Don Det to Siem Reap: An Honest Review of Asia Van Transfer
Heading from Laos to Cambodia and wondering how to get from Don Det to Siem Reap?
After dealing with some less-than-comfortable transport options in Laos, we did extra research to make this cross-border journey as smooth as possible.
Based on solid reviews and fast communication, we booked with Asia Van Transfer – and it turned out to be a great choice. You can check current schedules and book your ticket online here.
We weren’t sure what to expect, but by the end of the day we were genuinely impressed with the organization, comfort, and efficiency of the trip.
In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about traveling from Don Det to Siem Reap – including costs, timing, border formalities, and our honest review of Asia Van Transfer.
👉 Ready to plan your journey? Keep reading to see why this route made crossing from Laos to Cambodia far easier than we expected.
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How to Book Tickets from Don Det to Siem Reap with Asia Van Transfer
Book Tickets Online with Instant Confirmation
Book with Asia Van Transfer on 12Go. It’s super easy – here’s how! (FYI you can also book with Asia Van Transfer between other major cities in the region).
1) Enter your starting point and end destination into the 12Go search bar, select your dates and number of passengers.
2) Click the 3 dots to the right of the filter section, and choose Asia Van Transfer from the list of operators.
3) You will see the 9am journey with Asia Van Transfer ready and waiting for you to book!
Your ticket will be instantly confirmed, so you know you’ll have a spot on the bus as soon as you book.
We go through the entire process of leaving Don Det, catching the bus, and getting to Siem Reap below. So, even if you book online, keep reading so you know what to expect for the rest of your journey.
Book Tickets in Person While You’re in Don Det
We didn’t realize we could book online (or maybe it wasn’t available last year? Who knows!), so this is how we got our tickets.
Usually booking in person saves you at least a few dollars, but the ticket is $37USD both online and in person.
Honestly, we recommend just booking online. But if you’re old school and still want to book in person or happen to be near the office – here’s how to do it!
- Email Asia Van Transfer and inquire about prices and seat availability for the date you need to travel from Don Det to Siem Reap.
- Await a response with details of prices (In 2024 Don Det to Siem Reap was $37 USD, Don Khone to Siem Reap was $38 USD).
- If you are happy with the price, respond to the email confirming passenger details to secure your spot for the date you are leaving Don Det.
- Asia Van Transfer will send you digital tickets. You do not need to print these out.
🏖 Have a trip planned to the 4000 Islands? We’ll help you choose where to stay!
🛑 An additional step you need to take if you book in person. You won’t have to do this if you book online.
👉 The day before your journey from Don Det to Siem Reap, you will need to go to the office of Green Paradise Tour. Show your ticket on your phone, and the agent will give you a ticket for the boat to Nakasong and a ticket for the bus to the border.
Our Journey from Don Det to Siem Reap with Asia Van Transfer
How to Get to the Mainland from Don Det
The boat departs Don Det Pier at 9am. Asia Van Transfer uses local Don Det company Green Paradise Tour to transport customers via boat to Nakasong for the first leg of the journey. (Note: the boat trip is included in your ticket).
Once you’re off the boat, you will be guided to a specific queue based on the color of your ticket. Following a short wait, you will jump into a minibus for the 30 minute drive to the Cambodia border crossing.
It will be roughly 11am when you arrive at Laos immigration. At this point, your journey from Don Det to Siem Reap may feel like organized chaos, but trust that Asia Van Transfer has it all under control!
Laos and Cambodia Immigration – What It’s Really Like
In what appears to be a custom in Laos, there was an “administration fee” to pay at the Laos immigration window. We paid $2 USD per person.
It wasn’t clear what this fee was for, but we were happy to pay the small amount to have our passport stamped and be happily on our way.
Once we received our exit stamp from Laos immigration, we walked roughly 300 meters to the Cambodian immigration office.
Thankfully, we applied and paid for our Cambodian visa online. The e-visa was $36USD per person and meant that we were much quicker passing through Cambodia immigration to continue the rest of the journey.
🛑 IMPORTANT: Make sure you print your e-visa – digital versions are not accepted! We printed ours at a printing shop in Vientiane.
What Happens After Cambodia Immigration
Once we made it through immigration, we met with Mr Hout, an Asia Van Transfer employee.
He checked our tickets, processed our $37USD payment, then asked us to wait in the shaded area while the rest of the group made it through.
💵 TOP TIP: Pay in US Dollars for this commute. It is possible to pay in Cambodian Riel or Laotian Kip but if you do, you can expect a really poor exchange rate when you pay.
It was around an hour later when we boarded a minibus from the border to the Asia Van Transfer office in Stung Treng.
We were given around 1.5 hours to eat some lunch at their restaurant, get cash out if needed, and rest before the next leg of the journey.
💳 TOP TIP: You are able to pay by card at this restaurant, so you can wait to get cash out once you’re in Siem Reap.
The Bus Ride from Stung Treng to Siem Reap – How to Get the Best Seats
Congratulations! You’ve hit the halfway mark on your route from Don Det to Siem Reap.
The bus for the longest leg of the journey to Siem Reap is a coach. The legroom is sufficient (especially compared to past trips), but we recommend trying to snag the front seats for the best spot on the bus.
During this stretch, there is also a bus attendant on board, explaining where the toilet break would be and the expected arrival time in Siem Reap.
FYI, there is a toilet stop about two hours in, close to Preah Vhear city. You will arrive in Siem Reap around 7 pm.
Once you arrive safely in Siem Reap, Asia Van Transfer offers a free tuk tuk to your accommodation if it’s within a certain radius.
We stayed at The Urban (an AMAZING luxury on a budget hotel), which is only a short walk from the drop-off point, so we chose to walk to stretch our legs after a long ride.
Our Personal Thoughts on Asia Van Transfer
From start to finish, arranging transport from Don Det to Siem Reap was effortless with Asia Van Transfer.
They were easy to get in touch with, responded quickly, and provided detailed instructions on what to expect at the various checkpoints throughout the day.
There is a noticeable difference between the Laos and Cambodian legs of the journey. The differing levels of customer service is significant!
That being said, we understand that transit in Cambodia used by tourists is created FOR people visiting Cambodia, whereas transit in Laos is for both locals and tourists.
The bus attendant from Asia Van Transfer was funny, attentive and informative. Everything from Stung Treng onwards was communicated clearly and we had full clarity as to what was happening.
After 30 days in Laos, this communication was greatly appreciated. We will definitely be using Asia Van Transfer again for the journey from Don Det to Siem Reap, the reverse trip, or for any stops in between.
The company is truly an expert on helping travelers cross the border between Laos and Cambodia.
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