Exploring Phnom Penh by motorbike for 30 hours

Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is only 230 km away from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; slightly farther than the distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne (210 km) but the route is convenient, crossing the Moc Bai border gate (Tay Ninh).

30-hour Phnom Penh motorcycle tour

What to Prepare?

Hotel prices in Phnom Penh are relatively cheap. If booked in advance, you can get a single bed room for less than 250,000 dong. Last time, I booked 10 days in advance at Zing Hotel, a single bed room with a street view, for $24 (about 530,000 dong). The purple hotel is cute, located right next to the new market (Central Market), convenient for transportation and shopping.

Luggage should be light: a passport with at least 6 months validity, a set of clothes, arm and leg guards, motorcycle gloves, a jacket, a good helmet for safety (if you plan to travel long distances frequently, you should invest in these items), personal hygiene items (simple because most hotels have them available).

Vehicles need thorough inspection of brakes, wheels, and engine oil.

The currency used in Cambodia is the riel and the US dollar. Tourists can spend entirely in US dollars. On my recent trip, I spent all 70 dollars. Most restaurants will list prices primarily in dollars, while gas stations will have two meters, listing both currencies.

I installed an iOS app called Offline map, downloaded the map of Phnom Penh hassle-free without needing Internet connection.

Itinerary

I divided the journey into two parts: from Ho Chi Minh City to Moc Bai (Tay Ninh) covering 60 km, and from Moc Bai to Phnom Penh 170 km.

On the first day at 9 a.m., you depart from An Suong bus station, heading towards Tay Ninh on Highway 22. The maximum speed is 40 km per hour. Around 10:30 a.m., you stop for breakfast at Trang Bang noodle soup stall. A bowl of beef noodle soup with a glass of iced tea costs 40,000 dong, fueling up for the afternoon drive. After a stretch, you reach Go Dau town, turn left crossing Go Dau bridge to Ben Cau, Moc Bai.

At 11:30, you should be present at the Moc Bai border gate to complete the exit procedures. Initially, I was informed that I needed to complete temporary import paperwork for my motorbike, but the security guards advised me to leave the bike and proceed with the formalities.

After crossing the border, drive another 100 meters to reach your country's Bavet border gate. Fill out the entry form, submit it along with your passport, and pay the 30,000 dong fee. Note: like me, your vehicle won't be protected. Without proper documentation, if your bike goes missing while in Cambodia, you won't receive support.

The first impression upon crossing the border is a gambling haven. From here onwards, enjoy a smooth ride straight to Phnom Penh. The landscape features only rice fields on either side. Approximately 30-40 km in, you'll encounter a small town. There are three speed limits: 40-60-80 km per hour. Pay attention to road signs for the correct speed.

60 km from Phnom Penh, you'll cross the Tsubasa suspension bridge spanning the mighty Mekong River, inaugurated in April 2015.

A note: 5 km before reaching the Cambodian capital, the road is under construction, leading to long traffic jams. Before entering Phnom Penh, you'll cross the Monivong Bridge, known as the Saigon Bridge to the Vietnamese and the Sugar Cane Bridge to the locals.

Phnom Penh boasts two main thoroughfares: Preah Norodom and Preah Monivong. Norodom is located at the foot of the bridge, turning right, while Monivong veers right. The city is laid out in a grid pattern, making it challenging to navigate with normal street names and numbers intersecting the main roads. I arrived at the hotel around 4 p.m.

Indulge in dining, entertainment, and shopping extravagance.

My plan for the afternoon was to visit famous spots like Silver Pagoda, Royal Palace, and Naga World. However, laziness got the best of me, so I just rode around the streets and Independence Square before heading back to the hotel for a rest.

The location of my stay is incredibly convenient, not far from Sorya shopping center. So, in the evening, I strolled down there for dinner. Cambodia doesn't boast as many shopping centers as Vietnam. Sorya, the largest, is only comparable to Vincom or Nowzone in Ho Chi Minh City. The merchandise isn't overly diverse, but generally acceptable. AEON Mall, recently opened near Independence Square, was full when I arrived.

Phnom Penh boasts 2 rooftop bars perfect for nightlife: Le Moon Terrace Bar and Eclipse Sky Bar. Le Moon is located by the riverside, and on weekends, reservations are a must. Eclipse, on top of Phnom Penh Tower, the city's tallest building, offers food and drinks priced around 3-5 USD. You can enjoy moon gazing, beer, and live music simultaneously.

If you're diligent, you can explore some exotic dishes the next morning. But due to laziness, I just had coffee at the hotel before heading to the market. Stalls open after 8:30 AM. You need to haggle for half the price.

At 10 AM, I checked out and started my journey back to Ho Chi Minh City. By 1:30 PM, after completing immigration procedures, I stopped by Trang Bang to enjoy some banh canh noodles.

Discover fascinating insights.

Cambodia is Honda's motorcycle paradise. Out of 100 bikes on the road, 99 are Dreams. Similarly, Lexus RX300 and Toyota Hilux dominate the car scene.

Cambodia boasts three primary fuel types: 97 octane (Superior), 92 octane (Regular), and Diesel. Fuel prices increase as you approach the capital. In Svay Rieng, diesel costs 2,200 riel, while in Phnom Penh, it's 3,000 riel. Each gas station has its own pricing.

The total journey spans 460 km roundtrip, with fuel costs for my vehicle totaling 120,000 dong. The entire trip, including expenses, amounted to under 1.5 million dong—a remarkably affordable adventure.

If you're tired of the typical Mui Ne, Da Lat, Nha Trang circuit, consider venturing abroad to Phnom Penh for a truly exciting experience.

According to Zing's 30-hour exploration of Phnom Penh by motorbike.

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