Starting Friday, November 29, 2024, Thailand and Cambodia will resume their long-awaited cross-border bus services, reconnecting Bangkok with Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. After a hiatus of more than three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the two countries are re-establishing vital travel links that will make it easier for tourists to explore these iconic destinations once again.
The announcement followed the signing of an agreement on November 26 between Atthawit Rakchamroon, Acting Managing Director of Thailand’s Transport Co., and Suo Vireak, CEO of Cambodia’s Vireak Buntham Express Co., which is the country’s leading bus operator. This collaboration will offer two key routes, both passing through the Aranyaprathet checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province, facilitating cross-border travel between the nations.
The resumed services will link Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s bustling capital, and Siem Reap, home to the world-famous Angkor Wat temple complex. According to Atthawit Rakchamroon, the resumption of these services is expected to boost tourism for both countries as they enter the high season.
The buses will operate daily, with the Bangkok-Phnom Penh route departing at 7 a.m. from both cities. This journey will take around 11 hours and cost 900 baht. The Bangkok-Siem Reap route, with departures at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., is expected to take around seven hours, with tickets priced at 750 baht.
With the pandemic largely behind them, both Thailand and Cambodia are focusing on reviving tourism. The reopening of these bus routes will provide a seamless and affordable way for tourists to explore the cultural richness of the two Southeast Asian nations. The service promises to be a key player in the recovery of cross-border travel, offering safe and efficient transportation to travellers.
In unrelated news, reports of confrontations between Thai and Cambodian soldiers on Koh Kut have been dismissed as fake news by the governments of both countries. Despite the rumors, government officials have stated that the tourism situation on the island remains positive, with visitor numbers surpassing those of previous years.
