom Penh
Hired a tuktuk for a whole day tour for $20. Its the best way to get around the city.

Sisowath Quay

This riverside promenade lined with cafés, restaurants and hotels. This is where you can find travelers hanging around.

Choeung Ek Genocidal Center

The Khmer people have been through hell during the Khmer rouge regime. This place is a chilling reminder of the nearly 25% of Cambodians who were killed during that time. It was Pol Pot's reign from 1975-1979 with the vision of an entirely self-sufficient agrarian society having a country of land laborers and clearing the county of all professionals and intellectuals.

A place of incredible tragedy converted into a visitor's centre where dark stories are retold. I walked though the grounds while listening to an audio guide and I felt a heavy weight of sadness while walking and passing by those bone fragments and victims clothing.

Entrance Fee: $3
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

A former school which was turned into a prison during Khmer Rouge rule. Can you imagine thousands of people were tortured and killed after being accused of treason here? 

Entrance Fee: $6

Operating Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM

Independence Monument

Independence monument commemorates the end of French Colonial Rule in Cambodia.

Royal Palace

One stunning architectural masterpiece consist of two main areas, the Royal Palace Compound and the Silver Pagoda.

Certain sections of the royal Palace are closed to the public since the Royal Family resides here.

Chanchhaya Pavilion (Moonlight Pavilion), this is where the king deliver his speeches and/or witness parades in the streets of Phnom Penh.

Silver Pagoda

Silver Pagoda shelters priceless cultural heritage.  Locally, it is called Wat Preah Keo Morokot, which means temple of the Emerald Buddha in Khmer.


Entrance Fee: 40,000 KHR ($10)
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

National Museum

National Museum contains artifacts from the peak of the Khmer Empire and the remnants of the great past of the country. I honestly did not go enter inside the museum as windows are wide open and you can see some parts of it from the outside but of course if you want a closer look, you may go to the ticketing office to buy tickets so you can come in.

Entrance Fee: 40,000 KHR ($10) with Audio Guide, ($5) Without Audio Guide

Wat Phnom

Entrance Fee: $1
Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Central Market

Central Market has a central dome with four linear structures protruding which form narrow corridors for vendors to sell their goods. This is were you can buy almost anything ,from souvenir T-shirts, keychains to jewellery and electronics. 

Related Post:

Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary and Expenses
AirAsia ASEAN Pass
Border Crossing: Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Phen via Mekong Express (Mocbai-Bavet Border) 
Mui Ne Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Border Crossing: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam to Phnom Phen, Cambodia via Mekong Express (Mocbai-Bavet Border)

One of the challenges travellers face during a multi-country trip is border crossing. Getting to the border, immigration, scams and how exactly its done, and sometimes we are left with no idea just how to do it.

Crossing the borders from Ho Chi Minh going to Phnom Phen is surprisingly sweat free.

I booked a ticket from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Phen via Mekong Express. Their office is located along the Backpacker's street (Pham Ngu Lao Street) where the van/bus usually parks across the street to pick up passengers. I booked my ticket online and when I got in their office, they gave me a printed copy of my booking. We were given a free water bottle and I was surprised that we were just 5 in the van. It took 2.5 hours to get to the borders. The driver consolidated our passports and filled up the Immigration Card for us, led us to inside (we didn't bring our bags as we will ride the same van crossing the borders) and gave our passports to the Immigration officer for departure stamps and called out our names one by one to give back our passports.

Mekong Express VIP Van ticket from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Phen

Entering Mocbai Borde

We got back to the van and headed to Cambodia Immigartion Office where we got our stamps and again back to the van.

** Holders of Philippine passport do not need visa for Cambodia up to 21 days.

Enteriong Cambodian border called Bavet

Mekong Express

Bus: 7:30, 8:30, 13:00 (US$14)

VIP Van: 6:30am, 15:00 (US$15)

Adress: #275F, Pham Ngu Lao Street, Disctric 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Duration: 6 hours & 30 mins

Website: http://catmekongexpress.com/

Other Options:

Giant Ibis  -  US$18 + $1 (Credit card processing fee if you purchase online)

Schedule: 8:30, 12:30

Duration: 6 hours & 30 mins

Address: 237 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Website: http://giantibis.com/

Sapaco Tourist Bus - (230.000 VND)

Schedule: 6:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30

Duration: 6 hours & 30 mins

Address: 325 Pham Ngu Lao St., Dist 1, HCM City

Website: http://www.sapacotourist.vn/en/

Related Links:

Backpacking Southeast Asia Itinerary and Expenses
AirAsia ASEAN Pass
Mui Ne, Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam