Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the main access point to the Angkor Archaeological Park. The number of travelers who travel from Saigon Angkorwat is increasing so this route has become quite popular (especially among those who also prefer to travel by bus and pass through Phnom Penh to visit the Golden Pagoda and Silver Pagoda).
Quick summary
Most travelers definitely prefer to take either the direct bus between Ho Chi Minh City and Siep Reap or travel to Phnom Penh by bus and then take a boat to Siep Reap. This takes quite a long time but it’s scenic and cheap. Alternatively you can travel in 1 h and pay from US$173 for a train ticket.
Flights from Ho Chi Minh City (airport code: SGN) to Siem Reap
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) serves Ho Chi Minh City and is Vietnam’s largest airport. It is also hub for Air Mekong, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, VASCO and Vietnam Airlines. Siem Reap is served by an international airport (REP), the second largest in Cambodia.
Direct flights between the two cities are run by Cambodia Ankor Air and Vietnam Airlines. Single adult tickets start at US$173. The travel time is 1 h.
>> read more about Cheap Flights to Ho Chi Minh City
Bus or bus and boat from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Starting with April 2009 there’s a direct bus service between Ho Chi Minh City and Siem Reap. It passes through Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital. The one way adult fare is US$18. The bus departs at 7 a.m. daily from both cities.
Alternatively you can take the bus to Phnom Penh – there are several departures daily, with fares at US$12-14 one way – and then travel by bus or boat to Siem Reap. Buses take 6 hrs and tickets cost about US$10, while the boat ride also takes 6h but the ticket is about US$35.