Free Buses Carry Cambodians Home for Pchum Ben on First Day of Travel

PHNOM PENH — Oct. 9, 2026: Cambodians have begun their journey home for the traditional Kan Ben and Pchum Ben festivals, with free public bus services carrying passengers from Phnom Penh to provinces across the country.

The first day of travel saw families, elders, aunts, uncles and grandparents depart the capital using the free bus service, arranged under the attention of the head of government to ease travel costs and provide comfortable, safe journeys.

Acting on the instructions of Prime Minister Hun Manet, the Phnom Penh Capital Administration has continued to arrange buses to transport citizens to their hometowns to reunite with family and observe the traditional Khmer festival.

Those who did not travel on Friday can continue their journeys on Saturday and subsequent days. The service runs for five days, from Oct. 9 to 13, 2026, serving various provinces from five departure and return locations listed in the official announcement.

For the Kan Ben and Pchum Ben festival, authorities wished all travellers safe and joyful journeys, good health, strength, longevity and success in their work.

The free bus service, announced earlier by Samdech Hun Sen, requires no registration and no identity documents from passengers. The measure follows the Royal Government's efforts to ease the financial burden on citizens travelling during one of Cambodia's busiest holiday periods.

Reported by The Khmer Today