Mekong Express: Phnom Penh-Siem Reap – 2020 Cambodia Bus Reviews
Mekong Express is one of the most long-running and popular bus services in Cambodia, and they have routes all over the country. In this post, I’ll review the newish Mekong Express buses on their Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route, and give a full rundown of what you can expect in 2020.
Nội Dung Chính
Mekong Express bus review in a nutshell
- Time Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (and vice-versa): 5 to 6 hours
- Cost: $12
- Pros: Newish buses, commitment to safety
- Cons: Stops to pick up additional passengers
- Booking: Online, with seat reservations
When I moved to Cambodia many years ago, Mekong Express was *the* bus company that all tourists and expats preferred. But then Giant Ibis arrived, with their services aimed squarely at foreigners, and Mekong Express, with their increasingly dilapidated fleet, struggled to compete. So when I saw a brand new Mekong Express bus drive through Siem Reap the other day, I was shocked. What was this gleaming white chariot? Could this really be Mekong Express? Determined to learn more, I booked a couple of tickets and hit the road to Phnom Penh.
Mekong Express bus and journey
I booked our tickets online and we got to choose our seats, and luckily there were some empty seats around us so we were able to spread out once on board. After we boarded we were given a wet towelette, a bottle of water, and a box with two small pastries in it.
The buses themselves are a noticeable upgrade from their old fleet. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a USB charger with two outlets at each set of seats. There was also free WiFi on board with surprisingly decent speeds for most of the journey.
Mekong Express has long been known as a bus company that cares about safety, which is one of the reasons they are so popular with tourists. But despite their appeal to tourists and foreigners, Mekong Express is still very much a Cambodian bus company. On my trip we stopped over and over to pick people up off the side of the road for the first hour of the trip. I was also startled to note that despite having put down what I assume to be tens of thousands of dollars on sparkling new buses, they have outfitted them with the same interior as the 30-year-old models, ie. red and gold draperies outfitted with rick-rack. And of course they play action movies for the duration of the trip.
Mekong Express is a genuine crossover company that aims to serve both the local and tourist market.
Stops (and toilets) on Mekong Express
The buses do not have toilets (trust me, this is a good thing) but the bus stops twice between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Each bus has an English-speaking attendant on board who warns when the bus stops and how much time you have before the bus will leave again.
Coming from Siem Reap we stopped after about two hours for lunch in Kampong Thom at the oft-visited Aruneas Hotel, known for their dual-priced menu, but they still let you use the toilet even if you don’t buy anything.
Just across the side street is a small outdoor cafe that serves inexpensive Cambodian dishes, where you can eat instead. There was a second stop after another two hours at a mini-mart, coffeeshop, and bathroom complex.
Arriving on Mekong Express
We arrived in Phnom Penh after 5 hours and 45 minutes. The bus stops at the Mekong Express bus depot in the north of the city on the riverside at Street 68, where it’s easy to catch a tuk tuk on the street or order a taxi or tuk tuk using PassApp.
If you leaving from Siem Reap, the bus stops at the Mekong Express office on Sivatha Blvd near Central Market.
Mekong Express bus schedule
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
7:30 a.m. VIP van
8:30 a.m. bus
2 p.m. VIP van
3 p.m. bus
11:30 p.m. night bus
Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
7:30 a.m. bus
8:30 a.m. VIP van
12:30 p.m. bus
2:30 p.m. VIP van
11:30 p.m. night bus
How to book a Mekong Express bus
Mekong Express tickets can be booked online for $12. There’s a surcharge of 5%, which ends up being 60 cents per ticket. It’s worth the charge because you can choose your seat online, and book in advance using a credit card.
Final verdict
It’s not quite as good as Giant Ibis, but it’s a few dollars cheaper. Overall, Mekong Express is one of the better Cambodia bus companies.
Book a Mekong Express ticket online now
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