Cambodia Ministry of Tourism – river cruise
Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism identifies Phnom Penh as a Mekong river-cruise centre and publishes official visitor guidance.
Cruise planning
Research Phnom Penh cruise calls before you travel.
Use the timetable to see upcoming cruise ship calls, busy-day signals, ship counts, and port context alongside the guide, map, weather, and readiness tools.
Schedule note
Port schedules can change because of weather, berth availability, itinerary updates, and operational decisions. Verify important times with your cruise line or the port authority before travel.
At a glance
Port profile
Country, code, and on-shore essentials.
Country
Cambodia
Port code
KHPNH
Coordinates
11.545, 104.892
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Explore ashore
A closer look at Phnom Penh
Your port day at a glance
Plan your time ashore in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is an exact river or small-ship passenger arrival with berth-specific access and return-time requirements.
Before going ashore
Before going ashore, confirm the berth or tender point, local time, all-aboard deadline, and the meeting location for any independently booked transport or tour.
Arrival
Usually docks
Town access
Varies by terminal
Can you explore independently?
Independent exploration is practical only after confirming the exact landing, bank, and all-aboard time. A practical independent sequence is to complete the nearest approved sights first, use confirmed transport for one farther choice, and return before the published ship deadline. Treat the ship return time as a hard deadline. Allow extra margin for gangway or tender procedures, traffic, weather, queues, and any call-specific security checks.
VoyagePro planning verdict
This port works best when the actual landing is confirmed first, the day is limited to one coherent local plan, and any farther choice has transport and return margin arranged in advance.
Best for
- •Travelers who confirm the actual landing
- •A focused local route
- •One protected transport-supported outing
Needs extra planning when
- •Unconfirmed pickup arrangements
- •Trying to complete every listed choice
- •Returning without operational margin
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Cambodia Ministry of Tourism – river cruise and Mekong River Commission – navigation.
Step off the ship with a plan
Arrival, terminals and getting into town
Confirm the actual berth first—local access can change substantially between terminals.
Where your ship arrives
Mekong and Tonlé Sap vessels use an operator-assigned Phnom Penh river landing; floating stages and hotel-ship berths can change seasonally.
Getting into town
Riverfront sights may be local, but the Royal Palace, museums, markets, airport, and Killing Fields require tuk-tuk, taxi, coach, or excursion planning. Start with the closest approved local area, then use only the transport modes identified here for any farther stop. Confirm the actual landing before committing to the route.
Port shuttle
Use the operator transfer when offered and confirm its destination, accessibility, and final return.
Taxi and local transport
Use only the marked passenger pickup point and prebook scarce or accessible vehicles. Shuttle or transfer context: Use the operator transfer when offered and confirm its destination, accessibility, and final return. Confirm where the vehicle or shuttle can legally collect passengers, the return pickup point, and the last practical departure before leaving the passenger area.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Cambodia Ministry of Tourism – river cruise and Mekong River Commission – navigation.
What official and local sources say
Local details from reviewed sources
A concise summary of useful details found in port, municipal, transport, terminal, and tourism material.
Mekong River Commission – navigation
The intergovernmental commission documents Lower Mekong navigation and the Cambodia–Vietnam waterway framework; exact landing and border procedures remain operator controlled.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Cambodia Ministry of Tourism – river cruise and Mekong River Commission – navigation.
Build a realistic day
Choose a plan by time in port
Start with the usable time you have ashore, then leave a comfortable return margin.
Quick call
2–3 hours
Stay with the nearest approved local plan. Independent exploration is practical only after confirming the exact landing, bank, and all-aboard time.
Half day
4–6 hours
Use this as a menu rather than a checklist: Royal Palace, National Museum, riverfront, Central or Russian Market, and one historically responsible museum visit are the main choices. Choose one compact local cluster, or one transport-dependent regional objective when the call is long enough. Do not combine distant options unless the return is protected.
Long call
7+ hours
Choose one local cluster plus at most one transport-dependent objective. Treat the ship return time as a hard deadline. Allow extra margin for gangway or tender procedures, traffic, weather, queues, and any call-specific security checks.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Cambodia Ministry of Tourism – river cruise and Mekong River Commission – navigation.
Plan for comfort
Accessibility and mobility
Mobility overview
Floating ramps, heat, traffic, uneven pavements, tuk-tuk access, and seasonal water-level changes require advance arrangements. Arrival-specific check: Gangway angle, quay surface, passenger-exit distance, and vehicle access can change by berth; request call-specific assistance.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Cambodia Ministry of Tourism – river cruise and Mekong River Commission – navigation.
Avoid the rushed version of this port
Common planning mistakes
1
Planning from the destination name alone
2
Treating every choice as walkable
Riverfront sights may be local, but the Royal Palace, museums, markets, airport, and Killing Fields require tuk-tuk, taxi, coach, or excursion planning.
3
Building an unbuffered checklist
Treat the ship return time as a hard deadline. Allow extra margin for gangway or tender procedures, traffic, weather, queues, and any call-specific security checks.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Cambodia Ministry of Tourism – river cruise and Mekong River Commission – navigation.
Answers from reviewed guide sources
Phnom Penh port questions
These answers use the reviewed operational fields above; check the linked source when a detail affects a booking or transfer.
Will the ship dock or tender?
Mekong and Tonlé Sap vessels use an operator-assigned Phnom Penh river landing; floating stages and hotel-ship berths can change seasonally.
How do I get from the ship into town?
Riverfront sights may be local, but the Royal Palace, museums, markets, airport, and Killing Fields require tuk-tuk, taxi, coach, or excursion planning. Start with the closest approved local area, then use only the transport modes identified here for any farther stop. Confirm the actual landing before committing to the route.
Should I plan a shuttle, taxi, or transfer?
Use the operator transfer when offered and confirm its destination, accessibility, and final return. Use only the marked passenger pickup point and prebook scarce or accessible vehicles. Shuttle or transfer context: Use the operator transfer when offered and confirm its destination, accessibility, and final return. Confirm where the vehicle or shuttle can legally collect passengers, the return pickup point, and the last practical departure before leaving the passenger area.
Can I explore independently?
Independent exploration is practical only after confirming the exact landing, bank, and all-aboard time. A practical independent sequence is to complete the nearest approved sights first, use confirmed transport for one farther choice, and return before the published ship deadline. Treat the ship return time as a hard deadline. Allow extra margin for gangway or tender procedures, traffic, weather, queues, and any call-specific security checks.
Source summary2 sources
This section draws on information from Cambodia Ministry of Tourism – river cruise and Mekong River Commission – navigation.
Guide review and sources
Operational details can change by berth, weather, and ship call. Confirm important arrangements before travel.
Reviewed Jul 18, 2026
2 sources
Build a route you can actually use
Practical places around Phnom Penh
Choose a few places that fit your time ashore, then check access and transport before setting out.
Transport starting point
Riverfront sights may be local, but the Royal Palace, museums, markets, airport, and Killing Fields require tuk-tuk, taxi, coach, or excursion planning. Start with the closest approved local area, then use only the transport modes identified here for any farther stop. Confirm the actual landing before committing to the route.
Arrival location reference
Phnom Penh cruise destination reference· Cruise destination area
Museum
National Museum
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Phnom Penh.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Phnom Penh. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Plan local transport from the assigned terminal or landing rather than assuming this stop is walkable.
Local transport may be needed from the arrival point
Local landmark
riverfront
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Phnom Penh.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Phnom Penh. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Use the official visitor information for directions. No sufficiently reliable geotagged match was found, so this place is intentionally not pinned.
No verified map pinPlace information
Market
Central or Russian Market
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Phnom Penh.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Phnom Penh. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Use the official visitor information for directions. No sufficiently reliable geotagged match was found, so this place is intentionally not pinned.
No verified map pinPlace information
Museum
one historically responsible museum visit
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Phnom Penh.
Read more
A source-backed option to consider for a port day in Phnom Penh. Check current access, opening hours, admission requirements, and reservations before setting out.
Use the official visitor information for directions. No sufficiently reliable geotagged match was found, so this place is intentionally not pinned.
No verified map pinPlace information
Source summary2 sources
Reviewed 2026-07-25. Location placement, transport, and attraction information retain separate sources so each can be checked and updated independently.
Live port-day planner
Plan my port day in Phnom Penh
Choose an upcoming call and ship to turn the published schedule into a practical planning window.
Choose a call date
Choose your ship
Your selected call
Avalon Saigon
Arrival
Not published
Departure
Not published
Scheduled window
Not published
3 ships that day
Up to 200 passenger capacity
Return checkpoint unavailable
A departure time has not been published for this ship. Confirm the official all-aboard time onboard before making plans ashore.
Guide match for this window
Confirm your ship's times, then choose one coherent local plan with a comfortable return margin.
Schedule source summary
Dates, ships, and times come from the currently published cruise-call records. Schedules can change, and passenger totals represent available ship-capacity data rather than a forecast of people going ashore.
Destination guide
About Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s busy capital, sits at the junction of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. It was a hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonialists. On its walkable riverfront, lined with parks, restaurants and bars, are the ornate Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, displaying artifacts from around the country. At the city’s heart is the massive, art deco Central Market.
Keep exploring
Nearby port guides
Stay connectedPartner recommendation
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Explore ashore
Shore excursions in Phnom Penh
Explore tour options for your port day. Check the meeting point and return time against your ship’s schedule before booking.
Excursion listings are not connected for this port yet.
This does not mean Shore Excursions Group has no tours here. You can check their current options directly.
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