Ho Chi Minh City to Suong: A Practical Road Trip Guide

Route QL22, also known as National Road 22, is the main artery from Ho Chi Minh City to the Cambodian border town of Suong (Svay Rieng Province). This 85-kilometer stretch is notable for its flat delta terrain, a legacy of the Mekong's sedimentation, and its role as a trade corridor.

The drive takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours under normal traffic, crossing from Vietnam's Dong Nai River basin into Cambodia's rice plains. The road forms part of the Asian Highway Network (AH1), with the border crossing at Bavet/Xa Mat being one of the busiest land ports in Southeast Asia.

For planning your journey, see how to find the best stops and hidden gems between cities. The table below outlines key logistics for the trip.

Fuel is plentiful along QL22, with stations every 10-15 kilometers on the Vietnamese side and less frequent on the Cambodian side. As of recent data, gasoline prices are slightly lower in Cambodia, typically $0.70/liter compared to $0.75 in Vietnam. Expect tolls on the Vietnamese section: a motorbike costs 20,000 VND and a car 50,000 VND at the Long An toll plaza.

Road quality is good to excellent—the Vietnamese side is a divided highway with well-maintained asphalt, while the Cambodian side from Bavet to Suong has recently been upgraded to a two-lane road but still has some unpaved shoulders. The route is flat and straight, making it monotonous for some drivers; beware of frequent crossovers and livestock on the Cambodian segment.

• Border crossing: Xa Mat (Vietnam) / Bavet (Cambodia) open 24/7, but peak congestion occurs 8-10 AM and 4-6 PM.
• Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND) and Cambodian Riel (KHR) are accepted on both sides; US dollars are widely used in Cambodia.
• Documents: For foreign drivers, an International Driving Permit is required in Vietnam, and a temporary permit from the department of public works for entering Cambodia.

Road safety is generally good but varies: the Vietnamese side has street lighting and regular patrols, while the Cambodian side lacks lighting and has motorbike traffic opposing flow in places. Speed limits are 80 km/h in Vietnam and 70 km/h in Cambodia; radar checks are common.

For fatigue management, plan to stop at the Long An rest area (30 km from HCMC) or at Bavet after the border. These have coffee, food, and parking. If you need a longer break, the city of Tay Ninh (approx. 35 km off route) offers the Cao Dai Great Temple and nature parks.

Hidden off-route spots: the Binh Duong ceramics villages are a short detour from the start, and the floating village of Kampong Cham (not to be confused with the city) is an hour beyond Suong. For the best stops Ho Chi Minh City to Suong, consider these: Hoc Mon district's duck porridge stalls, the Gia Loc flower village (4 km after the border), and the Suong local market.

For the question how long to drive Ho Chi Minh City to Suong, the answer is typically 2 hours, but add 30-60 minutes for border procedures. The answer to is it worth driving Ho Chi Minh City to Suong is yes for travelers wanting a genuine cultural boundary experience without a long flight. For things to do between Ho Chi Minh City and Suong, focus on local markets, religious sites, and culinary tours.

The landscape is dominated by rice paddies and orchards, with the transboundary Vam Co Dong River appearing near the border. No UNESCO World Heritage Sites lie exactly on this route, but the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels (a national historic site) or the Cambodian temple complex of Phnom Chisor (about 40 km north of Suong) are worth detours.

Culinary infrastructure is robust: roadside restaurants serve Vietnamese fare like 'hu tieu' and Cambodian 'ba i sach chrouk' (pork and rice). For families, many stops have playgrounds and clean restrooms, but not all are well signposted. Pet-friendly stops are limited; you'll find a few cafes that allow pets, but plan to bring water and food for your animal.