Virak Buntham Express

Virak Buntham Express started operations in 2004 and promotes itself as the fastest-growing bus company in Cambodia. Virak Buntham Express services use sleeper and VIP buses as well as minivans.

From Phnom Penh, you have the option of catching either VIP or minivans to Siem Reap to visit the world-famous archaeological site of Angkor Wat. There are 17 daily services from the capital city to Siem Reap throughout the day, between 00.00 and 23.30. The trip lasts around six hours and is priced at USD11 per person.

There are also 16 departures from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh each day so there is a huge range of possible services to catch depending on your schedule.

Battambang is another one of the most popular destinations to visitors to Cambodia and it can be reached directly from Phnom Penh on any one of the 14 services per day. The journey lasts six hours and buses leave the capital city throughout the day from 01.00.

If you are in Battambang there are three buses each day that will connect you with Phnom Penh for the same cost of USD11.

All visitors to Cambodia should ensure that they visit the beautiful beaches along the country’s coastline and there are three services each day from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville. Buses depart the capital city at 07.30, 08.30 and 19.30 for the coastal city around five hours away.

There are also seven buses heading in the opposite direction from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. Tickets are priced at USD8 from Phnom Penh and USD11 from Sihanoukville.

Virak Buntham Express also offers connections with international destinations in Thailand and Vietnam. You can visit Ho Chi Minh City directly from Siem Reap, with four buses each day (and one bus per day from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap) for USD16.

There is also one service to Ho Chi Minh City from Phnom Penh each day, leaving at 01.30 and costing USD14.

From Phnom Penh there are 15 daily services to Bangkok starting from 01.00, with tickets priced at USD27 for the 13-hour journey. There are four buses heading in the opposite direction, departing between 05.00 and 08.00, which are also priced at USD27.

You can also visit Bangkok directly from Siem Reap; there are two departures at 00.30 and 08.00 that make the 10 trip with tickets available at USD17. From Bangkok, there are three services that can transport you to Siem Reap, leaving at 01.00, 08.00 and 09.00 each day.

Other popular destinations in Thailand that you can visit with Virak Buntham Express directly from Cambodia include Pattaya and Koh Chang. There is one bus leaving Sihanoukville at 08.15 each day that will take you to the border, from where you will be transported to your destination. This service is due to arrive on the island of Koh Chang at 16.15 (after an eight hour trip costing USD27) and at 18.15 in Pattaya, 10 hours after leaving Sihanoukville (USD28).

Virak Buntham Express offers some of the cheapest tickets that you will find in Cambodia, you are unlikely to purchase a ticket on the Phnom Penh to Siem Reap route for under USD11.

Also, border crossings may be more hassle travelling by bus as opposed to flying, but the price is unbeatable, especially for those on a tighter budget. The buses are also fairly comfortable so these services offer good value for money for visitors.

The standard of the vehicles on these routes may be below what is on offer from some of the operator’s competitors. However, a more important issue than the cleanliness of the buses is the questionable safety record of the operator which puts off many travellers from using these services, hence the low cost of tickets.

Another factor to note when planning your trip is the fact that you are likely to be travelling in a minivan on any services during the day, despite the duration of your trip. Minivans are typically far less comfortable than the larger buses – though faster – and will feel cramped if you are sitting there for a substantial length of time.

Most of the vehicles used on routes by Virak Buntham Express have on-board toilets. This is not always the case in Cambodia, even on some of the more luxurious services.

The cleanliness of the buses can often leave a lot to be desired and the operator falls well short when compared to some of the other companies along these routes. There have been repeated complaints regarding the dirty condition of the buses on several routes operated by the company.

Another major issue, especially on overnight trips, is the risk of pickpockets. This is an issue that has been raised by passengers in the past and seems to occur on these services more frequently than others.