Cambodia Post VIP Van is one of my favorite ways to travel around Cambodia. They’ve just resumed operations again, so I’ve updated this post, which is about the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route with Cambodia Post VIP Van’s 2022 schedule and what you should know regarding Covid-19. (This is also the van you take from Phnom Penh or Siem Reap to Kampong Thom.) Here’s the full report.
tl;dr: Cambodia Post VIP Van is great. Buy a ticket.
The Cambodia Post VIP Van, a transport service owned by the Cambodian government and post office, runs minibuses between several cities. The novelty of the Cambodia Post transport service is that they are actually using the mini-buses to bring mail and packages from one city to another. But they aren’t old, run-down mail trucks as you might expect. Cambodia Post has purchased a fleet of brand-new Toyota HiAces, my preferred model of mini-bus because of their wide, comfortable seats. Buses and passengers are insured by Caminco Insurance, which was reassuring.
On my last trip, we left from the Siem Reap post office a few minutes early because everyone was already there, and the trip took under 6 hours. Tickets from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap cost $10.50. The buses are new, the trip was fast, the driving was cautious, and the food at the restaurant stop was good.
The WiFi sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t, and I am not sure why it does on some trips and not others. If you’re worried about whether or not you’ll have WiFi, I would suggest getting a cheap data package on a Cellcard SIM, which all in can be had for less than $5. But usually you’ll get at least some WiFi on these bus trips.
Usually a HiAce can seat 15 passengers plus the driver, but Cambodia Post has pulled out two of the seats in the back row for mail and luggage, which makes the back row less crowded. Because there are only three seats across the front, seats A1 and A2 (the front window seat, aka “shotgun”) are slightly more roomy. The second row has three seats across, A3, A4, and A5. The third row has a pair of seats, A6 and A7, and then one solo seat, A8. This solo seat has extra legroom as long as overflow baggage isn’t stored there. The fourth row is in the same configuration, with a pair of seats, A9 and A10, and a solo seat, A11. In the back are an additional two seats, A12 and A13, that they hold until the last minute in case they need them for more mail. These two seats aren’t sold online.
During the trip from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh the bus stopped twice, first in Kampong Thom at the Golden Chenla Hotel, and then in Skun at a rest stop that served food. The Golden Chenla Hotel had a menu for Khmers and one in English, with the prices in English double the price for the same dishes on the Khmer menu (if you can order in Khmer you’ll usually get the local price). Both stops had toilets, and as per usual there is no toilet paper, so bring your own if you need it.
If you are looking to go between Phnom Penh or Siem Reap and Kampong Thom, this is also the van you will take. I’ve included the time of the Kampong Thom stop in the table below.
The Cambodia Post VIP Van leaves from and terminates at the main post office in each city. They do not do hotel pick-ups. Most of the other mini-bus companies are forced to do hotel pick-ups because their offices are not in town, but the post offices are centrally located and walkable to many hotels.
Covid-19 protocols: As of 2022, you will be expected to wear a mask during travel on Cambodia Post VIP Van. I will update this page if that changes.
Tickets can be purchased online in advance and you can see real-time seating charts and pick which seat you want. I got my ticket this way, printed it out and presented it at the Siem Reap post office and had no problem boarding the bus. Tickets can also be purchased at the main post office in each city.
In addition to the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route, Cambodia Post VIP Van goes from Phnom Penh to Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampot, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kep, Poipet, Pursat, and Sihanoukville, as well as Siem Reap to Kampong Thom.
Buses from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap (stopping in Kampong Thom)
Phnom Penh | Kampong Thom | Siem Reap |
---|---|---|
7 a.m. | 10 a.m. | 12:45 p.m. |
9 a.m. | 12 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. |
2 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
Buses run from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (stopping in Kampong Thom)
Siem Reap | Kampong Thom | Phnom Penh |
---|---|---|
7 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | 12:45 p.m. |
9 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. | 2:30 p.m. |
2 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
Cambodia Post VIP Van
Wat Phnom Post Office
Street 13 at Street 102, Phnom Penh
T: 012 931 555; 010 778 555; 088 39 93 555
Siem Reap Post Office
Pokambor Ave, Siem Reap
T: +855 (0)88 8711 807
Book Cambodia Post VIP Van tickets online
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We are three adults wishing to travel Siem Reap to Phnom Penh. As we come from overseas, we will have one suitcase each. Is that okay? Many thanks.
Yes, of course.
Hello. What seat is the best (A1-A13) or you can recommend for comfort? 4 Filipino adults. Thanks!
Hi Lina,
Your post gave me a peace of mind. This is my first time here in Cambodia and I will be heading to Phnom Penh tomorrow. I have decided to take the bus to enjoy the scenery, I don’t mind the long travel though but I am very cautious with the driving. It’s great that I booked Cambodia Post VIP Van and after reading your blog, I’m finally convinced I did the right decision. Very informative and assuring article you have. Thank you!
Hi Lina, thank you for giving us so much information. I was just wondering with regards to the Cambodia Post VIP Van – how much space there is for luggage? If we have more luggage, would you recommend a bus instead? Thanks in advance!
It depends on the load that day, obviously there’s much less space if the bus is fully booked. I think you can get away with one medium-large suitcase each, but more than that is probably pushing it.
Silly question (or maybe not) Can the Postal van make emergency toilet stops?
Yes, all of the companies will if you ask.
Hi Lina, I’ve read some of your comments that said the roads are so much better now, so would the mini-buses usually make the phnom penh-siem reap route in 5 hours or less? I am trying to decide between Cambodia Post and Larryta based on your reviews, and Cambodia Post seems like a better choice and location, but with much fewer timings. If I take the 2.30pm Cambodia Post bus, I am worried I will arrive in Siem Reap when it’s already dark
It gets dark by 6:30 so you will definitely arrive after dark. The trip takes between 5 and 6 hours, usually around 5.5.