Ferry from Phu Quoc - Kampot Starting December 31st, 2024 (?)

I just asked my Aussie friend who has been staying there with his Cambodian wife for a few months, playing music gigs.

They routinely make the crossing to Hà Tiên and do a border run into Cambodia & then return to VN & cross again to the island.

He replies:

"Yes, there is no confirmed start date or price yet and the terminal is on the other side of the island, so a taxi either way will be expensive."

They are staying at Bà Kèo

He replies... "Yes, there is no confirmed start date or price yet and the terminal is on the other side of the island, so a taxi either way will be expensive."

- @OceanBeach92107

Not sure I understand. The terminal on the other side of Phu Quoc, or is Kampot also considered to be on an island? The Kampot tourism Port looks to be about 12 kilometers (~7-8 miles) from Kampot town centre. If you're able to ask your friend, I'm curious as to whether tuk-tuks are allowed on the Kampot-to-terminal route(s).

I just had my GF check Grab for Cua Duong to the ferry. Not too bad at 191K VND. Cua Duong is just a little bit further from the PQ ferry than your friends Ba Keo location.

Aidan, I'm more confused now. I just copied what he said. When he says the other side of the island, He's talking about the long side of the island to the west (the coast where Rory's is located)

@Aidan in HCMC

Actually, over the last month or so there has also been a lot of chatter on this side of the border in Kampot, Cambodia on the "Kampot Noticeboard" page/group on a particularly well-known "social media" website.

At this point, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of facts or details included in these online discussions, similar to the results of your own search for info. Some people suggest that the logistics need to be sorted out first with regard to the boats, routes, immigration procedures, ticket prices, etc., in short, everything. I think that December 31st may be a symbolic date or perhaps there will some sort of opening ceremony at the KITP.

As OB mentions, getting to Phu Quoc from Kampot is already pretty straightforward via Hà Tiên with the trip to the border taking about 1 hr 15 min, but I guess a shorter journey and “free visa”/visa on arrival (as some on “social media” have mentioned) could potentially increase numbers. One poster stated on December 15 that the price to Vietnam will $25-30 for a 45-minute trip. However, the source of this info was not mentioned. Another poster said that the ferries will only operate domestically for 2 or three months as a trial, after which the international routes will be open, again without citing a source.

Regarding your questions, “is Kampot also considered to be on an island? The Kampot tourism Port looks to be about 12 kilometers (~7-8 miles) from Kampot town centre. If you're able to ask your friend, I'm curious as to whether tuk-tuks are allowed on the Kampot-to-terminal route(s),” Kampot is situated on either side of the Praek Tuek Chhu River that leads to the Gulf of Thailand. ‘There is a large island south of main part of town (Fish Island) that splits the river into two channels but is considered part of the town as far as I can tell. According to google maps, it. 8.2 kilometers from Kampot to the port, which is located near the estuary of this river. I’m not sure why tuk tuks or other modes of transportation would not be allowed to go there. I cycled down there a couple months ago to have a look but there wasn’t much to see, just the building. Last time I headed down that way a week or 10 days ago, they were in the process of paving/surfacing the road and I didn’t make it all the way to the port.

Ultimately, it just seems like a case of “wait and see” or "much ado about nothing (so far)".

@jayrozzetti23

Thanks for the news/view from the Cambodia side. "Wait and see" it is, then.

I asked about tuk-tuks because of OB's friend's comment about the ride to the ferry being an expensive taxi run, and so I thought that perhaps the road leading to the ferry terminal in Kampot was restricted access (taxis more expensive than tuk-tuks(?)). Many highways here in VN, as you know, do not allow use by motorcycles or vehicles with small displacement engines, and so I wondered whether the same sort of restricted access might apply to tuk-tuks in Cambodia.

@jayrozzetti23
Thanks for the news/view from the Cambodia side. "Wait and see" it is, then.
I asked about tuk-tuks because of OB's friend's comment about the ride to the ferry being an expensive taxi run, and so I thought that perhaps the road leading to the ferry terminal in Kampot was restricted access (taxis more expensive than tuk-tuks(?)). Many highways here in VN, as you know, do not allow use by motorcycles or vehicles with small displacement engines, and so I wondered whether the same sort of restricted access might apply to tuk-tuks in Cambodia. - @Aidan in HCMC

Pretty sure my friend was talking about the cost of a taxi across the island (PQ) but now I'm starting to understand the different logistics and I can see where maybe he is comparing the cost from the different ferry terminals to the border and back again.

@Aidan in HCMC

I was just getting ready to post the following news story that includes some actual details.

But first, to address your most recent post, I'm pretty sure OB means the trip to and from the terminal/port on Phu Quoc. On this side in Cambodia, once the road is completely surfaced it will be about a 15 minute drive by tuk tuk, which are plentiful around town, so not expensive with a but of bargaining. Kampot is a relatively small city with light traffic and literally one traffic light, and the port is just down the river a bit. There's really no taxi service here, except to go another city or tour around the countryside.

Anywayz, here are the highlights of the article from today's news:

Overwhelming demand for first int’l ferry from new Kampot port

The newly opened Kampot International Tourism Port has been overwhelmed by demand ahead of the launch of its first international ferry service next month.

“We are surprised,” Port Director Dara Khoy told Khmer Times yesterday. “We already have thousands of people on our list. And more are coming day by day.

The first ferries, operated by Cambodia’s Vireak Bantham travel group, are due to begin operating between Kampot and the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc – which Cambodia calls Koh Tral – on January 15..

The high-speed ferries, capable of carrying 300 passengers, will initially make the 40-minute voyage twice a day.

Services from Kampot... are also planned to Trat, on the southern coast of Thailand, and Cambodia’s Sihanoukville and Koh Kong.

“But we won’t start these until we have built up the Phu Quoc service,” Khoy said.

Full article: [link under review]

@jayrozzetti23

Thanks for that.

Khmer Times

(might've taken a while for that link to be approved)

Well, today's the day (January 15), so the chatter on Kampot's social media has started up again.

Unsurprisingly, nothing is happening and no new information is available, other than "ferry certification issue to be started".

As noted earlier, travel between Phu Quoc and Kampot or other parts of Cambodia is already possible via the Hà Tiên International Border Gate-Prek Chak International Border Checkpoint, is located 7 km west of Hà Tiên city.

Talk about going off half-cocked.

Originally, it was...

Then was updated to...

Starting maybe January 15th, 2025

...and today...

Heh! I see the travel time is no longer "less than 1 hour", and the price has increased from their stated "less than $30".

I guess that's progress😄

Oh dear.

Shocked, I tells 'ya! Shocked!😎

Here's the latest update:

"The Ministry of Public Works and Transport informs about the postponement of the opening ceremony of the Kampot International Tourist Port, which is scheduled to be held on April 3, 2025 under the leadership of His Highness His Excellency Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, at Chumkriel Village, Chumkriel Commune, Tuk Chou District, Kampot Province.

Meanwhile, the date and time of reorganization of the opening ceremony of the Kampot International Tourist Port will be announced later."

Source: Ministry of Public Works and Transport

So, I'm guessing that this still isn's running and probably won't run until some time late 2026 or 2027.

Pity