Day 16: Phnom Penh to Saigon – A Day in Transit

Day Sixteen took us from Phnom Penh back to Saigon. There was no ambitious sightseeing programme, just a last morning in Cambodia, an airport lounge we enjoyed and a very short flight. A comfortable chair was about as demanding an attraction as we needed.

One Last Morning in Phnom Penh

We went for an early walk before the worst of the heat. The streets were quieter, vendors were setting up and the day was beginning around us. A little bakery also caught our attention. It was a simple final look at the city before the familiar business of collecting bags and going to the airport.

A Lounge We Enjoyed—at the Former Airport

After checking in, we spent time in the Plaza Premium Lounge at Phnom Penh International Airport. Our frequent-flyer arrangements gave us access on that trip. We liked the seating, the atmosphere and the chance to have an Aperol Spritz before boarding. After the previous day’s changes of plan, a calm wait was particularly welcome.

There was a generous selection of Asian and Western food. We enjoyed the lounge, but this account belongs to our May 2025 journey. Cambodia Airports records the transfer of operations to Techo International Airport on 9 September 2025. The old lounge experience should therefore not be read as a current recommendation for someone flying from Phnom Penh now.

A Short Flight, Then Another Wait

The flight to Saigon took around half an hour in the air. Immigration was straightforward on arrival; waiting for our Grab took longer than we expected. Travel has a useful way of reminding you that flight time and journey time are two quite different things.

We reached the hotel around 9 pm. There was enough energy for a look at the city outside, but not for an evening of exploring. Saigon—officially Ho Chi Minh City—could wait until we had slept.

The next two days brought heavy rain, shopping, the cathedral and the Central Post Office. Our plans would follow the weather rather than a heroic sightseeing checklist.