Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh is a quick, cheap hop between two Mekong capitals — under an hour in the air and served non-stop by four carriers. Since September 2025 all flights land at Phnom Penh’s brand-new Techo International Airport (KTI), not the old city-side terminal. This guide covers who flies the route, a fair fare in dong, and how to reach the city on arrival.
Route: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) → Phnom Penh Techo (KTI)
Distance: approximately 200 km (125 miles)
Non-stop flight time: about 1 hour (roughly 55 min – 1h 10m block)
Direct flights: Yes — Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Cambodia Angkor Air (now branded Air Cambodia) and Cambodia Airways all fly non-stop, several times a day between them.
Fares from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh (VND)
This is a short regional route with real competition, so fares stay low year-round. Prices firm up around Vietnamese Tet (late January to February), the Khmer New Year in mid-April, and the Christmas–New Year peak; the green season from May to September is the cheapest. The figures below are typical economy return fares in Vietnamese dong — low-cost carriers sit at the bottom of each range, Vietnam Airlines toward the top.
| Month | Demand |
|---|---|
| January | high (Tet) |
| February | high |
| March | medium |
| April | medium-high (Khmer New Year) |
| May | low |
| June | low |
| July | medium (summer) |
| August | medium |
| September | low |
| October | low-medium |
| November | medium-high |
| December | very high |
Reference points from our own deal tracking: a good return lands around 2.000.000 ₫, a typical fair price is roughly 2.800.000 ₫, and anything under about 2.300.000 ₫ return is worth booking quickly. Vietjet often opens one-way seats from around 700.000–1.000.000 ₫ before you add bags and taxes.
Airlines on this route
Non-stop (about 1 hour):
- Vietnam Airlines — the flag carrier, full-service with checked baggage and a meal included; usually the most comfortable option.
- Vietjet Air — low-cost, the cheapest headline fares; hand baggage only on the basic fare, so add a bag if you need one.
- Cambodia Angkor Air (Air Cambodia) — Cambodia’s national carrier, full-service on this short hop.
- Cambodia Airways — a Phnom Penh-based carrier adding extra frequencies and price competition.
One-stop: connecting itineraries exist through regional hubs, but on a one-hour route they are always slower and never cheaper — there is no reason to take one. The only sensible alternative to flying is the road: direct coaches between the two cities take around 6–7 hours for a fraction of the airfare, which suits a tight budget but costs you most of a day.
When to book & how to save
- Book 3–6 weeks ahead for the best low-cost fares; because carriers compete hard, last-minute prices spike rather than fall.
- Avoid the peaks: Vietnamese Tet, Khmer New Year (mid-April) and the Christmas–New Year window are the priciest and busiest — book those a couple of months out.
- Fly the green season (May–September) for the lowest fares; short afternoon downpours don’t disrupt this quick flight.
- Compare all-in, not headline: a Vietjet basic fare plus a checked bag can end up close to a full-service Vietnam Airlines ticket that already includes the bag and a meal.
- Mind the visa: most nationalities can get a Cambodian e-visa online or visa-on-arrival at KTI — sort it before you fly to skip the airport queue.
Arriving in Phnom Penh
All flights now use Techo International Airport (KTI), which opened in September 2025 and replaced the old city-side Pochentong terminal — check that any pre-booked hotel transfer knows the new airport. Techo sits about 20–24 km south of central Phnom Penh, a 45-minute to one-hour drive depending on traffic. App-based taxis (Grab, PassApp, WowNow) and airport taxis run roughly 260.000–520.000 ₫ to the centre; tuk-tuks are a little cheaper but slower over that distance. Agree the fare or use the app meter before you set off.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh?
The non-stop flight takes about one hour — typically 55 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes of block time over roughly 200 km. It’s one of the quickest international hops in the region, so the airport formalities at each end usually take longer than the flight itself.
Are there direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh?
Yes. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Cambodia Angkor Air (Air Cambodia) and Cambodia Airways all fly non-stop, with several departures a day between them. There is no need to connect — one-stop routings are slower and no cheaper on such a short sector.
How much does it cost to fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh?
A typical economy return runs about 2.000.000–4.800.000 ₫ depending on the season and carrier. Low-cost one-way seats can open from around 700.000–1.000.000 ₫ before bags and taxes, while full-service Vietnam Airlines fares sit toward the top of the range.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Phnom Penh?
June and September are usually the cheapest months to fly.000.000 ₫. Avoid Vietnamese Tet (late January–February), the mid-April Khmer New Year and the December peak, when fares and crowds are at their highest.
Which airlines fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh?
Four carriers operate the route non-stop: Vietnam Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air (Air Cambodia) as full-service options, and Vietjet Air and Cambodia Airways for the lowest fares. Compare the all-in price once you’ve added any checked baggage.
Which airport do I fly into in Phnom Penh?
You arrive at the new Techo International Airport (KTI), which opened in September 2025 about 20–24 km south of the city. It replaced the old Pochentong airport, which no longer handles commercial flights — make sure any transfer or driver is expecting the new airport.
How far in advance should I book?
Aim for 3 to 6 weeks ahead for the best low-cost fares. Because the carriers compete strongly, prices tend to rise close to departure rather than drop, so waiting for a last-minute bargain rarely works — and book peak-season dates a couple of months out.
Is it cheaper to fly on weekdays?
Often, yes. Midweek departures (Tuesday to Thursday) are usually a little cheaper than Friday–Sunday, and pairing two weekday flights can shave a few hundred thousand dong off a return. Being flexible by a day or two is the easiest way to trim the fare on this competitive route.
Fare guidance based on aifly.one deal tracking and current airline schedules; last reviewed July 2026. Prices are indicative economy returns and change with demand — always check the live fare before booking.
