Basic Guidelines to Travel in Cambodia
Cambodia is a warm year-round country with temperatures rarely dipping below 20°C, wherever you go. The best time to visit Cambodia depends on the heat, rainfall and number of tourists. Most travelers visit Cambodia from November to March. Starting from the Ho Chi Minh City, you can either catch a bus or book flights from Ho Chi Minh to Cambodia.
Phnom Penh
If you travel from Ho Chi Minh City, this place will be probably your first big stop in Cambodia. Phnom Penh is about 250 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. The fastest option for you to get there is to use a flight with the average price of around $167. However, you can find cheap flights from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh in November. The flight takes you approximately 1 hour.
What to see and do in Phnom Penh?
Spending at least a few days in the Cambodian capital, you will have a chance to visit the National Museum for ageing ceramics and a sublime collection of Khmer sculptures and art; Silver Pagoda within Royal Palace compound which is covered with five tons of gleaming silver; try tuk-tuk – the best way to get around this relatively compact capital; enjoy Phnom Penh nightlife at rooftop bars buzz with cocktails in hand, to watch the glowing red ball settle on the Mekong River and so on.
Siem Reap
From Phnom Penh you can continue your trip to Siem Reap. If your starting point is Ho Chi Minh City, you can book a flight directly to this place with the average price of around $252. There are also cheap flights Ho Chi Minh to Siem Reap which will often be available in September and October. The flight time will be nearly 20 mintures longer than travelling from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh.
What to see and do in Siem Reap?
The first and a must thing to do in Siem Reap is to explore the Angkor Temples - the UNESCO World Heritage Site; then you should watch a traditional Apsara dance – the traditional Cambodian culture; visit a floating village to see how the fisherman and their families live; party on Pub Street where there is a frenetic mix of Khmer and Western restaurants, etc.