Crossing Borders 2: Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh (Saigon)

Here's the second part of my crossing borders blog. From Phnom Penh we traveled to Ho Chi Minh Vietnam. As mentioned in my previous blog, the bus drop-off from our Bangkok bus was just beside our guesthouse. For convenience, we also bought our ticket there to Vietnam.

Boarding time

The bus pick-up point a few blocks away from our hostel. No worries, they pick you up for free from your hostel.

Our bus trip was scheduled at 8:30 am so we were instructed to be at the station at 7:30. By 7:30 we were already there waiting for the bus. Then a guy approached us and asked us to board a van. We weren't sure why but apparently, the van went around some other hostels picking up passengers. This was the free pick-up service. By 8:00 am we reached the place where the bus was parked. The funny thing was it was only a few minutes walk from our guest house. 

The bus attendant checked our tickets and helped us get our luggage inside the compartment. He asked if we were Filipinos and waved us to enter the bus when we said yes. He was targeting the foreigners in need of a visa. Again, they were offering assistance at a certain price (more costly than a non-assisted visa). There were also other travelers some were locals, some were foreigners. The ticket says Khai Nam Transpo. I have read from blogs about the company having a bad reputation but it was years ago. I did cross my fingers everything would go well. It costs 13USD each. 

We boarded the bus and found bottled water at the pocket in front of our seats. Yey! I wasn't really expecting much from this Transport company. By 8:30 am we were off to Saigon. Approximately, it all took 6 hours to get to Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon).

Around 9:00 am, the bus attendant got our passports and bus tickets. I did read about the bus attendants taking care of the passports for easier processing at the immigration authority so I was not exactly in panic. By 9:45 we had to cross a river (I presumed was part of the Mekong river) while still aboard the bus towards the Pray Vieng/Sray Vieng (as I saw in the signages). The river crossing took about 5 minutes.

At 11:30am, we stopped for lunch for 20 min. at this restaurant called Khai Nam (surprise!). The lunch was pretty okay, costs I think about 2.5USD. We were still in Cambodia so they still do accept US Dollars. 

Lunch for about 2.5 USD

Nearing the border

After a ten-minute ride in the bus, we were already at the Moc Bai Vietnam Immigration. We had to get off the bus and walk a bit. You can see booths with signs saying Vietnam Immigration and Customs. I am not entirely sure why we did get off, probably to "exit" Cambodia. We waited for the bus to move a few meters forward and then we got in again. I didn't notice any office for Vietnam Visa though. The bus attendant announced we had to get our bags checked at the building about two minutes away. So we got off again, got our luggage from the compartment and started out towards the building.  

Outside the Vietnam Immigration

We entered the building and it says strictly no pictures. The officers there had our stack of passports and started calling out names. It took a while since I think there were two or three other buses who came in with us. A queue was of no help since they will call you by name. But do go near the officers so you could hear your name. When our names were called we were given our passports and we passed the usual booth for immigration. But we didn't have to stop since they already stamped our departure from Cambodia and now have the Vietnam entry stamp in our passport. We had our bags scanned and then finally another officer checked our passports comparing it with our faces. We got out of the building and the same bus was waiting there. We reloaded our luggage and started off once we were all inside the bus. The whole process lasted less than 10 minutes once you have been handed your passport. Welcome to Vietnam!

Reloading our luggage

Welcome to Vietnam! Our bus in front of the Vietnam Immigration.

By now it was 12:20 pm. We had a toilet stop after ten minutes from the border. We finally reached Ho Chi Minh City around 2:00 pm. The bus attendant asked where we would like to be dropped off. I told him Pham Ngu Lao. He said okay. Then I overheard him say to another foreigner that there were two bus drop-off points of Khai Nam. So apparently, we were not stopping at the bus drop-off in Pham Ngu Lao. We were dropped off at their other station and so we were instructed that we wait for the van that will take us to Pham Ngu Lao District 1. 

The van appeared after 5 minutes and took us to Pham Ngu Lao road. The next goal was to get to the hostel. According to the hostel's map, they were located at the far end of the Pham Ngu Lao road. So we dragged our luggage asking people if we were on the right track. We finally reached our hostel after 15 minutes. Hello Ho Chi Minh!

The Khai Nam Transpo wasn't all that bad except for our luggage being thrown carelessly in the compartment and they were times when we had difficulty understanding the bus attendant's English. Overall, not bad. 

In short

1. Buy ticket at the Khai Nam bus office at Snagkat Wat Phnom road, beside Riverwalk Guesthouse. It costs 13 USD.

2. Be on the said time of pick-up to avoid delays or being left behind. Some may opt to be picked-up from their hostels.

3. During the bus ride, the bus attendant will get your passport. Don't panic. This is normal. They will take care of having your passport stamping - exit Cambodia and entry to Vietnam. For those requiring Visa, better to get it beforehand since I didn't notice any visa office at the border.

4. There is a lunch stop for 20 min. at Khai Nam restaurant. It is a short time given for lunch so use it well.

5. The immigration office is only ten minutes away. The bus attendant will ask you to get off the bus once you reach the border without the luggage first. You will be instructed to walk a bit before the Vietnam Immigration building. Then you will get back in the bus.

6. The attendant will instruct you to get your luggage for checking at the Mocbai Vietnam Immigration. Get off the bus again with your luggage and enter the building.

7. Wait for your name to be called. Once they call you, get your passport and have your bags scanned. 

8. Exit the building and your bus will be waiting outside. Board the same bus to get you to Ho Chi Minh.