Explore Phnom Penh on a Budget during Tet with just $70

With only 3 days and $70 in hand, you can fully experience the charm of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.

Discover Tet Holiday in Phnom Penh with a Tight Budget of $70

Located approximately 150 miles away from Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh is an ideal international travel destination that is both easy to access and budget-friendly, offering a refreshing alternative to the crowded Tet celebrations in Vietnam.

How to Get to Phnom Penh?

From Hanoi: You can opt for a direct flight to Phnom Penh for time efficiency, albeit with higher ticket prices ranging from $150 to $250 USD. Alternatively, you can save costs by booking flights, trains, or buses to Ho Chi Minh City and then catching a bus to Phnom Penh. However, this method takes longer.

From Ho Chi Minh City: The most economical way to travel to Phnom Penh is by taking a bus along Pham Ngu Lao and Bui Vien streets. The earliest trip starts at 4:20 AM and the latest at 12:20 AM. The average ticket price ranges from 210,000 to 250,000 dong per person. Reputable bus companies such as Kumho, Sapaco, The Sinh Tourist, Mekong Express are available.

Note: It is advisable to purchase a round-trip ticket to save costs. For instance, there is a ticket company offering a one-way fare of 210,000 dong per person and a round-trip fare of 380,000 dong per person.

Traveling by motorcycle from Ho Chi Minh City through the Moc Bai border gate. Ensure you have all the necessary documents, including a valid vehicle registration or a letter of authorization from the owner. It's recommended to translate the documents into English for easier immigration procedures.

Where should you book a hotel in Phnom Penh?

Two ideal locations to book accommodation are the newly developed Western street Sisowath Quay and the area near the Independence Monument. These areas are the most popular among tourists and host various famous landmarks.

Hotels in the Sisowath Quay area offer very affordable prices, starting from 10 USD upwards, while hostels with dormitory rooms start from as low as 5 USD. The service in Phnom Penh will not disappoint you.

What to eat in Phnom Penh?

Insects are the delicacies that make Cambodian cuisine famous worldwide. Crickets, spiders, frogs, water bugs, and shrimp are not only tempting but also somewhat daunting for insect-fearing travelers. Additionally, you should try other dishes such as Khmer rice, Nam Vang noodles, street-side BBQ, stir-fried noodles... all of these dishes carry the distinctive flavor of Khmer cuisine. You can easily find them right on the street or in the nearby market area around Sisowath Quay.

3 days 2 nights itinerary for Phnom Penh

Day 1

Take a bus from Pham Ngu Lao to Phnom Penh, the most suitable time is the 3 PM trip or the 9 PM trip on Friday night, so you can return on Sunday night. If you take the 3 PM trip, you will arrive in Phnom Penh at 9 PM, check into the hotel and spend a night to prepare for tomorrow's exploration. Alternatively, sleep overnight on the bus.

Day 2

On your first day in Phnom Penh, it's recommended to explore the central area on foot or by bicycle first. These spots are not far apart, and tuk-tuk is the number one choice for large groups and families. Note that taxis are very scarce in Cambodia (almost non-existent).

Wat Phnom is the first destination you should visit in Phnom Penh. This is where you'll learn about the city's origins and the name 'Phnom Penh'. Allocate 2 hours here for sightseeing and listening to stories.

The Royal Palace - Silver Pagoda is the most popular tourist attraction in the city center. It's where you can learn about life in the royal palace, especially the famous Silver Pagoda with its floor paved with over 2,000 silver tiles, a Buddha statue made of gold adorned with over 2,000 diamonds, and Buddha statues carved from precious gems from all over Asia, only a few exist.

National Museum of Cambodia is the final tourist destination of the day. You can spend 2 hours at the Royal Palace and then another 1.5 hours walking around the museum. It houses artifacts from the Chenla Kingdom (the first Khmer kingdom) to the golden age and decline of the Angkor Empire.

Central Market, also known as the New Market. This is not only a shopping area with various items including gold, silver, gemstones, electronics, clothing, souvenirs, food... but also an architectural marvel with a strong Western influence. Standing inside the dome-shaped building in the middle of the market, you'll feel like you're in a European train station. Central Market is also a great place to buy a Krama scarf as a souvenir. 2 hours is a reasonable time to explore Central Market.

Additionally, you can relax, enjoy street food, and take photos with thousands of pigeons at the square in front of the Royal Palace. It's one of the most beautiful spots in the city.

In the evening, you can stroll along Sisowath Quay to try grilled insect dishes, wander around the nearby night market area. Alternatively, rent a motorbike to take a night tour of Phnom Penh when the weather is cooler than during the day.

Day 3

It's advisable to rent a motorbike as you'll be visiting places outside the city, more than 15 km away.

Start your day by finding a noodle or rice dish for breakfast. Then head to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (on the way, make sure to pass by the Independence Monument for a memorable photo). Tuol Sleng, also known as S21, is where evidence of the brutal crimes of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime is preserved. It was a detention, torture, and execution center for over 20,000 intellectuals of Phnom Penh. Today, it's maintained as a museum to commemorate the genocide victims.

Killing Fields, located 15 km outside the city center, is a must-visit after Toul Sleng. This will be the most poignant stop on your Phnom Penh trip. You'll witness mass graves, memorial stupas holding the victims' bones, and hear about the Khmer Rouge genocide.

Finally, you can return to the city center, visit the Russian Market or shopping malls for leisure, enjoy a glass of iced coffee at the famous 'The best ice coffee in Phnom Penh' cafe, then return the motorbike, head to the bus station to return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Some tips for traveling to Phnom Penh

Dress modestly as Cambodia is a Buddhist country and most tourist sites prohibit revealing or offensive clothing.

During immigration procedures, you may encounter some customs officers asking for money, which is not in accordance with regulations. You are exempt from entry and exit fees.

In Phnom Penh, two common currencies are used: the Riel (Cambodian currency) and USD. Additionally, the Central Market and Russian Market accept Vietnamese currency. The exchange rate is 1 USD = 4,000 Riel.

When shopping at the Russian Market and Central Market, you can negotiate for a 30% discount, and many vendors speak Vietnamese.

Estimated budget

Cost of round-trip transportation from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh: 380,000 dong. Cost of accommodation in Phnom Penh: 240,000 dong for 2 nights (based on a dormitory room rate of 5 USD per person per night).

Cost of tickets for attractions in the itinerary: 375,000 dong.

Cost of renting a motorbike and fuel for transportation: 215,000 dong (160,000 dong for rental and 55,000 dong for fuel).

Cost of 6 meals for 2 days: 215,000 dong (an average of 35,000 - 40,000 dong per meal for dishes like fried rice, stir-fried noodles, street food).

Total amount: approximately 1,450,000 dong.

According to Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour