How to Get from Kratie to Kampong Cham - Travel Guide (2025)
សួស្តី, river wanderers. You’ve watched Irrawaddy dolphins arc through sunrise mist at Kampi, cycled the sandy loop around Koh Trong, and perhaps sampled Kratie’s coconut‑sticky rice. Ready for the next bend in the Mekong? Point your prow south‑west: Kampong Cham sits just 140 kilometres downstream, trading sleepy riverfronts for bamboo bridges, lotus‑hall yoga, and evenings cooled by the river’s long breath. This guide walks you through every transport option, shows where the wheels stop rolling, and slips in a few gentle reasons to linger in our province before drifting further.
Need‑to‑Know at a Glance
Distance: ~140 km via National Highway 7.
Travel time: 2 h 15 m by private taxi, 2 h 30 m–3 h by direct van, up to 3 h 30 m if the van pauses in Snuol.
Seat price: $8–$10 in a VIP van; $70 for a dedicated car.
Main drop‑off: riverside cluster near Smile Restaurant, Kampong Cham.
Easiest booking tools: 12Go Asia, BookMeBus, or same‑day tickets at Kratie market.
Choosing Your Wheels
VIP vans
Virak Buntham and Rith Mony run 15‑seat Ford Transits that load beside Kratie’s central roundabout. Morning departures (07:30 and 10:00) and an afternoon run (15:00) cover the route in about 2 h 45 m, pausing once for iced sugar‑cane in Snuol. Tickets hover at $9; online reviewers praise the "polite horn use" and air‑con that actually works.
Full‑size coaches
Buses bound for Phnom Penh pass Kampong Cham en route. Mekong Express and Capitol Tours sell through‑tickets Kratie→Phnom Penh ($13)—just tell the conductor you’d like to hop off in Kampong Cham. Expect 3 h 15 m and a noodle‑soup rest stop.
Shared taxis
At dawn, Toyota Camrys gather near Kratie market. Pay 35,000 riel (~$8.50) for one seat or $40 to buy the whole back bench. Cars leave when full; the upside is a fast 2 h 20 m dart with minimal stops. TripAdvisor comments call the ride “surprisingly smooth” given Cambodia’s freestyle overtaking.
Private cars
Hotels can summon a Lexus RX for $70–$80. Drivers usually follow NH7 but will detour to Kizuna Bridge for photos if asked. Good for families, surfboards, or travellers craving guaranteed leg‑room.
Slow boats & cruises
No public ferry links Kratie and Kampong Cham these days, but luxury river cruises (THG, Pandaw) include the leg on multi‑day itineraries. If you spot one anchored at Koh Trong, you’re looking at the deluxe route.
Arriving in Kampong Cham
Vans roll to a gentle halt near Smile Restaurant on Riverside Road. The café funds BSDA’s hospitality trainees - so your first iced Khmer coffee already supports local futures. Give a quick WhatsApp ping and Mr. Buth from Hanchey Bamboo Resort will appear in his tuk‑tuk to take you to the resort. The final 45‑minute glide north threads tamarind villages, solar‑lit pathways, and one unexpected herd of white cows.
Why Linger in Kampong Cham?
Kampong Cham is a real hidden gem of, away from the hustle and bustle of bigger cities like Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, we enjoy a quieter pace of life on the banks of the Mekong. And there’s plenty to do
Wat Hanchey sunrise – Whether you’re staying with us at Hanchey Bamboo Resort or driving up from the city, this is not to be missed. Climb 291 steps to a 7th‑century shrine where morning chants drift across the river. Many guests say the view rivals Angkor’s but without the tour‑bus rumble.
Seasonal Bamboo Bridge – Hand‑woven each year, rebuilt shoot by shoot. Wander across to Koh Paen for mango, sticky rice, and a taste of local culture.
Wat Nokor & Phnom Pros/Srei – An Angkor‑era laterite temple wrapped in a living pagoda, and twin “man and woman” hills draped in countryside legend.
Sunset Mekong cruise – Boards leave the town jetty at 5 PM; spot river‑island bee‑eaters diving for dusk insects.
Onward Journeys from Kampong Cham
From this riverside hub, roads radiate like spokes:
Siem Reap – 4 h via Kampong Thom: swap river views for Angkor spires.
Mondulkiri – 5 h east: red‑earth waterfalls, elephant sanctuaries.
Phnom Penh – 2 h 30 m south: Royal Palace, art cafés, rooftop sundowners.
Pro tip: many vans can be booked as through tickets; just ask at Smile Restaurant’s travel desk.
Green Season Perks (May–Oct)
Monsoon showers paint the landscape electric emerald, yet NH7 stays open. Vans run, fares dip, and the Mekong’s breeze grows cooler. It’s the perfect time to make your way South to Kampong Cham and to stay with us and enjoy verdant views of the countryside, and replenish with daily yoga classes and great coffee - we may even be offering discounts via our website!
FAQs
Do the vans have toilets? No, but they stop halfway. More luxury coaches will have on-board toilets.
Can I bring my bicycle? Yes—VIP vans charge $3 extra; let them know when booking.
Is there Wi‑Fi on board? Often, though reliability swings with each cell tower.
Where to rest your head
Every night at Hanchey Bamboo Resort funds BSDA’s social programs, supporting the youth of Kampong Cham. So come and sleep in a bamboo bungalow and wake to Mekong dawns that make phone alarms feel poetic. Come recharge by the river—aw‑kun ch’ran, and safe travels downstream.
