Phnom Penh Transport guide: Best ways to travel in the city

Two passApp rickshaw in Phnom Penh street — PassApp, the most popular transport application in Cambodia

With on-demand transport apps (Grab and PassApp), it's easy to get around Phnom Penh quickly and safely. Let's take a look at the different services and fares available for tourists and locals.

Two rickshaw are waiting at red lights in Phnom Penh

Walking in Phnom Penh can be difficult for many reasons.
Firstly, the heat is intense, so it's best to get out early in the morning or late in the day if you want to take a few steps.
Also, traffic is often chaotic with numerous cars and motorcycles. You'll have to force yourself to cross the road, as Cambodian vehicles are not the most gallant.
And last but not least, sidewalks are either absent or used by shopkeepers for their stalls or customer parking. Pedestrians therefore very often end up walking on the road alongside cars, which is very risky with children.

Fortunately, in Phnom Penh it's very easy to order transport for both long and short journeys. And the city is constantly upgrading its roads to improve traffic flow.

Until a metro or tramway is built, which is currently being studied by Cambodia's Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), I recommend using on-demand transport apps such as Grab and PassApp.

PassApp

PassApp is a local app, it only works in Cambodia and it's also the most popular and cheapest.
PassApp works like any other on-demand transport application. By submitting a trip request with the type of vehicle you want, you instantly see the fare and vehicles near your location. Once underway, you can view the itinerary and track your progress in real time.

With PassApp, you can choose from 4 types of vehicle: the classic car; the SUV; the tuktuk with 2 benches for up to 5 people, you're up high and the view is unobstructed; finally, the rickshaw for to 2 people, you're seated lower than the tuktuk and although the vehicle isn't totally enclosed, you have a restricted view of the sides. In all cases, be very careful with your belongings. Always place your bags in the middle, and avoid using your mobile phone if you're sitting on the edge. It's not uncommon for tourists to have their phones ripped out by scooters.

The disadvantage of PassApp is that account activation requires a local telephone number. So you'll need to buy a mobile plan. At SMART, for example, a 15 GB plan costs $1.5, valid for one week, or 60 GB plan for $6, valid for one month. This must be added $2 for the price of the SIM card ($2 more expensive at the airport).

With PassApp as with Grab, you can associate a credit card or choose to pay the driver directly in cash.
Rates range from $3 - $4 for short trips of less than 5 km to $6 - $9 if you want to cross the city (10 to 15 km).

Mobile phone operators in the Phnom Penh International Airport — Counters of mobile phone operators in the Phnom Penh International Airport

Grab

Grab est une application internationale très populaire dans toute l’Asie du Sud-Est. Son avantage est la création facile d’un compte qui ne nécessite pas obligatoirement un numéro de téléphone. Un email est suffisant pour activer son compte.
Grab dispose d'une plus grande flotte de chauffeurs et de véhicules que PassApp, les temps d'attente semblent donc un peu plus courts mais les tarifs sont légèrement plus élevés.
Avec Grab, le trajet de l'aéroport au marché de BKK en voiture coûte 38 000 riels (9,5$) contre 28 000 riels (7$) avec PassApp.

Les applications Grab et PassApp sont traduites en Anglais, en Français uniquement pour PassApp et plusieurs langues de l'Asie (Chinois, Thailandais, Vietnamien…) sur les deux applications.

Taxi

Si vous n'êtes pas à l'aise avec les applications mobiles, il reste bien sur les taxis classiques.
Cependant, il est important de faire preuve de prudence lorsque vous arrêtez un taxi dans la rue, car vous pourrez être amené à négocier le tarif. Souvent les taxis sont réticents à activer le compteur. Un bon choix est de demander à votre hôtel ou restaurant d'en appeler un pour vous.

Le trajet de l'aéroport au marché de BKK en taxi vous coutera 48 000 riels (12$).

Vous avez maintenant toutes les informations pour vous déplacer facilement et de manière sécurisée, et profiter pleinement de Phnom Penh.

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