cambodia travel medicine

What you need to know before visiting Cambodia: health care, currency, and culture

Mar 26, 2022 • 7 min read

From what to pack to being prepared for health and safety concerns, here's what you need to know ahead of a trip to Cambodia © Jim Purdum / Getty Images

Cambodia is considered one of the friendliest countries in Southeast Asia . Thanks to an unbreakable spirit and infectious optimism, the Khmers have prevailed. No visitor comes away without a measure of admiration and affection for the inhabitants of this enigmatic kingdom. 

General health is more of an issue here than in many other parts of Southeast Asia, due to a lack of international-standard medical-treatment facilities, a prevalence of tropical diseases, and poor sanitation. Once you venture into rural areas you are on your own, although most provinces have a reasonable clinic for minor health problems.

Cambodia is generally a very safe country to visit, but occasional crimes and scams do happen so it is best to minimize the risks where possible. Whether you're a first-time visitor or returning once again, this guide can help you plan the essentials for your trip.

Cambodia's use of currency can be confusing 

Cambodia’s official currency is the riel (4000r = US$1). The US dollar is used as a parallel currency and accepted everywhere, although small change may arrive in riel. Just to confuse matters, in towns bordering Thailand Thai baht (B) is also accepted.

Get yourself a  krama  as soon as you arrive

Purchase a krama , a traditional Cambodian checked scarf, as soon as you arrive – it's a multipurpose travel towel that the locals use in a multitude of ways. The primary use is protection from the sun, dust, and wind, but you can also use it as a quick cover-up sarong-style, to towel yourself down after a dip in the pool, and as a makeshift pillow. Essentially the list is as long as your imagination and it takes up virtually no space in your backpack compared to the multiple equivalent products it dupes.

Pack lightweight gear and casual clothes for Cambodia

Lightweight and loose-fitting clothes are the best plan in Cambodia, including cottons and linens to combat the humidity. Cambodia is not a particularly dressy place unless you're spending time at high-end bars and clubs in  Phnom Penh or Siem Reap , so smart clothes are rarely a necessity. If heading to the upland northeast in November to March, pack a warm top for the cool nights. 

What to pack

• Lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect the sun
• Comfortable sandals or shoes
• Refillable water bottle
• Powerful sunscreen and long-lasting deodorant
• Earplugs to block out the noise
• Unlocked mobile phone for use with a Cambodian SIM card (roaming charges are very expensive, it’s worth buying a cheap SIM upon arrival)
• A light raincoat if traveling in the wet season.

There is some important etiquette to keep in mind

Cambodian people are very gracious hosts, but there are some important spiritual and social conventions to observe.

Always be respectful at a Buddhist site 

When visiting temples, cover up to the knees and elbows, and remove shoes and any head covering when entering temple buildings. Sit with your feet tucked behind you to avoid pointing them at Buddha images. It's also good to leave a small donation. Women should never touch a monk or his offering bowl – the Buddhist faith believes it is contrary to a monk's sacred vows to be in close proximity to a woman that isn't a relative.

Use the local greeting when meeting new people

Called the sompiah , the local greeting in Cambodia involves putting your hands together in a prayer-like manner. Use this when introduced to new Khmer friends. When beckoning someone over, always wave towards yourself with the palm down.

Bargaining is expected in markets and for transportation

It's important to haggle in markets in Cambodia, otherwise, the stallholder may "shave your head" (local vernacular for "rip you off"). Negotiation is also the rule when arranging share taxis, pickups, and local transportation like tuk tuks if ordering in person and not via a ride-hailing app. The Khmers are not ruthless hagglers, so a persuasive smile and a little friendly quibbling are usually enough to get a price that's acceptable to both you and the seller.

It's important to dress modestly 

Avoid wearing swimsuits or scant clothing around towns in Cambodia, even in beach destinations. Wear a sarong or krama to cover up.

Tipping is appreciated

Tipping is not essential but is commonplace in establishments catering to tourists such as hotels and restaurants, and it is standard practice to tip tour guides and drivers on organized tours. 

Local health care in Cambodia is basic

Do not visit Cambodia without medical insurance. Hospitals are very basic in the provinces and anyone who has a serious injury or illness while in Cambodia may require emergency evacuation to Bangkok. If you fall seriously ill in Cambodia you should head to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, as these are the only places in the country with decent emergency treatment. 

Pharmacies in the larger towns are remarkably well stocked and you don’t need a prescription to get your hands on anything from antibiotics to antimalarials. 

When it comes to tap water, play it safe and avoid it where possible. Bottled water is widely available in Cambodia and many hotels and guesthouses have refill tanks. Ice is generally fine to use, as it is produced in bottled water factories around the country, a legacy of the French colonial period.

Elephant rides are not recommended

Though not yet illegal in Cambodia, elephant rides have been repeatedly called out by animal welfare groups as cruel and painful for the animal – some private companies are finally rethinking the practice . Do your research to ensure any animal sanctuary you'd like to visit is ethical and prioritizes the welfare of the inhabitants.  

Stay safe in Cambodia with these top tips

The most common crime is bag or mobile-phone snatching, usually perpetrated by thieves on motorcycles. Smartphones are a particular target, so avoid using your phone on the side of the street, especially at night. Walking or riding alone late at night is not ideal, as there have been several incidents of solo women travelers being assaulted in isolated areas, usually after dark.

Most scams are fairly harmless, involving a bit of commission here and there for local drivers. There have been one or two reports of police set-ups in Phnom Penh, involving planted drugs, but these seem very rare and usually involve business owners. Beware the Filipino blackjack scam – don't get involved in any gambling with seemingly friendly folks unless you want to part with plenty of cash.

There is quite a lot of fake medication floating about the region, so only buy prescription drugs from reliable pharmacies or clinics. Be very careful if being offered chemical drugs on the street in Cambodia, as not only are they illegal but may be laced with all sorts of dangerous toxic substances. 

Due to the presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in some rural areas, it is essential to stick to marked paths. Keep a close eye on small children in rural areas to make sure they don't stray and do not go off road if you're cycling.

Roads have improved massively in recent years, but conditions can vary widely from the dry to the wet season. Although motorcycles are a popular way to get around in Cambodia, do not attempt it if you're not an experienced driver. The tangled traffic in the big towns and cities is no place for a novice.

Run through this pre-departure checklist before you go

• Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months or you won't be allowed into Cambodia
• Arrange any recommended inoculations at a travel-health clinic
• Purchase travel insurance with decent health coverage
• Double-check to see if you need to arrange a visa before arrival

You might also like: Angkor Wat: everything you need to know about Cambodia's most iconic temple    Siem Reap: 11 best things to do after you explore Angkor Wat    Cambodia's less-traveled islands visitors need to know about   

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Travel Vaccines and Advice for Cambodia

Amazing vistas, stone temples and massive green jungles are just a few of Cambodia’s sights. In the cities, travellers can find world-class restaurants and a fun nightlife.

For those looking to experience a new culture and meet new people, Cambodians are generous and very hospitable.

For the history buffs, Cambodia has been working to rebuild after the starvation, poverty, and violence that plagued the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979, putting up monuments and statues to celebrate what the country overcame.

Do I Need Vaccines for Cambodia?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Cambodia. The National Travel Health Network and Centre and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Cambodia: hepatitis A , hepatitis B , typhoid , cholera , yellow fever , Japanese encephalitis , rabies and tetanus .

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunisations:

• Hepatitis A – Food & Water – Recommended for most travellers to the region, especially if unvaccinated.
• Hepatitis B – Blood & Body Fluids – Recommended for travellers to most regions.
• Tetanus – Wounds or Breaks in Skin – Recommended for travellers to most regions, especially if not previously vaccinated.
• Typhoid – Food & Water – Recommended for travellers to most regions.
• Cholera – Food & Water – Recommended for travel to most regions.
• Yellow Fever – Mosquito – Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
• Japanese Encephalitis – Mosquito – Recommended depending on itinerary and activities. Recommended for extended travel, recurrent travellers and travel to rural areas. Present throughout country. Most cases from May to October.
• Rabies – Saliva of Infected Animals – High risk country. Vaccine recommended for long-stay travellers and those who may come in contact with animals.

See the tables below for more information:

A Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for some travellers. This is especially true if you will be staying longer-term or visiting rural areas.

Travellers should also take steps to avoid mosquito bites and mosquito-borne disease like malaria and dengue . Share your itinerary with a travel medicine specialist to see if there are other steps you can take to prevent malaria, including antimalarials.

See our vaccinations page to learn more about these infections and vaccines. Ready to protect yourself? Book your travel health appointment today by calling or schedule online now .

Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Cambodia?

Visas are required to enter Cambodia. They can be obtained on arrival or through the eVisa program. On arrival visas are only available at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap airports. They cost $30 and require the submission of a passport photo. Passports must be valid at least six months. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required if you are travelling from a region where yellow fever is present.

Sources: Embassy of Cambodia and GOV.UK

What is the Climate Like in Cambodia?

Due to the country’s location close to the equator, Cambodia has a very warm climate.

November through February in is typically cool and dry. December and January are often thought of as the best times to visit due to the warm days and clear skies.

March through May are hot and dry, though there are occasional rain showers in the afternoons. From June to August it is hot and wet, as the monsoon rains begin.

Finally, September through early November is cool and wet, with the monsoon season coming to an end in late October.

How Safe is Cambodia?

To stay safe in Cambodia, travelers should be aware of their surroundings and watch out for suspicious behavior.

Travelers should use licensed taxis or drivers from reputable companies and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Travelers should also research their accommodation options and choose a location with good security measures.

When visiting temples or religious sites, it’s important to dress modestly and be respectful of local customs and traditions.

By being mindful of their behavior and avoiding illegal or risky activities, travelers can have a safe and enjoyable trip to Cambodia.

Visiting Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is a large and historic temple complex in Cambodia that has many popular tourist destinations. Some of the most famous sites within Angkor Wat include the Angkor Wat Temple, Bayon Temple, and Ta Prohm Temple.

The Angkor Wat Temple is the largest and most iconic temple in the complex. Bayon Temple is unique due to the large stone faces carved into its towers. Ta Prohm Temple is known for its ruins that have been left in their natural state, with trees growing through them.

Other popular tourist destinations within Angkor Wat include Banteay Srei Temple, Preah Khan Temple, Angkor Thom, Terrace of the Elephants, and Terrace of the Leper King. Banteay Srei Temple is small but has intricate carvings made of pink sandstone. Preah Khan Temple is a large complex that was once a university. Angkor Thom was the ancient capital city of the Khmer Empire, and it has impressive gates, temples and other structures. The Terrace of the Elephants is a raised platform with intricate carvings of elephants. The Terrace of the Leper King is a platform with a statue of the Leper King surrounded by intricate carvings.

What Should I Pack for Cambodia?

A trip to Cambodia is an unforgettable experience. Ensure you bring everything you’ll need to enjoy it to the fullest.

• Money Belt – Due to the amount of pick-pocketing that occurs, a money belt will allow you to keep your money and passport safe.
• Jumper/Pashmina – Many of the religious sites have a strict dress code, but the temperature outside will be very warm. A jumper or pashmina that one can wear inside and then remove is a great idea.
• Sun Cream – Cambodia very warm and gets a lot of sunlight, meaning sun cream is important.
• Walking shoes – Visitors will likely want to explore the huge religious sites or the gorgeous outdoors, making good shoes a must.

Embassy of the United Kingdom in Cambodia

If you are in Cambodia and have an emergency (for example, been attacked, arrested or someone has died) contact the nearest consular services. Contact the embassy before arrival if you have additional questions on entry requirements, safety concerns or are in need of assistance.

British Embassy Phnom Penh 27-29 Street 75, Sangkat Srah Chak, Khan Daun Penh Phnom Penh 12201 Cambodia Telephone: +855 (0)61 3000 11 / (0)61 3000 12 / (0)61 3000 44 / (0)61 3000 99 Emergency Phone: +855 (0)61 3000 11 / (0)61 3000 12 / (0)61 3000 44 or (0)61 3000 99 Fax: +855 (0)23 427 125 Email: [email protected]

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On This Page: Do I Need Vaccines for Cambodia? Do I Need a Visa or Passport for Cambodia What is the Climate Like in Cambodia? How Safe is Cambodia? Visiting Angkor Wat What Should I Pack To Cambodia? Embassy of the United Kingdom in Cambodia

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THE NEW TRAVEL CONDITIONS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTH AND TOURISM SAFETY MEASURES FOR TRAVELLERS ENTERING CAMBODIA IN THE CONTEXT OF “A NEW NORMAL” .

Permission for fully vaccinated tourists and travelers entering to the Kingdom of Cambodia without quarantine.

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This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Dial 119 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccinations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on vaccinations and health risks in TravelHealthPro’s Cambodia guide
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro .

The NHS has information on whether you can take your medicine abroad .

Healthcare facilities in Cambodia

FCDO has a list of English speaking doctors in Cambodia .

There is also guidance on healthcare if you’re living in Cambodia.

COVID-19 healthcare in Cambodia

If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms, dial +855 (0)12825424 and local authorities will be able to advise you on what action you should take.

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Travel Advisory July 24, 2023

Cambodia - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in Cambodia. Some areas have increased risks. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Exercise increased precautions in:

• Phnom Penh due to  crime.
• Very remote areas of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, and Kampong Thom provinces due to  land mines.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Cambodia.

If you decide to travel to Cambodia:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Cambodia.

·        Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.

• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Phnom Penh – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Street crime, particularly phone and bag snatchings, occurs frequently in areas where foreigners gather; resistance can result in injury. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and to be extra vigilant when displaying items like jewelry, bags and cell phones in public. Violent crime, such as sexual assault and homicide, is common, sometimes against foreigners.

Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Use caution when walking or driving at night.

Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, and Kampong Thom provinces – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Land mines and unexploded ordnance are found in very remote areas throughout Cambodia, and especially in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, and Kampong Thom provinces.

Do not touch unknown metal objects; instead notify the Cambodia Mine Action Center at 012-800-473/023-995-437. Use a local guide when walking in forested areas or dry rice paddies in these areas.

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Six months.

One page is required per entry stamp; please note endorsement pages are not considered blank passport pages.

The import of local currency (Riel) is prohibited. When entering Cambodia foreign currency amounts over US $10,000 must be declared.

The export of local currency (Riel) is prohibited. Foreign currency can be taken out of the country up to the limit declared at customs on arrival.

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U.s. embassy phnom penh.

#1, St. 96 (entrance on St. 51 between St. 96 and 102), Phnom Penh Telephone: 855-23-728-402, 051, or 234 Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Emergency after-hours telephone: 855-23-728-000 Fax: 855-23-728-700 Email: [email protected] Facebook   Twitter

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Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Please visit the  Embassy’s COVID-19 page  for more information on entry/exit requirements related to COVID-19 in Cambodia. 

You will need a valid passport and a Cambodian visa to enter Cambodia. Tourist and business visas are valid for one month from the date of entry into Cambodia.  Cambodia offers on-line visa processing . You may also apply in person at the Cambodian Embassy located at 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, tel. 202-726-7742, fax 202-726-8381.

Tourists, diplomats, and business travelers may also obtain a Cambodian visa at the airports in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and at all major border crossings. Cambodian immigration officials at airports now collect fingerprints upon entry using an inkless, electronic process. You will need a passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of entry into Cambodia.

If you remain in Cambodia beyond the date of your authorized stay, Cambodian immigration officials will likely impose a fine of $10 per day overstayed. In cases of excessive overstays, you may be arrested for violating immigration laws and detained as you undergo official deportation proceedings at your own expense. Deportation from Cambodia may result in your being prohibited from reentering Cambodia in the future. You should contact the nearest Cambodian embassy or consulate, or visit the  Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia website  for the most current visa information.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Cambodia

Safety and Security

The Department of State is concerned that individuals and groups may be planning terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and interests, including at sites frequented by Westerners in Southeast Asia. Extremist groups in Southeast Asia have transnational capabilities to carry out attacks against locations where Westerners congregate. Although the extremist threat in Cambodia is considered low and terrorist attacks are not common, U.S. citizens residing in, or traveling to, Cambodia should exercise caution in clubs, discos, bars, restaurants, hotels, places of worship, schools, outdoor recreation venues, tourist areas, beach resorts, and other places frequented by foreigners. U.S. citizens should remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and avoid ongoing police enforcement actions, crowds, and demonstrations. See Department of State’s  Worldwide Caution .

Land mines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote rural areas throughout Cambodia, and especially in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, and Oddar Meanchey  provinces. Travelers in these regions should never walk in forested areas or even in dry rice paddies without a local guide. Areas around small bridges on secondary roads are particularly dangerous. Travelers should not touch anything that resembles a mine or unexploded ordnance; they should notify the Cambodia Mine Action Center at 012-800-473/023-995-437.

Crime:  Cambodia has a critical crime rate, including street crime. Military weapons and explosives are readily available to criminals despite authorities’ efforts to collect and destroy such weapons. Armed robberies occur frequently, and foreign residents and visitors, including U.S. citizens, are among the victims. The Embassy has also received reports that residences and hotel rooms of U.S. citizens in Phnom Penh were burglarized while the occupants were asleep.

The most common type of theft is “snatch and grab” robbery, and anything that can be quickly grabbed is at risk: cameras, jewelry, purses, backpacks, mobile phones, etc. Exercise caution and keep belongings out of sight if you travel via “tuk-tuk,” as passengers in these open-air vehicles have been targeted by thieves. If walking along the street, make yourself less of a target by carrying bags or items in your hand or on the shoulder that is furthest from the street. If someone attempts to rob you, you should surrender your valuables immediately, since any perceived resistance may be met with physical violence, including lethal force. The U.S. Embassy has received reports of violent robberies escalating into fatalities. 

Pickpockets, some who are masquerading as beggars, are present in the markets and at the tourist sites. Sometimes they may act overly friendly, placing their hand on your shoulder or back to distract you in order to pick your pocket.

To avoid the risk of theft or confiscation of original documents, the U.S. Embassy advises its personnel and all U.S. citizens traveling to, or residing in, Cambodia to carry photocopies of their U.S. passport, driver's license, and other important documents and to leave the originals in a hotel safe or other secure place. The U.S. Embassy advises citizens not to give their passport as collateral for motorcycle rentals, hotels, etc. Local police rarely investigate reports of crime against tourists, and travelers should not expect to recover stolen items. It has also been reported that some police stations charge foreigners between $20 and $100 to file a police report.

Foreigners travelling to Cambodia should be aware of common scams targeting tourists, often involving card games. [MWP(P1] The Embassy has received reports of U.S. citizens being approached by individuals in public locations, such as popular shopping malls, and being invited to their homes where they end up participating in card games. These are often scams to steal tourists’ money. If you find yourself a victim of one of these scams, you should contact the U.S. Embassy.

Foreigners travelling to Cambodia should be aware of crime targeting tourists involving drugged drinks. The Embassy has received reports of U.S. citizens’ drinks being drugged at bars in order to incapacitate them for theft or sexual assault. Do not accept drinks from strangers and do not leave drinks unattended.

The U.S. Embassy advises citizens to be wary of scams involving individuals claiming they are in Cambodia and need financial assistance from the United States. The Embassy has determined that many of these requests are fraudulent and the individuals making the requests use false identities. In the past year, numerous confirmed media reports of large-scale scam operations have led to a crackdown by Cambodian authorities. These operations have been reported to lure non-Cambodians with false promises of gainful employment. Victims of this false recruitment have then been made to participate in the online/phone-based financial confidence scams. 

See the  Department of State  and the  FBI  pages for information on scams.

There have been numerous reports of visitors receiving fake or novelty $50 and $100 bills from ATM machines and banks across Cambodia. When receiving money from ATMs or bank tellers, you should count and examine the money while still in the presence of the ATM camera or bank teller. The fake money typically has a different feel than real U.S. currency and often has markings on the lower left that indicate it is for novelty purposes. If a suspicious bill is discovered, it should be shown to the ATM camera or teller, and the bank should be notified immediately.

The U.S. Embassy advises its personnel who travel to the provinces outside of Phnom Penh to exercise caution outside the provincial towns at all times. Many rural parts of the country remain without effective policing. Avoid walking alone after dusk anywhere in Sihanoukville, especially along the waterfront. You should be particularly vigilant during annual festivals and at tourist sites in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, where there have been marked increases in motorcycle “snatch and grab” thefts of bags and purses.

If you are visiting Cambodia, you should practice sound personal security awareness by varying your routes and routines, maintaining a low profile, not carrying or displaying large amounts of cash, not wearing flashy or expensive jewelry, and not walking alone after dark. In addition, you should travel by automobile and not use local moto-taxis or cyclos (passenger-carrying bicycles). These vehicles are more vulnerable to armed robberies and offer no protection against injury when involved in traffic accidents.

U.S. citizens are advised not to engage in commercial surrogacy  arrangements in Cambodia. In October 2016, the Government of Cambodia issued an official proclamation banning commercial surrogacy in Cambodia. Please keep in mind that U.S. citizens and other foreigners in Cambodia are subject to Cambodian laws and procedures.

Although gambling and casinos are legal in Cambodia, the U.S. Embassy strongly encourages all travelers to be cautious in choosing to visit casinos or related gambling centers in Cambodia. The U.S. Embassy is aware of numerous reported incidents at casinos throughout Cambodia. In the past year, these incidents such as fires at casinos resulting in multiple fatalities, violent assaults, murders, and suicides under suspicious circumstances have occurred.

Victims of Crime:  Report crimes to the local police and contact the U.S. Embassy at 023-728-000. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.

In cases of sexual assault, U.S. citizen victims should contact the U.S. Embassy first before contacting local police or authorities.

See our webpage on  help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on  victim’s compensation programs in the U.S .
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance . 

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Cambodia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. If you break local laws in Cambodia, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

The same rights and protections afforded those accused of a crime in the U.S. are not guaranteed in Cambodia, and the judicial process may be influenced by political, personal, and financial connections. In both the criminal and civil judicial systems, resources devoted to the investigation/discovery and trial process fall far below the standard expected in the United States. Cambodia routinely employs pre-trial detention for those charged with criminal offenses, sometimes for long periods of time before a trial is scheduled. Prison conditions in Cambodia are substandard and overcrowded, with little access to health care or basic nutritional requirements.

U.S. citizens in Cambodia should be aware that there are limits to the assistance the Embassy can offer to those with concerns about due process or the fairness of their trial, as the Embassy is unable to interfere in the legal processes of a host country.

You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States, and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest Notifications:  If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our  webpage  for further information.

Faith-Based Travelers:  See our following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report   – see country reports
• Human Rights Report   – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTI Travelers:  While there are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Cambodia, same sex marriage is not permitted. While Cambodians are relatively tolerant toward foreigners, LGBTI Cambodians routinely face discrimination and harassment, especially outside major urban areas. Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon for couples of any sexual orientation.

See our  LGBTI Travel Information  page and section six of our  Human Rights report  for further details.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance:  While in Cambodia, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what they find in the United States. Currently, except for buildings and hotels that have been built under international standards, most public places and public transportation are not accessible. Persons with disabilities will face difficulties with Cambodia’s sidewalks, rest rooms, road crossings, and tourist areas.

Students:  See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers:  There have been reports of sexual assaults in the vicinity of drinking establishments and possible drugs being used to incapacitate female travelers. See our travel tips for  Women Travelers .

Water Festival:  During this annual festival, which takes place in November, the population in Phnom Penh increases significantly as millions of Cambodians from every town and province flock to the capital for three days. For personal safety and security, you should avoid crowded areas near the riverfront during the Water Festival holiday.

Customs:  Cambodian customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Cambodia of items such as medications, firearms, antiquities, or ivory. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Cambodia in Washington D.C. for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Restrictions on Freedom of Expression and Association:  There are freedom of speech restrictions in Cambodia. Anyone who criticizes or insults the King by any means could face between one to five years in prison. This ban includes insults or criticism made online and via social media. The government of Cambodia has used libel and slander laws to restrict public discussion on topics it deems sensitive or against its interests.

Dual Nationality:  Dual nationality is allowed under Cambodia's 1996 nationality law. However, if you have Cambodian nationality and possess another nationality, you may be viewed as a Cambodian citizen in any court proceedings and face stricter sentences.

Business Transactions:  Some U.S. citizens have reported threats of personal injury, extortion, detention, or kidnapping related to personal business disputes, in particular those involving real estate. If you are planning to engage in real estate or other significant financial transactions, please proceed with caution and retain the appropriate legal counsel.

Financial Transaction:  The U.S. dollar is widely used, especially for larger transactions, and most prices are quoted in dollars. Ripped, torn, or stained U.S. bills are not accepted. Authorities encourage greater use of the Cambodian riel, but it is less favored and is mostly given to tourists as change for dollar purchases. The riel is commonly used in smaller towns and rural areas. Credit cards are accepted at some establishments within Cambodia, and a number of banks in Phnom Penh accept credit cards for cash advances. Credit cards are often subject to a service charge. Banks and major hotels accept travelers' checks but usually charge a service fee. Several international banks operate ATM machines that allow travelers to obtain U.S. dollar currency in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and other urban centers. Personal checks are not generally accepted. Several banks serve as Western Union agents, to which funds can be wired, including in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and other provincial cities. Information on Western Union can be found at their  website .

Photography:  Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest — including government buildings, military installations, airfields, and bridges — may result in problems with the authorities and confiscation of your camera.

Medical facilities and services in Cambodia do not meet international standards. Both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have a limited number of internationally run clinics and hospitals that can provide basic medical care and stabilization. Medical care outside of these two cities is almost non-existent. Local pharmacies provide a limited supply of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Because the quality of locally obtained medications can vary greatly, make sure to bring a supply of your medications adequate for the duration of your stay in Cambodia. You should be wary of purchasing local medication. Counterfeit medication is readily available, often indiscernible from authentic medication, and potentially lethal.

 Be aware that neither U.S. Medicare nor Medicaid apply overseas.

Medical Insurance:  Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance coverage overseas. Visit the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  for more information on what type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

  Supplemental insurance  to cover medical evacuation is strongly recommended.

Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Check with the government of  Cambodia   to ensure the medication is legal in Cambodia. Always, carry your prescription medication in the original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

Be careful if purchasing off-brand medication from pharmacies in Cambodia. Drugs sold in pharmacies can be fake and possibly dangerous. 

Malaria, Dengue and Tuberculosis are serious health concerns in Cambodia. For further information, please consult the  CDC .

Vaccinations:  Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)

Air Quality:  Visit  AirNow for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

Travel and Transportation

Road Condition and Safety:  You should not drive at night in Cambodia outside of city limits. Roads between major areas are adequate; however, roads leading to rural areas are poor. During the rainy season, road conditions deteriorate considerably, and roadside assistance is non-existent. Cambodian drivers routinely ignore traffic laws and vehicles are poorly maintained. Intoxicated drivers are commonplace, particularly during the evening hours. Travel is recommended in daylight between the hours of 6:30  a.m. and 5:30 p.m.  There are also frequent bus accidents.    Serious flooding occurs throughout Cambodia from June through November. Travel on unpaved or dirt roads is difficult after heavy rainfall. The National Route highways are the only roads that can be traveled, with caution, during this time of the year.

Traffic Laws:  In the event you are in a traffic accident, you should cooperate with the police. You should also contact your insurance company for guidance in dealing with the other party and the police. To avoid the risk of theft or confiscation of original documents, the U.S. Embassy advises its personnel and all U.S. citizens traveling to, or residing in, Cambodia to carry photocopies of their U.S. passport, driver's license, and other important documents and to leave the originals in a hotel safe or other secure place.

While in Cambodia, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Traffic in Cambodia is composed of a mix of automobiles, commercial trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and tuk tuks. As a result of poor roads, driver intoxication, and disregard for traffic laws, traffic accidents are a common occurrence. You should exercise great caution in moving through the country, regardless of mode of transportation.

Public Transportation:  Travelers should exercise caution when using inter-city buses, including those to popular tourist destinations such as Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Despite the wide availability of moto-taxis, you should not use them due to safety concerns. Be vigilant if traveling by “tuk-tuk” or “cyclo” as personal belongings can be easily stolen. Organized emergency services for victims of traffic accidents are non-existent outside of major urban areas, and those available in major urban areas are inadequate.

See our  Road Safety page  for more information. Visit the website of Cambodia’s  national tourist office   and national authority responsible for  road safety .

Aviation Safety Oversight:  As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Cambodia, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Cambodia’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel: The Commandant of the Coast Guard has determined that effective anti-terrorism measures are not in place in Cambodia ports and has imposed conditions of entry on vessels that arrive in U.S. ports having visited ports in Cambodia. Mariners and passengers on commercial vessels traveling through the ports of Cambodia should exercise increased caution.

Mariners planning travel to Cambodia should also check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts at Maritime Security Communications with Industry (MSCI) Web Portal | MARAD (dot.gov) . Information may also be posted to the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website , and the NGA broadcast warnings website  (select “broadcast warnings”).

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Cambodia .  For additional IPCA-related information, please see the  International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA )  report.

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Can I travel to Cambodia from the United States?

Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Cambodia.

Can I travel to Cambodia if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Cambodia without restrictions.

Can I travel to Cambodia without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United States can enter Cambodia without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Cambodia?

Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Cambodia.

Can I travel to Cambodia without quarantine?

Travelers from the United States are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Cambodia?

Mask usage in Cambodia is not required in public spaces.

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Restaurants in Cambodia are open. Bars in Cambodia are .

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Cambodia travel advice

Latest updates: The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)

Last updated: April 15, 2024 13:01 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, cambodia - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Cambodia due to an increase in petty crime.

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Petty crime

Petty crime, such as phone and bag snatching, occurs frequently. Thieves, sometimes on motorcycles, grab bags and other valuables, including passports. Theft targeting foreigners is frequent on sidewalks, on motorcycles and tuktuks (rickshaws) in:

• Phnom Penh, particularly the riverfronts and the Boeung Keng Kang areas
• Sihanoukville

Personal belongings have been stolen from locked rooms, particularly in low-cost accommodations. Items have been removed from luggage stored in the luggage compartments of buses, especially on the journey between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

These crimes occur any time of day or night.

During your stay in Cambodia:

• ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and your other travel documents are secure at all times
• do not leave your belongings unattended
• if you are robbed, hand over cash, electronic devices and valuables without resistance

Violent crime

Violent crimes, such as stabbings, sometimes occur. Foreigners have encountered difficulties when reporting crimes to police and military personnel lacking discipline.

Organized crime

There are reports of criminal operations in the seaside resort of Sihanoukville and the Special Economic Zone. The criminal activity includes employment scams, drug and human trafficking.

During your trip:

• exercise a high degree of caution at all times
• avoid walking alone after dark
• report any criminal incidents to the local police of the jurisdiction, before leaving Cambodia

Cambodia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Landmines pose a threat to the safety of travellers.

There are still reports of landmines in the following areas:

• the Preah Vihear Phnom Kulen temple areas
• the border areas, including with Thailand
• the River of a Thousand Lingas

There are also landmines in rural areas, especially in the following provinces:

• Banteay Meanchey
• Kampong Thom
• Siem Reap except in the town of Siem Reap and the Angkor temples, which are considered clear by the Cambodian government

If you are travelling through the affected areas:

• be especially vigilant in remote areas, near small bridges and secondary roads
• do not walk in forested areas, fields or in dry rice paddies without a local guide
• don't handle suspicious items and report them to local authorities
• pay attention to signs indicating the possible presence of landmines
• stay on paved and main roads and avoid roadside ditches, shoulders and unmarked trails
• cross only at official border crossings

Although there have been no recent reports of terrorist activity, the global risk of terrorism should not be ruled out.

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations take place and even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

Credit card and ATM fraud

There is bank and ATM fraud. When using debit or credit cards:

• pay careful attention if other people are handling your cards
• use ATMs located in public areas or inside a bank or business
• count and examine your cash at the ATM or with your teller
• avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Scams targeting tourists occur, including card games. The criminals sometimes take travellers to ATMs and force them to withdraw money.

Travellers have been the victim of scams and extortion at border crossings. Some have reported that border officials demanded they pay extra charges before they can enter Cambodia.

Carefully consider accepting assistance from individuals offering to help with documentation or transportation.

Reports of scam operations have increased, especially in the city of Sihanoukville and Poipet.

• Be wary of fake job offers on social media, through agencies, or from unknown employers.
• Verify the business's legitimacy before making the decision.

Telephone scams

Foreigners have received calls from scammers claiming to be local authorities or financial institutions. The caller may try to collect personal information or request a fund transfer to resolve administrative or customs issues.

Do not send any money or personal information in this type of situation.

Romance scams

Romance scams through dating sites or social media have occurred. Be alert to attempts at fraud by persons who profess friendship or romantic interest over the internet. It may be an attempt to get you to send money to pay off fake debts.

• Beware of people who show a keen interest online
• Keep in mind that you may be the victim of a scam if you go to Cambodia to meet someone that you met online
• Always meet new acquaintances in a secure and familiar location
• Be mindful of the risk of inviting new acquaintances in your hotel room or apartment

Useful links

• Overseas fraud
• Cyber security while travelling

Women's safety

Sexual assault has been committed, including against foreign women, in Cambodia. Some of the reported incidents happened in hostels.

• Be cautious of strangers who are helpful and friendly
• Do not accept offers of transportation from strangers
• Avoid dark alleys and isolated areas
• Avoid unattended beaches
• Keep your hotel or hostel doors and windows locked

If you are victim of a sexual assault, you should seek medical attention and report the situation immediately to local authorities and the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate.

Advice for women travellers

Road safety

Driving habits.

Road safety can vary considerably across the country. Drivers do not drive safely or respect traffic laws.

Drinking and driving is common, and frequently the cause of accidents, especially around major holidays. Some vehicles, especially motorcycles, may drive against the flow of traffic and on the sidewalks.

• Exercise caution when driving or walking
• Be particularly vigilant when driving during the holiday periods

In the event of a car accident:

• remain at the scene
• report the accident to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible
• if you are found to be at fault, you may be detained until all fines are paid

Road conditions

The road system outside of major cities is in poor condition. Main roads are paved but secondary roads may not be. Narrow and unpaved roads affect rural driving. Conditions may be more hazardous during the rainy season.

Travel by road during daylight hours.

Travel by motorcycle

Motorcycles are a common in urban areas. Motorcycle accidents kill or maim several Canadians in Cambodia each year.

Riding motorcycles in Cambodia as it is dangerous, even for experienced motorcyclists.

Rental agencies often request passports as a guarantee when renting motorcycles.

You should not use your Canadian passport as collateral or assurance for debts or rental of motorcycles. If your passport is inaccessible or stolen because of such misuse, you may be subject to investigation by Passport Canada and may receive limited passport services.

Checkpoints

Expect checkpoints and have your up-to-date documents ready for traffic police to inspect.

Public transportation

Exercise caution when taking buses in Cambodia.

• Only use reputable transportation companies
• Contact your travel agency for a list of recommended intercity bus companies

Taxis and ridesharing services

Taxis are available in major cities and are easy to obtain at hotels or taxi stands. Self-drive (rental), chauffeur-driven cars and ridesharing services are also available in major cities.

Confirm fares before entering a taxi, and/or request that the taxi driver use the meter.

Travel can be affected by the poor track maintenance and drivers trying to beat the train at crossings.

Boats are often overcrowded and lack adequate safety equipment. Boat owners do not accept liability for accidents.

Each year, illicit drug use leads to the death of several Canadians in Cambodia. Seek medical assistance if you begin to feel sick after using drugs.

More information on how to avoid difficult and dangerous situations related to illegal drugs

Pirate attacks and armed robbery against ships occur in coastal waters. Mariners should take appropriate precautions.

Live piracy report – International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Cambodian authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry into Cambodia. If you wish to extend your stay in Cambodia, make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond the extension period.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: required Business visa: required Student visa: required

Tourist and business visas allow entry to Cambodia for 30 days only, counting from the date of entry.

Travellers must pay a fee in cash of US$30 for tourist visas or US$35 for business visas and provide two passport-sized photos. The photos can be purchased at the airport for US$3 each.

Make sure Cambodian officials stamp your passport when you arrive. Keep your immigration card intact in your passport or put it in a safe place. You will have to contact Cambodian immigration officials if you lose your immigration card before you can leave the country.

You can request a single-entry tourist visa online through Cambodia's e-Visa service.

Apply for an e-visa – Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Visa expiry date

When issued outside Cambodia, visas have an expiry date, which refers to the date by which the visa must be used, not the length of time allowed in the country. Visas must be renewed for stays over 30 days and may only be extended once.

Where to get a visa

Tourist and business visas can be obtained at:

• a Cambodian embassy abroad
• upon arrival at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
• certain land borders as e-visas

For more information, contact the nearest Cambodian embassy or consulate.

Other entry requirements

In January 2024, the Government of Cambodia introduced the Cambodia e-Arrival application (CeA). As of July 1, 2024, the electronic form in the app will replace the standard immigration, customs and health forms.

Travellers can try the CeA app until June 30, 2024, after which time it becomes a mandatory requirement. You must complete your e-Arrival forms within 7 days of your scheduled arrival.

Cambodia e-Arrival (CeA) application – Government of Cambodia

An onward or return ticket and proof of sufficient funds are required to visit Cambodia.

Foreigners Presence in Cambodia System (FPCS)

Cambodian immigration has required that foreign nationals in Cambodia be registered on the FPCS – an online registration system aiming to protect foreigners' safety and security in case of an emergency while living or staying in Cambodia. If you don't register, you may be denied a visa extension. Verify with your accommodation staff or owners if they have registered your information on the system. If you own your accommodation, you can self-register by downloading the mobile app.

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• Zika virus: Advice for travellers - 31 August, 2023
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024
• Dengue: Advice for travellers - 8 April, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country   where yellow fever occurs.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.
• Discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional.
• Contact a designated  Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre  well in advance of your trip to arrange for vaccination.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

Japanese encephalitis is a viral infection that can cause swelling of the brain.  It is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Risk is very low for most travellers. Travellers at relatively higher risk may want to consider vaccination for JE prior to travelling.

Travellers are at higher risk if they will be:

• travelling long term (e.g. more than 30 days)
• making multiple trips to endemic areas
• staying for extended periods in rural areas
• visiting an area suffering a JE outbreak
• engaging in activities involving high contact with mosquitos (e.g., entomologists)

Malaria  is a serious and sometimes fatal disease that is caused by parasites spread through the bites of mosquitoes.   There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this destination. 

Antimalarial medication may be recommended depending on your itinerary and the time of year you are travelling. Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic before travelling to discuss your options. It is recommended to do this 6 weeks before travel, however, it is still a good idea any time before leaving.    Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times:  • Cover your skin and use an approved insect repellent on uncovered skin.  • Exclude mosquitoes from your living area with screening and/or closed, well-sealed doors and windows. • Use insecticide-treated bed nets if mosquitoes cannot be excluded from your living area.  • Wear permethrin-treated clothing.    If you develop symptoms similar to malaria when you are travelling or up to a year after you return home, see a health care professional immediately. Tell them where you have been travelling or living. 

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.  

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

There is a risk of schistosomiasis in this destination. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by tiny worms (blood flukes) which can be found in freshwater (lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands). The worms can break the skin, and their eggs can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, or urinary problems. Schistosomiasis mostly affects underdeveloped and r ural communities, particularly agricultural and fishing communities.

Most travellers are at low risk. Travellers should avoid contact with untreated freshwater such as lakes, rivers, and ponds (e.g., swimming, bathing, wading, ingesting). There is no vaccine or medication available to prevent infection.

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

There is a risk of chikungunya in this country.  The risk may vary between regions of a country.  Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints. In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya.

• In this country,   dengue  is a risk to travellers. It is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquito bites.
• Dengue can cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, it can lead to severe dengue, which can be fatal.
• The level of risk of dengue changes seasonally, and varies from year to year. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region.
• Mosquitoes carrying dengue typically bite during the daytime, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
• Protect yourself from mosquito bites . There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue.

Zika virus is a risk in this country. 

Zika virus is primarily spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It can also be sexually transmitted. Zika virus can cause serious birth defects.

• Prevent mosquito bites at all times.
• Use condoms correctly or avoid sexual contact, particularly if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should discuss the potential risks of travelling to this destination with your health care provider. You may choose to avoid or postpone travel. 

For more information, see Zika virus: Pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Human cases of avian influenza have been reported in this destination. Avian influenza   is a viral infection that can spread quickly and easily among birds and in rare cases it can infect mammals, including people. The risk is low for most travellers.

Avoid contact with birds, including wild, farm, and backyard birds (alive or dead) and surfaces that may have bird droppings on them. Ensure all poultry dishes, including eggs and wild game, are properly cooked.

Travellers with a higher risk of exposure include those: 

• visiting live bird/animal markets or poultry farms
• working with poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, domestic ducks)
• hunting, de-feathering, field dressing and butchering wild birds and wild mammals
• working with wild birds for activities such as research, conservation, or rehabilitation
• working with wild mammals, especially those that eat wild birds (e.g., foxes)

All eligible people are encouraged to get the seasonal influenza shot, which will protect them against human influenza viruses. While the seasonal influenza shot does not prevent infection with avian influenza, it can reduce the chance of getting sick with human and avian influenza viruses at the same time.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)   is a virus that attacks and impairs the immune system, resulting in a chronic, progressive illness known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). 

High risk activities include anything which puts you in contact with blood or body fluids, such as unprotected sex and exposure to unsterilized needles for medications or other substances (for example, steroids and drugs), tattooing, body-piercing or acupuncture.

Medical services and facilities

Medical facilities are poor and very limited throughout Cambodia, except some foreign hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Doctors and hospitals may require cash payment or written guarantees from insurance providers in advance for health services.

Medical evacuation to Thailand or Singapore is often required to obtain adequate treatment. You should seek immediate assistance in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap and consider leaving the country if you experience medical problems.

Psychiatric or psychological facilities and services in Cambodia are almost non-existent.

Some prescription medication may not be available in Cambodia. Pharmacies only carry a limited selection compared to Canada. There have been reports of expired and fake medicines being sold in some pharmacies.

If you take prescription medications, you're responsible for determining their legality in Cambodia.

• Bring sufficient quantities of your medication with you
• Always keep your medication in the original container
• Pack them in your carry-on luggage
• Carry a copy of your prescriptions

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

There are severe penalties for the possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs. If you are convicted, you can expect lengthy jail sentences and steep fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Expulsion, deportation and limitation of visit

Cambodian authorities can expel, deport or limit a traveller's visit if you are accused, or suspected of:

• violating local laws, which include possession of invalid entry documents and requirements
• having a criminal record
• being involved in criminal activities
• suffering from mental illness or serious transmitted diseases

Legal process

Detention during the investigative period is commo and can exceed 6 months before charges are laid.

Illegal or restricted activities

Overstaying a visa.

Immigration regulations are strict. You could face fines, detention and deportation if you overstay your visa. There is a daily fine for overstaying the validity of your visa. There is no limit to this fine. If you overstay more than 30 days, you will need to leave Cambodia in addition to paying the fine.

Exploitation of minors

There are harsh penalties for sexual exploitation of minors. It is a serious offence in Cambodia.

Canadians may also be subject to criminal proceedings in Canada for acts of this nature committed while abroad.

Child Sex Tourism: It’s a Crime

All forms of commercial surrogacy are illegal in Cambodia. Penalties for surrogates, as well as operators of clinics and hospitals providing surrogacy services, may include imprisonment and/or fines. If you have already entered into a surrogacy agreement, you should seek advice from a local lawyer on how these guidelines, including its exit requirements, apply to your situation.

Cultural heritage and antiquities

A permit is required to purchase, export or possess cultural or archaeological artefacts.

To avoid any difficulties, make sure you obtain and carry the required legal paperwork to purchase or export antiquities.

2SLGBTQI+ persons

Cambodian law doesn't prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is legally recognized in Cambodia.

If you are a Canadian citizen, but also a citizen of Cambodia, our ability to offer you consular services may be limited while you're there. You may also be subject to different entry/exit requirements .

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Cambodia.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Cambodia by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Cambodia to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children’s Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country’s judicial affairs.

• International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents
• Travelling with children
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Emergency Watch and Response Centre

You must have and carry a Cambodian driver's licence.

Helmets are mandatory for motorcycle riders, but many helmets do not meet international safety standards. Ensure your medical insurance will cover you when riding as a driver or passenger.

Dress and behaviour

There are reports of local authorities cracking down on events such as pub crawls, raves, booze cruises and pool parties, as well as other events where recreational drugs may be present. Avoid these types of events.

Behaviour that is deemed scandalous, drunken or disorderly is considered highly disrespectful to the local culture and population, especially near the Angkor temples.

To avoid offending local sensitivities:

• dress conservatively
• behave discreetly
• respect religious and social traditions
• do not photograph airports or military installations
• ask permission before photographing individuals, including Buddhist monks

The currency is the riel (KHR).

U.S. dollars are also widely used. Only newer, undamaged notes are accepted. Notes with the slightest tear will not be accepted.

Credit cards are not widely accepted outside major cities. Some banks in Phnom Penh accept certain credit cards for cash advances. There are many ATMs in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville but fewer in smaller cities.

The rainy (or monsoon) season extends from May to November. Severe rainstorms can cause flooding and landslides, resulting in loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure. They can also hamper the provision of essential services. Roads may become impassable and bridges damaged. Flooding can affect wide areas in numerous provinces, including certain parts of Phnom Penh.

• Keep informed of regional weather forecasts
• Avoid disaster areas
• Follow the advice of local authorities
• Tornadoes, cyclones, hurricanes, typhoons and monsoons
• Mekong River conditions  –  Mekong River Commission

Forest fires

The dry season lasts from November to April. Forest fires can start and spread very quickly during this period.

• Stay clear of active fires
• Always verify local conditions with relevant authorities before travelling near forested areas, particularly during the dry seasons

National Committee for Disaster Management – Government of Cambodia

Local services

In case of emergency, dial:

• police: 117
• medical assistance: 119
• firefighters: 118 or 666

Consular assistance

Siem Reap, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, and Preah Vihear

Thailand, Cambodia, Laos

For emergency consular assistance, call the Office of the Embassy of Canada in Phnom Penh and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

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Bringing prescribtion medication into Cambodia - Cambodia Forum

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Bringing prescribtion medication into Cambodia

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I want to travel to Cambodia in December and stay for 30 days. I depend on various medications that are all legally prescribed to me here in Austria. And I would need to take those with me to Cambodia in order to be able to make the journey. The specific meds are Morphine tablets, Gabapentin and Oxazepam.

I have been trying to research this topic for days now and got diffrent answers. My question is what I would need to do or bring in order to be able to legally enter the country with the meds I need. I don´t want to end up in a SEA prison for "drug trafficking".

Is a doctors note, stating that I need the meds for medical reasons, which meds they are and how much+copies of the prescriptions enough? Or would I have to get a special permit or need to do anything else?

Does anyone know? Does anyone have expirience with this topic?

A clear answer, best with links to source it, would be greatly apprecheated.

A similar thread already exists, but it is 10 years old and was shut down due to inactivity.

Thanks guys!

Having a letter from your doctor is a good idea, but honestly, there is a near zero percent chance there will be any problem. If it is only 6 boxes of tablets in your luggage, it will not draw any suspicion. If it is 200 boxes it may be fifferent. I carry 2 boxes of prescription medication plus 1-2 boxes of antibiotics and I have never had any problem in any Asian country in the last 15 years. I just spent a month in Cambodia in August this year.

A lot of prescription drugs can be bought over the counter in pharmacies in Cambodia. They don't care at all what you carry, as long as it ain't in suspiciously large quantities. Even then they don't check.

Thank you for your reply Rolf!

Do you carry your meds in your hand luggage? Because that is what I would do.

Does anyone else have (extensive) experience with travelling to Asia with prescribtion meds?

Has anyone ever had a problem?

Has anyone ever even looked at your medication?

Every tipp, every experience might be of great help to me.

Max, when it comes to the morphine at least, many countries will have that on a list of (semi) controlled narcotics based drugs with certain restrictions. Some countries will have regs or procedures or certificates about bringing them in, beyond a normal prescription or doctor's letter. Check out this handy article from World Nomads: https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/worldwide/medications-and-travel

Please don't assume you can freely take morphine into every country without country specific documentation in some cases. How you find that out for Cambodia could be difficult. But Cambodia is one of the kinds of countries (with strict narcotics laws) where you don't want to assume.

Good luck and do have a wonderful, and safe, trip.

Thank you for your reply!

Yes , Cambodia is not a country where I just want to assume that bringing a one month supply of Morphine will be ok.

And indeed, finding out the specifics, or who I could turn to for binding answers, turns out to be really hard for Cambodia.

I already read the artikel you shared. As I did about a hundred others. But thank you!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I would 100% recommend you have a doctors letter (copy in English) not because you will be stopped but because you might.

Secondly #7 is absolutely correct especially if you are transiting in the Middle East

Thank you. Apprechiated.

I really need help here guys. I am currently under the impreession, that I will just go with a doctor´s letter and copies of the prescriptions. And risk being sent home, the meds confiscated or worse. From all the information I have there is no risk there,because that´ßs how it is supposed to be done. But the is no guarantee for that and I cannpot find official or binding information on the topic. Maybe someone can point me to it.

At this point i would even be willing to pay a few hundred euros for anyone who makes this possible for me. I think I will put out an add like that on my local university students job site. Maybe some Jura or International Relations student can help.

But until then.Any help here is much apprechiated. Even people telling me that they have frequently been to Cambodia, or countries in the region, and never had their meds looked at by customs. Or people with bad experiences. This is getting hard.

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Traditional ox and carts, sprawling rice fields, majestic temples, glorious food and breath-taking countryside – this is Cambodia. Take some time out in Siem Reap with its Old Market and boutiques, savour local cuisine and be prepared for the trip of a lifetime. Perfect for groups and families.

Cambodia is one of the cheapest Asian countries to visit, and although prices are starting to creep up, the country still offers outstanding value.

Good budget rooms are available for around $7 in most parts of the country (slightly more in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap). Eating is also cheap. A meal at a local market or Khmer restaurant can be had for $2 or even less, while main courses in tourist restaurants start from as little as $2 (although upscale places can cost considerably more). A small bottle of mineral water costs just 1000 riel, while draught beer usually sells for $1 a glass. Transport is similarly inexpensive – $1 per hour of travel suffices as a rough rule of thumb, although you’ll pay a bit more on certain routes or when travelling with more upmarket bus companies. Entrance fees are also generally modest – tickets to visit the temples at Angkor are excellent value, although a few museums and other sights are disproportionately expensive.

Transport and tours are the two things most likely to blow your budget. Hiring a car and driver to explore remote temples like Banteay Chhmar, Koh Ker, Preah Khan (Kompong Thom) and Preah Vihear can easily set you back something in the region of $60–100 per day. Tours are also pricey. Visiting the temples of Angkor by tuk-tuk is relatively inexpensive, but more unusual tours – personalized itineraries around the Mekong Trail, trekking in Rattanakiri, birdwatching and boat trips, quad-biking, horseriding, and so on – will generally set you back at least $60 a day, and often much more.

All of which means that staying in budget guesthouses, eating at local restaurants and markets and travelling on public transport you could conceivably get by on as little as $10 per person a day if travelling in a couple and cutting out all extras. Eating in tourist restaurants, indulging in a few beers and taking the occasional tour by tuk-tuk will push this up to $15–20 a day. For $50 a day you can live comfortably, staying in nice hotels and eating well, while $100 a day allows you to stay in luxurious accommodation – although it’s also possible to spend a lot more than this.

A sales tax (comprising a ten percent government tax and ten percent service) is often charged in mid-range hotels. Always check in advance. Tax is also sometimes added to food at restaurants – in which case this should be clearly stated on the menu.

Despite its turbulent recent history, Cambodia is now a generally safe country in which to travel. It’s important to be mindful, however, of the fact that Cambodia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, and also has significant quantities of unexploded ordnance (UXO) lying around. In the countryside you must stick to well-trodden paths.

Cambodia uses a dual-currency system, with local currency, the riel, used alongside (and interchangeably with) the US dollar, converted at the rate of 4000 riel to US$1 (an exchange rate which has remained stable for several years now). Riel notes (there are no riel coins, nor is US coinage used in Cambodia) are available in denominations of 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000. You can pay for most things – and will receive change – either in dollars, in riel, or even in a mixture of the two; there’s no need to change dollars into riel. Larger sums are usually quoted in dollars and smaller amounts in riel (although sometimes, as in menus, prices are quoted in both currencies).

Things get a bit more confused near the Thai border, where Thai baht are generally preferred to riel, or at Bavet, the Vietnamese border crossing, where you may be quoted prices in Vietnamese dong. If you don’t have baht you can generally pay in US dollars or riel, though you might end up paying fractionally more.

Prices at upmarket hotels, shops, food stalls, cafés and restaurants are fixed, as are fares for flights, bus journeys and boat trips. However, when shopping in markets, taking motos, tuk-tuks or cyclos, bargaining is expected. Prices in more downmarket hotels can often be negotiated as well, especially if you’re going to be staying for a few nights or longer.

Prices are fixed in shops and malls, but you’re expected to bargain in markets and when buying from hawkers. Bargaining is seen as an amicable game and social exchange. The seller usually starts at a moderately inflated price: for cheapish items, with a starting price below $10, expect to be able to knock around a third off; with pricier items you might be lucky to get a reduction of ten percent. To keep a sense of perspective while bargaining, it’s worth remembering that on items like a T-shirt or krama, the vendor’s margin is often as little as a thousand riel.

Accessing money

All large (and an increasing number of smaller) Cambodian towns now have ATMs accepting foreign cards and dispensing US dollars. The two main networks are those belonging to Canadia Bank (which accept both Visa and MasterCard) and Acleda Bank (pronounced A-See-Lay-Dah, which accept Visa only). Canadia Bank ATMs won’t charge you a commission fee to withdraw money – although you’ll still be charged by your card issuer back home – while Acleda and other banks generally charge $4–5 on top of whatever fees are levied by your card provider.

An increasing number of places accept credit cards, typically mid- and upper-range hotels and Western-oriented restaurants and shops in bigger towns and cities. You may be charged a surcharge (around five percent) if paying by card, however.

Most banks also change travellers’ cheques, usually for a two-percent commission; travellers’ cheques in currencies other than dollars are sometimes viewed with suspicion and may be rejected. You can also get cash advances on Visa and MasterCard at some banks and exchange bureaux (including the Canadia, ANZ and Acleda banks – although the last accepts Visa only). It’s also possible to have money wired from home. The Acleda Bank handles Western Union transfers, while the Canadia Bank is the agent for Moneygram. Fees, needless to say, can be steep.

While there’s no need to change dollars into riel, if you need to change currency you can head to a bank – there will also be one or two moneychangers around most markets in the country. Thai baht, pounds sterling and euros are all widely accepted for exchange, although other currencies may not be, especially outside larger cities and tourist centres. Check your money carefully before leaving and feel free to reject any notes in particularly dire condition, especially larger-denomination dollar bills with tears or blemishes.

Banking hours are generally Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3.30pm (often also Sat 8.30–11.30am).

Money on arrival

There are ATMs at both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports and in the border areas at Poipet, Bavet and Koh Kong, so you can get US$ cash as soon as you arrive in Cambodia. Note also that unless you have obtained a Cambodian visa in advance, you’ll need $20 in cash to buy one on arrival.

Tipping is not generally expected, but a few hundred riel extra for a meal or a tuk-tuk or moto ride is always appreciated.

Mines and ordnance apart, there is still a culture of guns in Cambodia, and there have been incidents of armed robbery against locals and tourists alike. Gun crime is a regular occurrence in Phnom Penh (although considerably less common elsewhere in the country), usually reaching a peak at festival times, most notably Khmer New Year. Don’t be paranoid, but, equally, be aware that a small but significant number of visitors continue to be mugged at gunpoint (and occasionally shot), even in busy and touristed areas. Given this, it’s a very good idea to keep all valuables well out of sight. If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself being robbed, on no account resist – the consequences if you do so could possibly be fatal. It’s also worth making sure that all bags are hidden between your legs if travelling by moto – snatch-and-grab robberies have also been reported, with victims occasionally being pulled off the back of motos by the straps of their bags during attempted grabs. All incidents should be reported to the police as soon as possible – you’ll need a signed, dated report from them to claim on your travel insurance – and, if you lose your passport, to your embassy as well. In Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, English-speaking tourist police will help, but in the provinces you’ll have to deal with the local police, who are unlikely to have more than a smattering of English, so if possible take a Khmer-speaker with you.

Though the vast majority of Cambodian police will do their best to help in an emergency, a small minority are not averse to trying to elicit money from foreigners. If you’re riding a motorbike or driving a motor vehicle, they may well deem that you’ve committed an offence. You can argue the “fine” down to a few dollars and may as well pay up, although if you can stand the hassle and don’t mind wasting a lot more time you may feel it worth reporting such incidents to the police commissioner.

Road accidents usually attract vast crowds of curious onlookers, and if any damage to property or injury to a person or domestic animal has occurred, then you’ll have to stay at the scene until the police arrive. It’s the driver’s responsibility to come to a financial arrangement with the other parties involved. In spite of their general amiability, it’s not unknown for locals to try to coerce foreigners into coughing up money, even if they are the innocent party or merely a passenger.

As you’d expect given its proximity to some of the world’s major drug-producing regions, drugs both soft and hard are common in Cambodia. Marijuana is widely available, especially around the southern beaches, and you’ll be approached by peddlers on a fairly regular basis in all major tourist spots. Possession is of course illegal, and although prosecutions are rare, purchasing and consuming dope always carries a risk of falling foul of the police – and most likely having to pay some sort of backhander in order to avoid having charges pressed. Hard drugs including opium, cocaine and so on are also available. Needless to say the authorities take a much dimmer view of these than of dope, and possession may well earn you a term in the nearest Cambodian prison – and, given the suspect quality of a lot of the drugs sold on the street, could even be fatal. There have been cases of travellers dying after buying what they believed to be cocaine but which turned out to be pure heroin.

Note that in the case of any medical complications the nearest properly equipped hospital is in Bangkok.

Land mines and unexploded ordnance

The UN estimates that between four and six million land mines were laid in Cambodia between 1979 and 1991, but no one really knows. The Vietnamese and the government laid them as protection against Khmer Rouge guerrillas, who in turn laid them to intimidate local populations; neither side recorded the locations of the minefields. To date more than two thousand minefields have been identified (usually through members of the local population being blown up), and new locations are regularly being reported. Several organizations are actively working at de-mining the countryside, and at last the number of casualties is decreasing; but given the scale of the problem, it will be many years before the mines are cleared completely. The border area with Thailand between Koh Kong and Preah Vihear is particularly dangerous. In rural areas, take care not to leave well-used paths and never take short-cuts across rice fields without a local guide. Areas known to be badly contaminated are signed with a red skull and the words “Beware Mines”.

As if this problem weren’t enough, in the 1970s the United States dropped more than half a million tonnes of bombs on Cambodia. This began as part of a secret and illicit plan to expose the Ho Chi Minh Trail used by communist North Vietnamese troops, and ended up in a massive countrywide bombing campaign to support the pro-American Lon Nol government against the Khmer Rouge. Unexploded ordnance (UXO), or explosive remnants of war (ERW), remains a risk in rural areas, with the southeast, centre and northeast of the country particularly affected; in the countryside it’s foolish to pick up or kick any unidentified metal objects.

The electrical supply is 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Most Cambodian sockets take two-pin, round-pronged plugs (although you’ll also find some which take two-pin, flat-pronged plugs). The electricity supply is pretty reliable, although power cuts are not unknown and some places (particularly island resorts in the south) may rely on solar power.

Gay and lesbian travellers shouldn’t experience any problems when travelling in Cambodia – homosexuality is not illegal, although neither is it recognized and talked about. It’s acceptable for two men or two women to link hands or arms in public, which would be unacceptable for straight couples. Cambodians find overt displays of affection offensive, however, so it’s as well to be discreet. Be that as it may, there’s an emerging gay scene (cambodia-gay.com) with gay-friendly establishments in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap (which has the country’s only male-exclusive resort, the Men’s Resort and Spa; mens-resort.com) and Sihanoukville.

Before travelling to Cambodia you’d do well to take out an insurance policy to cover against theft, loss of personal items and documentation, illness and injury. However, before you pay for a new policy, it’s worth checking whether you are already covered: some all-risks home insurance policies may cover your possessions when overseas, and many private medical schemes include cover when abroad – check that they cover Cambodia. Students will often find that their student health coverage extends during the vacations and for one term beyond the date of last enrolment.

A typical travel insurance policy usually provides cover for the loss of baggage, tickets and – up to a certain limit – cash or cheques, as well as cancellation or curtailment of your journey. Most of them exclude so-called “dangerous” activities unless an extra premium is paid: in Cambodia this can mean scuba diving, riding a motorbike and trekking.

Getting online in Cambodia is relatively easy. Almost all hotels and guesthouses now offer free wi-fi (as do many restaurants and bars), while most towns of any size boast at least one internet café. Rates are generally cheap (2000–4000 riel/hr), although connections may be slow.

For unlimited Wi-Fi on the go whilst travelling Cambodia, buy a Skyroam Solis , which works in 130+ countries at one flat daily rate, paid for on a pay-as-you-go basis. You can connect up to five devices at once. Prices start from as little as €5 a day.

You can get laundry done practically everywhere, at hotels and guesthouses or at private laundries in all towns – look for the signs in English. Prices are pretty uniform, at 500–1000 riel per item or $1–2 per kilogram. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap there are a number of places with driers, giving a speedy turnaround (3hr).

Mail to Europe, Australasia and North America takes between five and ten days. Stamps for postcards cost around 3000 riel to Europe/North America.

Airmail parcels to Europe and North America cost more than $20 per kilo, so if you’re heading to Thailand it’s worth waiting until you get there, where postage is cheaper. You’ll be charged 3000 riel for the obligatory customs form, detailing the contents and their value, but it isn’t necessary to leave the package open for checking. Post offices also sell cardboard boxes for mailing items.

Poste restante mail can be received at the main post offices in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap, for 500 riel per item. When collecting mail, bring your passport as proof of identity and ask them to check under both your first name and your family name.

Most maps of Cambodia are horribly inaccurate and/or out of date. Far and away the best is Reise Know-How’s Kambodscha map (that’s “Cambodia” in German), beautifully drawn on un-rippable waterproof paper, and as detailed and up-to-date as you could hope, given Cambodia’s ever-developing road network.

Key tourist sights, such as the National Museum, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Toul Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, are open every day including most public holidays. The temples at Angkor, Tonle Bati and Sambor Prei Kuk and the country’s national parks are open daily from dawn to dusk. Markets open daily from around 6am until 5pm, shops between 7am and 7pm (or until 9/10pm in tourist areas). The main post office in Phnom Penh is open from 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 11am on Saturday. In the provinces, post office hours tend to be 8am to 11am and 2pm to 5.30pm (earlier on Saturday), with some, in Siem Reap, for example, open on Sunday. Banks tend to open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 3.30pm, and sometimes on Saturday as well, between 8.30am and 11.30am.

Public holidays

Dates for Buddhist religious holidays are variable, changing each year with the lunar calendar. Any public holidays that fall on a Saturday or Sunday are taken the following Monday.

Note that public holidays are often “stretched” by a day or so, particularly at Khmer New Year, Bonn Pchum Ben and for the Water Festival.

Calendar of public holidays

• January 1 International New Year’s Day
• January 7 Victory Day, celebrating the liberation of Phnom Penh from the Khmer Rouge in 1979
• February (variable) Meak Mochea, celebrating Buddhist teachings and precepts
• March 8 International Women’s Day
• April 13/14 (variable) Bonn Chaul Chhnam (Khmer New Year)
• April/May (variable) Visaka Bochea, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and passing into nirvana of the Buddha
• May 1 Labour Day
• May (variable) Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal, the “Royal Ploughing Ceremony”
• May 13–15 (variable) King Sihamoni’s Birthday
• June 1 International Children’s Day
• June 18 Her Majesty the Queen Mother’s Birthday
• September 24 Constitution Day
• Late September/early October (variable) Bonn Pchum Ben, “Ancestors’ Day”
• October 15 King Father’s Commemoration Day, celebrating the memory of Norodom Sihanouk
• October 23 Anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords
• October 29–November 1 (variable) King’s Coronation Day
• November 9 Independence Day
• Early November Bonn Om Toeuk, “Water Festival”
• December 10 UN Human Rights Day

Cambodia’s vast potential for outdoor and adventure activities is slowly being tapped, with myriad tour operators offering an ever-expanding spread of one-day trips and more extended tours. The main appeal of most outdoor activities is the chance to get off the beaten track and out into the countryside for a glimpse of the time-forgotten lifestyles of rural Cambodia, with numerous trekking opportunities, along with trips by bike, kayak and boat.

Trekking, ranging from one-day to week-long hikes, is the major draw in the upland forests of eastern Cambodia. Banlung is the main trekking centre, while there are also a growing range of hiking opportunities at Sen Monorom, including the chance to walk through the forest with elephants at the innovative Elephant Valley Project. Hiking trips around Siem Reap can be arranged through Hidden Cambodia and Terre Cambodge. In the south, you can hike into the southern Cardamoms from the community-based ecotourism project Chi Phat – they arrange trekking and cycling trips that last from just a morning to a few days. The Wild KK Project in Koh Kong offers multi-day adventures into the Areng Valley (deep in the Cardamoms), including hiking, cycling and kayaking.

Cycling tours are another popular option, ideally suited to Cambodia’s predominantly flat terrain and extensive network of relatively traffic-free rural backroads. Tours are run by Camouflage, Terre Cambodge and Hidden Cambodia in Siem Reap, Grasshopper Adventures in Phnom Penh (see Culinary tours) and Siem Reap, Soksabike in Battambang and the Wild KK Project in the south. There are also many cycling possibilities around the Mekong Trail, with tours run by Xplore Asia in Stung Treng, who can also arrange trekking, cycling and fishing trips. The country’s rough backcountry dirt tracks are also a magnet for off-road motorbike enthusiasts; Hidden Cambodia in Siem Reap organizes a range of group dirt-biking tours. Quad-biking excursions can also be arranged in Siem Reap through Quad Adventures Cambodia and in Kampot through Quad Cambodia Kampot.

Cambodia’s majestic lakes and rivers are another major draw. Kayaking trips are run by Sorya Kayaking Adventures in Kratie, Green Orange Kayak in Battambang, Indo Chine EX in Siem Reap and Xplore Asia in Stung Treng. There are also plenty of boat trips on the Mekong available at Kompong Cham, Kratie and Stung Treng; around the various floating villages on the Tonle Sap at Siem Reap, Kompong Chhnang and Pursat; and around Ream National Park, Koh S’dach and the islands near Kep in the south. There are also plenty of watersports and snorkelling/island-hopping trips available from Sihanoukville, plus diving at Sihanoukville and Koh S’dach.

Elephant rides remain popular in Banlung, Sen Monorom and around the temples of Angkor, while horseriding excursions are available through The Happy Ranch in Siem Reap. There’s some outstanding birdwatching around the Tonle Sap lake at the Prek Toal Biosphere Reserve and at Ang Trapaeng Thmor Crane Sanctuary between Siem Reap and Sisophon. Visits can be most easily arranged through tour operators in Siem Reap such as Osmose tours and the excellent, albeit pricey, Sam Veasna Centre.

There are balloon, helicopter and microlight flights above the temples of Angkor, while real adrenaline junkies should make for Flight of the Gibbon in Siem Reap, offering tree-top ziplining adventures through the forest canopy or rock climbing in Kampot.

If you are going to be spending long in Cambodia or making a lot of calls it’s well worth buying a local Sim card, which will get you rates for both domestic and international calls far below what you’re likely to pay using your home provider (although obviously you’ll need to make sure that your handset is unlocked first – or buy one locally that is). Sim cards can be bought for a few dollars at most mobile phone shops; you’ll need to show your passport as proof of identity. International calls can cost as little as US$0.25 per minute, while domestic calls will cost about 300–500 riel per minute.

Cambodia’s three main mobile phone service providers are Cellcard/Mobitel (mobitel.com.kh), Smart (smart.com.kh), and Metfone (metfone.com.kh), all of which offer reliable countrywide coverage, with Cellcard/Mobitel perhaps being the best. A pre-paid mobile broadband account costs around $30 per month, although given the universal availability of wi-fi, it’s unlikely to be worth the money unless you’re spending a lot of time in very out of the way places.

If you want to use your home mobile phone, you’ll need to check with your phone service provider whether it will work abroad, and what the call charges are to use it in Cambodia. Most mobiles in the UK, Australia and New Zealand use GSM, which works well in Southeast Asia, but a North American cellphone is unlikely to work unless it’s a tri-band phone.

You can make domestic and international phone calls at the post offices and telecom offices in most towns. These services are invariably run by the government telecommunications network, Camintel (camintel.com).

Many internet cafés also allow you to make calls via Skype; better places have headphones with a microphone so that you can talk in reasonable privacy.

For domestic calls only, the cut-price glass-sided booths found in all major towns are a cheap option at around 500 riel per minute, payable to the attendant. The booths vary in their coverage of Cambodia’s various networks: accessible numbers will be written on the side of the booths.

Calling abroad from Cambodia

Dial your international access code, followed by 855, then the local area code (minus the initial 0), then the number.

Calling Cambodia from abroad

There is no international directory enquiries service in Cambodia.

• To Australia 001 or 007 + 61+ city code without the initial zero
• To New Zealand 001 or 007 + 64 + city code without the initial zero
• To the Republic of Ireland 001 or 007 + 353 + city code without the initial zero
• To South Africa 001 or 007 + 27 + city code without the initial zero
• To the UK 001 or 007 + 44 + area code without the initial zero
• To the US and Canada 001 or 007 + 1 + city code without the initial zero

Cambodians generally love being photographed – although it is common courtesy to ask first; they also take a lot of photos themselves and may well ask you to stand in theirs. It’s best to avoid taking photographs of anything with a military connotation, just in case. You can get your digital shots transferred to CD or printed at most photographic shops in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, although the quality of the prints may not be as good as you’d get at home.

Cambodia is 7hr ahead of GMT; 12hr ahead of New York and Montréal; 15hr ahead of Los Angeles and Vancouver; 1hr behind Perth; 4hr behind Sydney and 5hr behind Auckland; 5hr ahead of South Africa. There is no daylight saving time

Apart from in places that are used to catering for foreigners, squat toilets are the rule. In general there are no public toilets apart from a few places set up by enterprising individuals that you can use for a few hundred riel. It is fine to ask to use the loo at restaurants, even if you’re not eating there, although you may sometimes wish you hadn’t as they are often unsavoury. At transport stops there are almost always toilets out at the back, but you’ll need to bring your own toilet paper, sold in the markets and worth carrying with you. Sometimes you may have to do as the locals do and take to the bushes – but remember there is still a risk of mines, so don’t stray off well-trodden paths.

There are tourist offices in many larger towns, but most are chronically underfunded, totally lacking in English-speaking staff, and often closed even when they should be open. The best source of local information on the ground is likely to be your hotel or guesthouse, or a local tour operator or travel agent. There are no Cambodian tourist offices abroad, and Cambodian embassies aren’t equipped to handle tourist enquiries; there is some useful information online, however.

Cambodia has the unhappy distinction of having one of the world’s highest proportions of disabled people per capita (around 1 in 250 people) – due to land mines and the incidence of polio and other wasting diseases. That said, there is no special provision for the disabled, so travellers with disabilities will need to be especially self-reliant. Stock up on any medication, get any essential equipment serviced and take a selection of spares and accoutrements. Ask about hotel facilities when booking, as lifts are still not as common in Cambodia as you might hope.

Getting around temples can be a problem, as even at relatively lowly pagodas there are flights of steps and entrance kerbs to negotiate. The temples at Angkor are particularly difficult, with steps up most entrance pavilions and the central sanctuaries. However, negotiating at least the most accessible parts of the temples is possible with assistance, while some tour operators may also be able to arrange customized visits including all required assistance – try Cambodia specialists About Asia (aboutasiatravel.com).

Travelling through Cambodia with children in tow is not for the nervous or over-protective parent, although many families find it a rewarding experience, especially with slightly older kids. Cambodians love children, although they do have a habit of greeting them with an affectionate pinch, which can be disconcerting – the protectiveness of the West is nonexistent and there are no special facilities or particular concessions made for kids. On public transport, children travel free if they share your seat; otherwise expect to pay the adult fare. It’s worth considering hiring a car and driver – not only will this mean you can stop when you want for food and comfort breaks, but it’ll be more comfortable – although note that child car seats are not available. Some hotels have family rooms, while extra beds can usually be arranged. Note that under-11’s are admitted free to the Angkor Archaeological Park (passport required as proof, or they’ll be charged the adult fee).

If you’re travelling with a baby or toddler, you’ll be able to buy disposable nappies, formula milk and tins or jars of baby food at supermarkets and mini-markets in the major cities, but elsewhere you need to take your own supplies.

Visas for Cambodia are required by everyone other than nationals of Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Visas are issued on arrival for $20 at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports, at Sihanoukville port, at all overland crossings from Thailand and Vietnam, and at Voen Kham from Laos.

A single-entry tourist visa obtained on arrival ($20; one passport photograph required, or pay a small surcharge – usually a dollar or two – to have your passport photo scanned) is valid for thirty days, including the day of issue, and can be extended once only, for one month. Note that at the Thai border Cambodian officials may ask for an bit more than the official fee – having an e-visa avoids this hassle. You can also buy a business visa ($25; one passport photo) on arrival. Like the tourist visa this is valid for thirty days, but can be extended in a variety of ways (ranging from one-month single-entry extension, three months’ single-entry, six months’ multiple-entry and twelve months’ multiple-entry; costs range from $42 to $270). Multiple entries are only available on a business visa.

Single-entry, thirty-day tourist e-visas are available online at www.mfaic.gov.kh for $20 plus a $5 processing charge, although they are only supported if you enter through the airports at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, or overland at Koh Kong, Bavet and Poipet. They must be used within three months of the date of issue. They’re mainly useful if you’re entering via Poipet and wish to avoid the traditional hassles associated with that crossing.

Tourist and business visas can only be extended in Phnom Penh at the Department for Immigration (Mon–Fri 8–11am & 2–4pm; 017 812763, www.evisa.gov.kh) 8km out of the centre opposite the airport at 332 Russian Blvd. Given the serious amounts of red tape involved and the inconvenient location of the office, however, it’s far preferable to use one of the visa-extension services offered by travel agents and guesthouses in town, who will do all the running around for a commission of around $5–10. If you overstay your visa you’ll be charged $5 per day. There is no departure tax.

Cambodian embassies and consulates

Australia & New Zealand embassyofcambodia.org.nz/au.htm.

Canada c/o Embassy of Canada, 15th Floor, Abdulrahim Place, 990 Rama IV Rd, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand ([email protected]).

Laos Thadeua Rd, KM2 Vientiane, BP 34 ([email protected]).

South Africa c/o Embassy of South Africa, 12th A Floor, M Thai Tower, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Rd, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok (dirco.gov.za).

Thailand 518/4 Pracha Uthit Rd (Soi Ramkamhaeng 39), Wangtonglang, Bangkok 10310 ([email protected]).

UK & Ireland cambodianembassy.org.uk.

US embassyofcambodia.org.

Vietnam 71A Tran Hung Dao St, Hanoi ([email protected]); 41 Phung Khac Khoan, Ho Chi Minh City ([email protected]).

There are plenty of opportunities to do voluntary work in Cambodia – although in many cases you will actually have to pay to do it. The UK charity Voluntary Service Overseas (vso.org.uk) and Australian Volunteers International (australianvolunteers.com) both recruit volunteers to work on projects in Cambodia, paid at local rates. Frontier (frontier.ac.uk) has projects teaching English or helping with wildlife conservation, while Coral Cay Conservation (coralcay.org) has an ongoing project on Koh Rong (cheaper if you have diving experience). When you’re in Cambodia keep your eye out in cafés and bars where organizations post their projects and ask for volunteers. The services of teachers, doctors and vets will be much appreciated even if it’s only for a day or so.

Travelling around Cambodia shouldn’t pose any problems for foreign women. All the same, it’s as well to dress modestly and to avoid overfamiliarity, which can be misconstrued, particularly after men have had a few beers. If someone does overstep the mark, a firm “no” will normally suffice to ward them off. A good ruse used by Khmer women is to subtly put yourself in a position of superiority, by referring to yourself as the older sister (bpong serey) or aunt (ming) or by addressing the man as nephew (kmaoy bprohs). If this doesn’t work, then kick up a huge fuss so that everyone in the vicinity knows that you’re being harassed, which should shame the man into backing off.

Cambodia has an unfortunate reputation as a destination for paedophiles, and child sex tourism has grown here as a result of crackdowns on child prostitution in other Southeast Asian countries.

The Ministry of the Interior (National Police) asks that anyone witnessing child prostitution in Cambodia immediately report it to the police on their national “child-wise” hotline (023 997919). ChildSafe also has a 24-hour national hotline to report children at risk (012 311112, childsafe-cambodia.org). You could also consider contacting ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Abuse and Trafficking, ecpat.net).

Walk around any Cambodian town towards dusk and you’ll see groups of young men stood in circles in parks, on pavements, or any other available space playing the uniquely Cambodian game of sey. The aim of the game is simple, with a kind of large, heavily weighted shuttlecock being kicked from player to player around the circle, the goal being to keep the shuttlecock in the air for as long as possible. It’s a kind of collaborative keepy-uppy rather than a competitive sport, although players typically attempt to outdo one another in the flamboyance of their footwork. Simple side-footed kicks keep the shuttlecock moving; cheeky backheels gain extra marks for artistic merit; and for maximum kudos players attempt spectacular behind-the-back overhead kicks, before the shuttlecock falls to the ground, and the game begins again.

Cambodia’s beer girls, mostly working in local restaurants and bars, will approach you almost before you’ve sat down. Each representing a brand of beer, they rely on commissions based on the amount they manage to sell, and will keep opening bottles or cans and topping up your glass, hoping to get you to drink more. You don’t pay them for the beer, as the cost is calculated at the end by counting up the empties. Although it is not part of the deal, some beer girls may drink and chat with men to up their consumption, but that’s as far as it goes. In some Western establishments, beer girls may also help serve food.

Although things are more relaxed than they used to be, “decent” Cambodian women tend neither go to bars nor drink alcohol, so, while beer girls are somewhat looked down upon, the taxi girls who frequent the karaoke parlours and nightclubs are beyond the pale. Usually from very poor families, they have a role akin to that of hostess, dance partner and sometimes call girl rolled into one. If you invite them to join you at your table or dance with you, the charge will be added to your bill at the end of the evening, as will the cost of their drinks.

The abuse that taxi girls receive is a serious issue, and a number of NGOs in Cambodia – daughtersofcambodia.org, for example – have been set up to offer women alternative incomes in the form of spa and beautician training, handicrafts and the like.

Cambodia has a wide range of souvenirs – colourful cotton and silk fabrics, wood and stone carvings, lacquerware, jewellery and much more. Local handicrafts have also been given a boost thanks to various local and NGO schemes set up to give Cambodia’s large disabled population and other disadvantaged members of society a new source of income by training them in various traditional crafts.

Local markets are often the best place to hunt for collectibles. In the capital, Psar Toul Tom Poung (Russian Market) is the acknowledged place to buy souvenirs, and there are also several excellent markets in Siem Reap. In both towns you’ll also find plenty of specialist shops, galleries and hotel boutiques – usually more expensive, though quality is generally significantly higher.

As a general rule, when shopping for souvenirs it’s a good idea to buy it when you see it. Something unusual you chance upon in the provinces may not be available elsewhere.

The ubiquitous chequered scarf, the krama, worn by all Cambodians, is arguably the country’s most popular tourist souvenir, and there are plenty to buy in markets everywhere. Many kramas are woven from mixed synthetic threads; although the cloth feels soft, a krama of this sort is hot to wear and doesn’t dry very well if you want to use it as a towel. The very best kramas come from Kompong Cham and Phnom Sarok and are made from cotton (umbok). Those from Kompong Cham are often to be had from female peddlers in the markets – a large one costs around $3.

Though cotton kramas feel stiff and thin at first, a few good scrubs in cold water will soften them up and increase the density of texture. They last for years and actually improve with wear, making a cool, dust-proof and absorbent fabric.

The weaving of silk in Cambodia can be traced back to the Angkor era, when the Khmer started to imitate imported cloth from India. Weaving skills learned over generations were lost with the Khmer Rouge, but the 1990s saw a resurgence of silk weaving in many Cambodian villages (the thread is usually imported from Vietnam, though a few Cambodian villages have again started to keep their own silkworms). Most of the cloth is produced to order for the dealers and silk-sellers of Phnom Penh, so if you visit a village where silk is woven, don’t be surprised if they haven’t any fabric for sale. Unpatterned silk is sometimes available by the metre in dark and pastel colours, and modern designs are also becoming available.

Silk is produced in fixed widths – nearly always 800mm – and sold in two lengths: a kabun (3.6m), sufficient for a long straight skirt and short-sleeved top; and a sampot (half a kabun), which is enough for a long skirt. A sampot starts at around $15–20, but you can easily pay double this, depending on quality and design. Sometimes the silk will have been washed, which makes it softer in both texture and hue – and slightly more expensive. Silk scarves are inexpensive (around $5–6) and readily available. They come in a range of colours and are usually pre-washed, with the ends finished in hand-tied knots.

There are several different styles of fabric, with villages specializing in particular types of weaving. Hol is a time-honoured cloth decorated with small patterns symbolizing flowers, butterflies and diamonds, and traditionally produced with threads of five basic colours – yellow, red, black, green and blue (modern variations use pastel shades). The vibrant, shimmering hues change depending on the direction from which they are viewed. Parmoong is a lustrous ceremonial fabric, made by weaving a motif or border of gold or silver thread onto plain silk. Some parmoong is woven exclusively for men in checks or stripes of cream, green or red, to be worn in sarongs. Traditional wall-hangings, pedan, come in classical designs often featuring stylized temples and animals such as elephants and lions; they’re inexpensive ($5–10) and easily transportable.

Wood and stone carvings

Wood and stone carvings are available in a wide range of sizes, from small heads of Jayavarman VII, costing just a couple of dollars, to almost life-sized dancing apsaras costing hundreds of dollars. In Phnom Penh you’ll find a good selection along Street 178 near the National Museum, or in Psar Toul Tom Poung, though the fact that they’re mass-produced means that they lack a certain finesse; to find something really fine you’re better off at the workshop of the Artisans d’Angkor in Siem Reap or a traditional stone-carving village such as Santok.

Antiques and curios

Antiques and curios can be found at specialist stalls in and around Psar Toul Tom Poung in Phnom Penh, and at the Siem Reap Night Market. Look out for the partitioned wooden boxes used to store betel-chewing equipment, as well as elegant silver boxes for the betel nuts, phials for the leaves and paste, and cutters – a bit like small shears – for slicing the nuts. There are plenty of religious artefacts available too, from wooden Buddha images and other carvings to brass bowls and offering plates.

You may occasionally find antiquated traditional musical instruments, such as the chapei, a stringed instrument with a long neck and a round sound-box; and the chhing, in which the two small brass plates, similar to castanets in appearance, are played by being brushed against each other.

Compasses used in the ancient Chinese art of feng shui can be bought for just a few dollars; they indicate compass directions related to the five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water. You might also be able to search out opium weights, used to weigh out the drug and often formed in the shape of small human figures or animals.

Cambodia’s ancient temples have suffered massively from looting, and although it’s unlikely that you’ll be offered ancient figurines (most of the trade goes to Bangkok or Singapore), many other stolen artefacts – such as chunchiet funerary statues from Rattanakiri – are finding their way onto the market. To export anything purporting to be an antique you’ll need the correct paperwork, so check the dealer can provide this before agreeing a deal. Also be aware that Cambodians are expert at artificially ageing their wares and be sure that you want the item for its own sake rather than because of its alleged antiquity.

Woven baskets, rattan and bamboo

A versatile fibre, rattan is used to produce furniture as well as household items such as baskets, bowls and place mats. In Rattanakiri you can find khapa, deep, conical rattan-and-bamboo baskets fitted with shoulder straps so that they can be worn on the back; they cost around $10 and are still used by the chunchiet to carry produce to market. Everyday items made from rattan and bamboo and available in the markets can also make interesting souvenirs, including noodle ladles and nested baskets; the latter are used to measure out portions of rice but are also useful back home for storing fruit and vegetables.

Silver and gold

Most silverware in Cambodia is sold in Phnom Penh and produced in villages nearby, particularly Kompong Luong. The price will give you an indication of whether an item is solid silver or silver-plated copper – a few dollars for the silver-plated items; more than double that for a comparable item in solid silver. Small silver or silver-plated boxes in the shape of fruits or animals make terrific, inexpensive gifts. Considerably more expensive are ceremonial plates and offering bowls, usually made of solid silver and intricately decorated with leaf motifs. Silver necklaces, bracelets and earrings, mostly imported from Indonesia, are sold only for the tourist market (Khmers don’t rate the metal for jewellery) and go for just a few dollars in the markets; modern silver designer jewellery is also available in the NGO-run shops and boutiques of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

There’s nothing sentimental or romantic about the Khmer obsession with gold jewellery. This is considered a means of investment and explains the hundreds of gold dealers in and around markets all over the country, where it’s not unusual to see local people negotiating to trade in their jewellery for more expensive pieces. Gold is good value and items can be made up quickly and quite cheaply to your own design, and even set with gems from Pailin and Rattanakiri.

Cambodians are always celebrating a festival of some sort, heading out to the pagoda with family and friends or taking off for the provinces; unsurprisingly, festivals are the busiest times for shopping and travelling.

The most significant festival of the year is Bonn Chaul Chhnam (Khmer New Year; April 13 or 14), when families get together, homes are spring-cleaned and people flock to the temples with elaborate offerings. Bonn Pchum Ben (late Sept), or “Ancestors’ Day”, is another key date on the festive calendar. Families make offerings to their ancestors in the fifteen days leading up to it, and celebrations take place in temples on the day itself.

Marking the start of the planting season in May, the ceremony of Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal (Royal Ploughing Ceremony), held at Lean Preah Sre park in Phnom Penh, combines animism, Buddhism and plenty of pomp. It begins with chanting monks asking the earth spirits for permission to plough. Then ceremonial furrows are drawn, rice is scattered and offerings are made to the divinities. The most important part of the ceremony, however, is what the Royal Bulls choose when offered rice, grain, grass, water and wine. Rice or grain augur well; water signifies rain; grass is a sign that crops will be devastated by insects; and wine, that there will be drought.

Though it has been cancelled for the last few years, the Bonn Om Toeuk (early Nov) water festival has traditionally been celebrated when the current of the Tonle Sap River, which swells so much during the rainy season that it actually pushes water upstream, reverses and flows back into the Mekong. The centre of festivities is Phnom Penh’s riverbank, where everyone gathers to watch boat racing, an illuminated boat parade and fireworks.

Buddhist offering days (exact dates vary according to the lunar calendar) are also colourful occasions: stalls do a roaring trade in bunches of flowers that are taken to temples and used to decorate shrines at home. Lotus buds – the traditional offering flower to the Buddha – are artistically folded to expose their pale-pink inner petals, while jasmine buds are threaded onto sticks and strings as fragrant tokens.

Choosing the right season for your holiday will greatly enhance your experience. Our guide to the best time to visit Cambodia will help you choose the right time for your trip.

Health care in Cambodia is poor. Even the best hospitals have inadequate facilities, low standards of cleanliness and appalling patient care, and should be used only in a dire emergency. For anything serious, if you are able to travel then get to Bangkok. Should you have no option but to go to a Cambodian hospital, try to get a Khmer-speaker to accompany you.

In Phnom Penh a couple of private Western-oriented clinics offer slightly better care than the hospitals, at a higher cost. If you get ill outside Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, self-diagnosis and treatment is often better than visiting a clinic. Wherever you seek medical attention, you will be expected to pay upfront for treatment, medication and food.

Although every town has a number of pharmacies (typically daily 7am–8pm) stocking an extensive range of medications, the staff aren’t required to have a dispensing qualification, so you may want to check the product sheets (and even expiry dates) before you buy. Fake medicines abound and there’s no easy way to determine if what you’re buying is the real thing. Whenever possible buy only in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, which have a couple of reputable pharmacies employing qualified personnel who can help with diagnosis and remedies for simple health problems.

Consider getting a pre-trip dental check-up if you’re travelling for an extended period, as the only places to get reliable dental treatment in Cambodia are in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. If you wear glasses, it’s worth taking along a copy of your prescription (or a spare pair of glasses); you can get replacements made quite cheaply in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Vaccinations and immunizations

It’s worth checking before you leave that you are up to date with routine immunizations, such as tetanus and diphtheria. For Cambodia, you should consider immunizing yourself against hepatitis A, tuberculosis and typhoid; inoculations against hepatitis B, rabies and Japanese encephalitis are recommended if you are going to be at a particular risk (for example if you’re working in a remote area). You’ll need to produce proof that you’ve been vaccinated against yellow fever in the event of arriving from an infected area (West and Central Africa, or South America).

It is as well to consult your doctor or travel clinic as early as possible since it can take anything up to eight weeks to complete a full course of immunizations. All inoculations should be recorded on an international travel vaccination card, which is worth carrying with you in case you get sick.

Hepatitis A, a viral infection of the liver, can be contracted from contaminated food and water – shellfish sold by hawkers and untreated water are particular risks in Cambodia – or by contact with an infected person. Symptoms include dark-coloured urine, aches and pains, nausea, general malaise and tiredness, with jaundice following after a few days. A blood test is needed for diagnosis, and rest, plenty of nonalcoholic fluids and a high-carbohydrate diet are recommended for convalescence. A single shot of immunoglobulin offers short-term protection against hepatitis A.

Far more serious is hepatitis B, passed via contaminated body fluids; it can be contracted through non-sterile needles (including those used in tattooing and acupuncture), sexual contact or from a blood transfusion that hasn’t been properly screened. Symptoms include nonspecific abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark-coloured urine and jaundice. Immunization may be recommended if you are staying in Asia for longer than six months. If you think you have contracted hepatitis B, it’s especially important to seek medical attention.

A combined vaccine is available offering ten years’ protection against hepatitis A and five years’ against hepatitis B; your doctor will be able to advise on its suitability.

Tuberculosis, rabies and tetanus

Tuberculosis, contracted from droplets coughed up by infected persons, is widespread in Cambodia and is a major cause of death in young children. You may have been inoculated against the disease in childhood, but if you’re unsure, consider a skin (Heaf) test, which will determine if you already have immunity.

Rabies is contracted from the bite or saliva of an infected animal. Vaccinations are recommended if you’re going to be spending a long time in rural areas; but even if you’ve been vaccinated, if you are bitten (or licked on an open wound) you will need to get two booster injections as quickly as possible, preferably within 24 to 48 hours.

Tetanus, a bacterial infection that causes muscular cramps and spasms, comes from spores in the earth and can enter the blood circulatory system through wounds and grazes. If left untreated it can cause breathing problems and sometimes death. It’s worth checking if you’ve been vaccinated against tetanus in the last ten years and getting a booster if necessary.

Typhoid and cholera

Typhoid and cholera, bacterial infections that affect the digestive system, are spread by contaminated food and water, and outbreaks are thus usually associated with particularly unsanitary conditions.

Symptoms of typhoid include tiredness, dull headaches and spasmodic fevers, with spots appearing on the abdomen after about a week. Vaccination is suggested if you plan to stay in rural areas of Cambodia, but it doesn’t confer complete immunity, so it remains important to maintain good standards of hygiene.

Sudden, watery diarrhoea and rapid dehydration are among the symptoms of cholera, and medical advice is essential to treat the infection with antibiotics. Vaccination is no longer recommended for cholera due to its poor efficacy. From time to time there are outbreaks of cholera in Cambodia that are well publicized in the media.

General precautions

Cambodia is a hot and humid country, and dehydration is a potential problem, its onset indicated by headaches, dizziness, nausea and dark urine. Cuts and raw blisters can rapidly become infected and should be promptly treated by cleaning and disinfecting the wound and then applying an air-permeable dressing.

Bites and stings

Insects are legion in Cambodia and are at their worst around November, at the start of the dry season, when there are stagnant pockets of water left from the rains. Even during the hot season (March–May) they come out in the evenings, swarming around light bulbs and warm flesh – they’re annoying rather than harmful, with the exception of mosquitoes.

On the coast, sand flies appear in the late afternoon and evening, delivering nasty bites that don’t erupt until a few hours later, when they become incredibly red and itchy. Once you scratch, the bites become even more inflamed and can take up to a month to recede, leaving behind nasty scars. These little blighters have a limited range and mostly attack victims on the sand; if you’re on or near the beach, it’s probably best to use an insect repellent.

Sun and heat

Even when the sky is overcast the Cambodian sun is fierce, and you should take precautions against sunburn and heat stroke wherever you are. Cover up, use a high-protection-factor sunscreen, wear a hat and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.

Hygiene and stomach complaints

Though catering facilities at many restaurants and food stalls can appear basic, the food you’ll be served is usually absolutely fresh; all ingredients are bought daily and are mostly cooked to order. A good rule of thumb when selecting a place to eat is to pick one that is popular with local people, as the Khmers are fussy about their food and seldom give a place a second chance if they’ve found the food isn’t fresh. Food from street hawkers is usually fine if it’s cooked in front of you. Tap water isn’t drinkable, but bottled water is available everywhere – stick to that and be cautious with ice, which is often cut up in the street from large blocks and handled by several people before it gets to your glass (though in Western restaurants it will probably come from an ice-maker).

Stomach complaints

The most common travellers’ ailment is upset tummy. Travellers’ diarrhoea often occurs in the early days of a trip as a result of a simple change in diet, though stomach cramps and vomiting may mean it’s food poisoning. If symptoms persist for more than a couple of days, seek medical help as you may need antibiotics to clear up the problem.

Most diarrhoea is short-lived and can be handled by drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding rich or spicy food. Activated charcoal tablets help by absorbing the bad bugs in your gut and usually speed recovery; they’re sold across the counter at pharmacies, but it’s worth bringing some with you from home. It’s often a good idea to rest up for a day or two if your schedule allows. In the event of persistent diarrhoea or vomiting, it’s worth taking oral rehydration salts, available at most pharmacies (or make your own from half a teaspoon of salt and eight teaspoons of sugar per litre of bottled water).

Unless you’re going on a long journey, avoid taking Imodium and Lomotil. These bung you up by stopping gut movements and can extend the problem by preventing your body expelling the bugs that gave rise to the diarrhoea in the first place.

Dysentery and giardiasis

If there is blood or mucus in your faeces and you experience severe stomach cramps, you may have dysentery, which requires immediate medical attention. There are two forms of the disease, the more serious of which is amoebic dysentery. Even though the symptoms may well recede over a few days, the amoebae will remain in the gut and can go on to attack the liver; treatment with an antibiotic, metronidazole (Flagyl) is thus essential. Equally unpleasant is bacillary dysentery, also treated with antibiotics.

Giardiasis is caused by protozoa usually found in streams and rivers. Symptoms, typically watery diarrhoea and bad-smelling wind, appear around two weeks after the organism has entered the system and can last for up to two weeks. Giardiasis can be diagnosed from microscope analysis of stool samples, and is treated with metronidazole.

Mosquito-borne diseases

Given the prevalence in Cambodia of serious diseases spread by mosquitoes, including multi-resistant malaria, it is important to avoid being bitten. Mosquito nets often aren’t provided in guesthouses and hotels, so it’s worth bringing your own.

Wearing long trousers, socks and a long-sleeved top will reduce the chances of being bitten. Insect repellents containing DEET are the most effective, although you may want to consider a natural alternative such as those based on citronella.

Malaria is prevalent year-round and throughout the country – with the exception of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the area immediately around the Tonle Sap lake. More than 40,000 cases were reported in 2013, and almost 70,000 in 2012.

Malaria is contracted from the night-biting female anopheles mosquito, which injects a parasite into the bloodstream. Chills, fevers and sweating ensue after an incubation period of around twelve days, often along with aching joints, a cough and vomiting, and the symptoms repeat after a couple of days. In Cambodia the dangerous falciparum strain of the disease predominates; if untreated, it can be fatal.

Before you travel, it is important to take advice on a suitable prophylaxis regime, as a course of antimalarial medication needs to be started in advance of arriving in a risk area. Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) and doxycycline are the two most frequently prescribed antimalarials for Cambodia. Mefloquine (aka Larium) is also sometimes recommended, but has the drawback of well-publicized side effects and may not be effective in western and northern provinces close to the Thai border thanks to the presence of mefloquine-resistant malaria in these areas. Note that taking antimalarials doesn’t guarantee that you won’t contract the disease, a fact that reinforces the need to avoid being bitten.

Emergency treatment for falciparum malaria is 600mg of quinine sulphate, taken three times a day for three days, followed by a single dose of three Fansidar tablets once the quinine course is completed. These tablets are available over the counter at pharmacies throughout Cambodia, but if you suspect malaria you should still see a doctor for a diagnostic blood test.

Dengue fever

Outbreaks of dengue fever occur annually in Cambodia with 37 deaths reported in 2009. Spread by the day-biting female aedes mosquito, this is a viral disease that takes about a week to develop following a bite. It resembles a bad case of flu; symptoms include high fever, aches and pains, headache and backache. After a couple of days a red rash appears on the torso, gradually spreading to the limbs. There may also be abnormal bleeding, which requires medical attention.

No vaccine is available at the time of writing, and there is no effective treatment, although paracetamol can be taken to relieve the symptoms (not aspirin, which can increase the potential for bleeding); you should also drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest. Although the symptoms should improve after five or six days, lethargy and depression can last for a month or more – consult a doctor if symptoms persist. Anyone who has previously contracted dengue fever is at particular risk if they subsequently contract a different virus strain, which can result in dengue haemorrhagic fever. In this condition the usual symptoms of dengue fever are accompanied by abdominal pain and vomiting; immediate medical help should be sought, as it can be fatal.

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis is a serious viral disease carried by night-biting mosquitoes that breed in the rice fields. The risk is highest between May and October. It’s worth considering vaccination if you’re going to be in rural areas of Cambodia for an extended time or are visiting during the high-risk period. Symptoms, which appear five to fifteen days after being bitten, include headaches, a stiff neck, flu-like aches and chills; there’s no specific treatment, but it’s wise to seek medical advice and take paracetamol or aspirin to ease the symptoms.

Sexually transmitted diseases

Cambodia has one of Asia’s highest levels of HIV/AIDS infection, much of it the result of the country’s burgeoning sex trade. An estimated 0.7 percent of the adult population aged 15–49 carries the disease, although rates are slowly falling from a high of 2 percent at the beginning of the millennium thanks to vigorous intervention by health services. Syphilis and gonorrhoea are also rife. Condoms are widely available, although it’s best to stick to Western brands wherever possible.

Medical resources

Canadian Society for International Health csih.org. Extensive list of travel health centres.

CDC cdc.gov/travel. Official US government travel health site.

Hospital for Tropical Diseases Travel Clinic UK thehtd.org.

International Society for Travel Medicine istm.org. A full list of travel health clinics.

MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) UK masta-travel-health.com for the nearest clinic.

Tropical Medical Bureau Ireland tmb.ie.

The Travel Doctor – TMVC traveldoctor.com.au. Lists travel clinics in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Much of Cambodia’s media is sponsored by the country’s political parties, and though the prime minister has declared his support for press freedom, the media continues to be subject to the government’s whims.

Newspapers and magazines

Cambodia has around seven daily Khmer-language newspapers. The two main dailies are Rasmei Kampuchea (Light of Cambodia) and Koh Santepheap, both of which are pro-government.

Cambodia’s two English-language newspapers – the Cambodia Daily (cambodiadaily.com; published daily except Sun) and the Phnom Penh Post (phnompenhpost.com; Mon–Fri) – can be found at newsstands in larger cities. It’s also worth looking out for the several English-language magazines. Asia Life (asialifemagazine.com; free from cafés and restaurants) is the Time Out of Phnom Penh with a host of articles related to new things happening in the city. Bayon Pearnik (bayonpearnik.com), a free satirical monthly, available in Western restaurants and bars in Phnom Penh, includes travel features and news of bar and club launches.

Television and radio

Cambodia’s seven Khmer TV stations broadcast a mix of political coverage, game shows, concerts, cartoons, sport – kick-boxing is a huge favourite – and Thai soaps dubbed into Khmer. The state broadcaster, TVK, is owned by the ruling CPP, who also have influence with most of the other channels. Guesthouses and hotels usually offer cable and, increasingly, satellite TV stations, enabling you to watch a vast selection of foreign channels, typically including BBC World, CNN, CNBC, HBO, National Geographic and Star Sport.

Among the many Khmer radio stations, just a couple carry English programmes. The principal local station favoured by foreigners is Love FM on 97.5 FM, featuring a mix of Western pop, news stories and phone-ins.

These days the handshake has become quite common in Cambodia, and is used between Cambodian men or when Cambodian men greet foreigners; generally, however, women still greet foreigners using the traditional Cambodian form of greeting, the sompeyar.

The sompeyar is a gesture of politeness and a sign of respect. Typically, it is performed with hands placed palms together, fingers pointing up, in front of the body at chest level, and the head is inclined slightly forward as if about to bow. When greeting monks, however, the hands should be placed in front of the face, and when paying respects to Buddha (or the king), the hands are put in front of the forehead. The sompeyar is always used towards those older than yourself, and is taught to children at an early age.

Cambodians are reserved people and find public displays of affection offensive; people in the provinces are particularly conservative. Holding hands or linking arms in public, though quite a common sign of friendship between two men or two women, is considered unacceptable if it involves a member of the opposite sex; even married couples won’t touch each other in public. Traditionally, Cambodian women would not have gone out drinking or have been seen with a man who was not her fiancé or husband. Times are changing, however, and a more cosmopolitan attitude is gaining ground in the towns, where you’ll see groups of girls and boys out together.

Everywhere in Cambodia, travellers will gain more respect if they are well dressed. Cambodians themselves dress modestly, men usually wearing long trousers and a shirt. Many women wear blouses rather than T-shirts, and sampots (sarongs) or knee-length skirts, but many also wear trousers or jeans, and younger girls in larger cities can increasingly be seen in the kind of short skirts and strappy tops favoured by their Western counterparts. Even so, as a general rule it’s best to avoid skimpy clothes and shorts unless you’re at the beach.

When visiting temples it’s important to wear clothes that keep your shoulders and legs covered. Hats should be removed when passing through the temple gate and shoes taken off before you go into any of the buildings (shoes are also removed before entering a Cambodian home). If you sit down on the floor inside a shrine, avoid pointing the soles of your feet towards any Buddha images (in fact, you should observe the same rule towards people generally, in any location). Monks are not allowed to touch women, so women should take care when walking near monks, and avoid sitting next to them on public transport.

Cambodians are often intrigued at the appearance of foreigners, and it is not considered rude to stare quite intently at visitors. Local people may also giggle at men with earrings – in Cambodia boys are given an earring in the belief it will help an undescended testicle. It’s worth bearing in mind that displaying anger won’t get you far, as the Khmers simply find this embarrassing.

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Exercise normal safety precautions in Cambodia.

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Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies.

Call 119 in Phnom Penh or go to a hospital. Outside of Phnom Penh you will need to contact a hospital directly.

Call police on 117 or contact the tourist police

Advice levels

Exercise normal safety precautions in Cambodia.

• Cambodian New Year (or Khmer New Year) celebrations will take place from 13 April to 16 April. Significant celebrations often attract large crowds and can lead to petty crime and more serious threats. 
• Street crimes, particularly phone and bag snatchings, occur regularly. Thieves often travel on motorbikes and target pedestrians or people in open taxis. Be prepared to surrender your valuables rather than risk injury in a struggle.
• Sexual assault occurs in tourist areas. Travellers have been assaulted after having their drinks spiked. Stick with people you trust, don't leave your drinks unattended in nightclubs and bars. 
• Many people in Cambodia own guns, and gun crime and shootouts are common. Explosions have also occurred. These incidents usually arise from commercial, personal or other disputes. They can and have occurred at a wide range of locations, including at popular tourist destinations.
• Scams, credit card fraud and ATM fraud are common. Check for card-skimming devices before using ATMs.
• Protests may turn violent. Avoid large public gatherings. Officials may arrest and deport foreigners involved in protests. 
• Be wary of invitations from strangers. Never carry parcels or luggage for others.
• Be careful when visiting regions near the border with Thailand. Landmines and unexploded remnants of war are a risk. Stay on marked roads if you're travelling in the north and northwest (see 'Travel').
• Fatal road accidents, particularly on provincial highways, are common. Be alert at all times on the roads and avoid travelling at night (see 'Travel'). 
• Severe storms and flooding can occur during the wet season (July to November). These can disrupt services and travel, including on the Mekong River. Check with your tour operator for updates.

Full travel advice:  Safety

• Take care buying medication in Cambodia. Local pharmacies may sell fake medication. Carry enough medication from Australia for your trip.
• Don't drink homemade or unlabelled alcohol. It may contain harmful substances, particularly methanol. Get medical help if you have symptoms of methanol poisoning, including fatigue, headaches, nausea and vision problems.
• Insect-borne diseases present in Cambodia include Dengue, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis, and Malaria. Use insect repellent, wear appropriate clothing, and ensure your accommodation is insect-proof. For longer stays, consider taking anti-malarial medication and getting pre-travel vaccinations for Japanese encephalitis, particularly when travelling to remote areas.
• Animals in Cambodia can carry rabies. Rabies is fatal without immediate treatment. Consider getting pre-travel vaccination for rabies. Get medical attention straight away if an animal scratches or bites you, even if you have received the pre-travel vaccination. 
• Outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease are common, and other foodborne, waterborne, parasitic and infectious diseases include hepatitis, tuberculosis and typhoid. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Avoid raw or undercooked food. Don't swim in freshwater.
• Medical facilities in Cambodia's public hospitals are often poor in quality and below international standards. Hospital stays can be expensive. Costs often increase to thousands of dollars. The hospital might keep your passport until you pay.

Full travel advice:  Health

• Don’t use or carry illegal drugs. Penalties for drug offences are severe. They include long prison sentences, even for small amounts.
• Understand and follow local laws and customs. It's illegal to criticise or insult the King or monarchy. Lying to police, flying drones without a permit in certain areas, public nudity, and possessing or producing pornography is illegal.
• Child sex offences are punishable under both Cambodian and Australian law.
• Cambodian authorities enforce 'modesty' laws at religious sites, such as Angkor Wat. Wear clothing that covers your knees and shoulders.
• Be careful when taking photos. Don’t photograph people, including monks, without permission. Don’t take photos near sensitive sites, such as military areas, transport hubs or government buildings.
• Be aware of business and employment offers that appear 'too good to be true'. Foreign nationals have been trafficked into Cambodia and forced to work in fraudulent activity.

Full travel advice:  Local laws

• You need a visa to enter Cambodia. You can  apply for an e-visa online  or get a tourist visa on arrival. These are valid for 30 days. For longer stays or other situations, apply for a visa through an  embassy or consulate of Cambodia . Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Cambodia for the latest details.

The Cambodian General Department of Immigration requires all foreigners to be registered in the  Foreigner Present in Cambodia System  (FPCS). Registrations are completed by hotel/guesthouse staff or residence owners. Make sure they register you. Foreigners in self-owned accommodation are required to self-register.

Full travel advice:  Travel

Local contacts

• The  Consular Services Charter  details what the Australian Government can and can’t do to help you overseas.
• For consular help, contact the  Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh .
• To stay up to date with local information, follow the Embassy’s social media accounts.

Full travel advice:  Local contacts

Full advice

Cambodian New Year (or Khmer New Year) celebrations will take place from 13 April to 16 April. Significant celebrations often attract large crowds and can lead to petty crime and more serious threats.

Petty crime

'Snatch-and-grab' crimes against travellers are common. Thieves often travel on motorcycles and steal from people who are:

• walking along footpaths
• using motorcycle taxis
• travelling on tuk-tuks or rickshaws

Foreigners have been injured in these thefts. Be prepared to surrender your valuables rather than risk injury in a struggle. 

Some thieves use knives to cut bags as they snatch them.

Australians have had valuables stolen from locked hotel and guesthouse rooms, often in cheaper accommodation.

Theft from luggage on buses is common.

To help protect yourself from theft:

• avoid carrying bags or carry only what you need and leave other valuables in a secure location
• walk on footpaths (where available), away from the curb, with your bag on the opposite side to the traffic
• if travelling by tuk-tuk, use those with barriers (curtains or netting) covering the passenger sides
• always keep an eye on your belongings, particularly easy-to-grab items
• avoid using ATMs on the street — use ATMs inside hotels, banks and shopping centres if possible

Sexual assault and other violent crime

Foreigners have been the target of  sexual assault , particularly in tourist areas.

Criminals often target victims:

• when intoxicated
• when travelling alone

Reports of groping and other sexual assaults are rising.

Drink spiking occurs. Foreigners have been sexually assaulted after having spiked drinks at nightclubs.  

To protect yourself from drink spiking:

• only drink alcohol at reputable places
• pay attention when your alcoholic drinks are being mixed
• stay with people you trust in bars and nightclubs

Get urgent medical attention if you think your drink has been spiked.

Parties, including organised dance parties on islands off the coast of Sihanoukville, can be risky. They may place you at greater risk of sexual assault.

Coastal islands are often isolated. Access to medical or emergency assistance may be limited or not exist.

To help keep safe at parties:

• pre-arrange transport with your hotel when heading out at night
• stick with people you trust, and never leave your drinks unattended at parties, bars, and nightclubs.

See a doctor quickly if you're involved in a violent crime, especially rape. There is a risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other sexually transmitted diseases in Cambodia. 

More information:

• Reducing the risk of sexual assault overseas
• Advice for women
• Partying safely

Many people in Cambodia own guns, and gun crime and shootouts are common. Explosions have also occurred. These incidents usually arise from commercial, personal or other disputes. They can and have occurred at a wide range of locations, including at popular tourist destinations.  

Traffic disputes have also resulted in violence involving weapons. Bystanders can get caught up in these disputes.

Armed  robberies  and home invasions targeting businesses or business owners happen across Cambodia.

Criminals have seriously injured or killed foreigners.

Motorcycle and taxi drivers sometimes  assault  and rob foreigners late at night. Areas popular with tourists and expats are particular targets.

To help keep yourself safe from assault:

• consider using a ride-hailing App such as Grab or Passap
• be alert to danger at all times, especially after dark
• avoid travelling alone at night
• limit night-time travel to well-lit public areas, especially around Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap
• travel in groups wherever possible
• don't travel by motorcycle taxi at night.

At night, car travel is often safer than travel by motorbike or tuktuk.

Ridesharing services are common in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and Kampot and are often safer than a flagged down taxi, motorbike or tuktuk. Prices are often cheaper than those you'll negotiate on the spot.

Criminal rings operate in Cambodia, particularly in Phnom Penh, and often use an apparently friendly person to approach travellers. They use ploys and stories to invite travellers to private homes.

Travellers are talked into playing card games, where they lose large amounts of money. Some are forced to withdraw money from an ATM or shop, often at gunpoint.

Online relationships and friendship  scams  also happen. Australians involved in these scams have been asked to take items with hidden drugs out of Cambodia or may be asked to send large sums of money to assist with fake problems.

Be aware of business and employment offers that appear 'too good to be true'. Foreign nationals have been trafficked into Cambodia and forced to work in fraudulent activity, with poor pay and living conditions, restrictions on movement, and severe mistreatment. There are reports of 'scam centres' operated by organised crime organisations, where foreign victims are tricked into coming to Cambodia and other destinations in Southeast Asia and forced to work in online scamming . You can also learn more about  business and employment scams  on ScamWatch.

Credit card and ATM fraud occur. This includes using skimming machines to store card data.

To help protect yourself against scams:

• be wary of invitations from strangers, including to visit private homes
• never carry parcels or luggage for others
• check for skimming machines before using ATMs and check your transaction statements

Cyber security

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you're connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

More information:   

• Cyber security when travelling overseas  

Civil unrest and political tension

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people may turn violent. Local police and security forces have occasionally responded with force and may not distinguish between demonstrators and bystanders.

Authorities may arrest and deport foreigners involved in protests, filming or taking photos of demonstrations, the military or the police. 

In Phnom Penh, possible sites for rallies include:

• political party offices and court buildings
• Freedom Park
• the Prime Minister's home
• government and military buildings or compounds

Roadblocks can be set up with little warning, restricting access through the city. Armed security personnel on the streets can increase around the time of local political events such as elections.

Land and border disputes along Cambodia's borders with Vietnam and Thailand have resulted in:

• demonstrations
• increased presence of armed forces
• cross-border fighting

Tourist attractions and border crossing points in these areas close with little or no notice.

To protect yourself during periods of unrest:

• avoid demonstrations, political events, protests, large-scale public gatherings and roadblocks
• monitor the media about possible unrest, protest locations and roadblocks
• follow the advice of local authorities
• don't film or photograph protests, political rallies or armed security personnel
• be particularly alert and careful in the lead-up to and during days of national significance, such as elections, commemorations, and religious events. 
• show respect, especially in areas where royal family or religious activities are taking place
• Demonstrations and civil unrest

In the last decade, Cambodian authorities have stopped planned bomb attacks.

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

Climate and natural disasters

Severe weather  can happen without warning in Cambodia. In the wet season from July to November, beware of:

• severe storms
• widespread seasonal flooding
• localised flash flooding

Floods may disrupt travel to some provinces. The  Mekong River Commission  provides news on flood levels for the Mekong River.

To stay informed and safe:

• monitor the media, weather and flood level reports, especially during the wet season
• check with your tour operator for the latest news on disruptions
• take official warnings seriously
• don't enter areas affected by flooding without advice from local authorities

If there's a  natural disaster , follow the advice above and:

• keep your passport and phone in a safe, waterproof place
• stay in touch with friends and family
• register with the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

Travel insurance

Get comprehensive  travel insurance  before you leave. 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation: the Australian Government won’t pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

• what activities and care your policy covers
• that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. 

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

• have a basic health check-up
• ask if your travel plans may affect your health
• plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least eight weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your  nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate  to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

Mental health support and counselling

Mental health services in Cambodia are extremely limited and expensive. Certain medications can be difficult to purchase, and be less effective due to the heat or stomach issues travellers may experience. Consider your personal mental health needs carefully before travelling.

• General health advice
• Healthy holiday tips   (Healthdirect Australia)

Medications

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Cambodia. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

• what the medication is
• your required dosage
• that it's for personal use

Local pharmacies may sell fake medication. It can be difficult to tell real medication from fake.

Health risks

Methanol poisoning.

Don't drink homemade or unlabelled alcohol. It may contain harmful substances, particularly methanol, which can cause:

• serious illness
• brain injury

Symptoms of methanol poisoning include fatigue, headaches and nausea.

The effects are similar to excessive drinking but with vision problems, such as:

• blurred or 'snowfield' vision
• flashes of light and tunnel vision
• changes in how you see colour
• dilated pupils
• difficulty looking at bright lights

Get medical advice if you think you, or anyone you're travelling with, has been poisoned. This could be vital to avoiding permanent disability or death.

Report methanol poisoning to local police.

Insect-borne diseases

Insect-borne diseases are widespread in Cambodia, such as  Dengue ,  Chikungunya and  Japanese Encephalitis .

Malaria  is also common in some regions, especially along the borders in mountain regions.

To protect yourself from disease:

• make sure your accommodation is mosquito-proof
• use insect repellent
• wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
• consider taking medicine to prevent malaria
• get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis before you travel

Discuss your travel plans and other vaccination needs with your doctor before you travel.

• Infectious diseases

HIV/AIDS  infection is a risk in Cambodia.

Take precautions if engaging in sex or activities that expose you to risk of infection.

Rabies  is fatal if you don't get vaccinated or receive quick treatment. Animals across Cambodia carry rabies.

Rabies is found in infected dogs, cats, monkeys, bats and other mammals.

To reduce your risk of rabies, don't go near, or pat, dogs and other mammals.

If you're bitten or scratched, seek medical help straight away.

Rabies vaccinations and post-exposure treatments are often available at larger medical facilities in tourist and expat areas. Treatment in Phnom Penh is usually available at:

Institute Pasteur Rabies Clinic No.5, Monivong Boulevard 12201 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Bird flu (avian influenza)

Human cases of  avian influenza  are reported in Cambodia.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)  is common. Sometimes serious outbreaks occur.

HFMD mostly affects children under the age of 10 years. However, adult cases (especially young adults) do occur.

To reduce the risk of getting or passing on HFMD, practise good hygiene. Wash your hands well and often.

Other health risks

Waterborne, foodborne, parasitic and other infectious diseases are common. They include:

• tuberculosis

Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.

Isolated outbreaks of  cholera  occur in some rural areas.

Freshwater sources, such as rivers and lakes, carry parasitic diseases like  bilharzia (schistosomiasis) .

To protect yourself from illness:

• drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
• avoid block ice
• avoid uncooked and undercooked food
• don't swim in fresh water

Get urgent medical attention if you suspect food poisoning, have a fever or diarrhoea.

Medical care

Medical facilities.

Public medical facilities in Cambodia are generally poor in quality. The services they can provide are limited.

Foreign private medical clinics are available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. 

Outside Phnom Penh there are almost no medical facilities that can deal with medical emergencies.

Hospitals and doctors generally require cash up-front before they'll treat you, even in an emergency. Sometimes they'll accept proof of your medical insurance.

Hospital stays can be expensive. Costs often increase to thousands of dollars. The hospital might keep your passport until you pay.

If you become seriously ill or injured, you'll need to be evacuated to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.

• Medical service providers in Cambodia

Medical tourism

Medical tourism  is growing in many countries in Asia, including Cambodia. However, medical care in Cambodia doesn't generally meet international standards. 

Elective and cosmetic surgery in Cambodia is unregulated. Operations by unqualified surgeons can lead to life-threatening complications. 

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our  Consular Services Charter , but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Penalties for drug offences are severe. They include long jail terms for even small amounts.

• Carrying or using drugs

Surrogacy and adoption laws

Commercial surrogacy  is illegal in Cambodia.

Australia doesn't have an intercountry adoption program with Cambodia. This means the Australian Government can't process adoption requests.

The Attorney-General's Department is watching to see if Cambodia will accept intercountry adoption. The department is also waiting to see if Cambodia will comply with the  Hague Convention .

• Going overseas for international surrogacy
• Going overseas to adopt a child

Marriage laws

If you intend to marry a Cambodian citizen, you'll need approval from the  Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation . This doesn't apply if you're also a Cambodian citizen.

• Getting married

In Cambodia, it's illegal to:

• criticise or insult the King or the monarchy, including online and via social media
• lie to police, including in relation to an insurance claim such as reporting a crime that didn't happen or lying about the circumstances of an incident
• be topless or naked in public places or at sacred sites, including Angkor Wat
• have or produce pornographic material, including on mobile phones, cameras or computers for personal use

It's also illegal to:

• buy or possess cultural or ancient artefacts without a permit
• fly drones in certain areas without a permit. These include areas of Phnom Penh, Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap or other sensitive areas. Seek prior approval from the local municipality
• hunt wildlife without permission
• traffic wildlife
• work without a valid work permit — see  Travel

Australian and Cambodian authorities are committed to combating child sex offences. Penalties are severe under both Australian and Cambodian law.

You can be punished either in Cambodia or at home under Australian law. Penalties for having sex with anyone younger than 18 years include long jail terms.

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you’re overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

Local customs

Cambodian authorities enforce 'modesty' laws at sites of religious significance, such as Angkor Wat. Dress respectfully, including covering your knees and shoulders. You can't enter if you don't.

Don't take photos of people without their permission, especially monks and other religious figures. It's culturally inappropriate.

Avoid taking photographs near sensitive sites, such as:

• military areas, assets or military personnel
• transport facilities
• government buildings

Dual citizenship

Under Cambodian law, you can't give up Cambodian citizenship. This includes even if a Cambodian citizen becomes a nationality of another country.

Always travel on your  Australian passport .

Cambodian dual nationals aged 18 to 30 years who live in Cambodia may have to enrol in military service. Military service for female citizens is voluntary.

If you're a dual national, contact the nearest  embassy or consulate of Cambodia  before you travel.

• Dual nationals

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

You need a visa to visit Cambodia.  Tourists can apply for an e-visa online or get a tourist visa on arrival. These are valid for 30 days. For longer stays or other situations, apply for a visa through an embassy or consulate of Cambodia .

Don’t overstay your visa. This is a serious offence (see below).

You're required to stay at least one night after entering Cambodia, except when travelling via Phnom Penh International Airport.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest  embassy or consulate of Cambodia  for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Visa overstays

You can only stay for 30 days from the date of your arrival on a tourist visa. Other visa types will list the date by which you must have left Cambodia or extended your visa. Overstaying your visa is a serious offence. Authorities may stop you from leaving Cambodia until you pay a fine or serve a prison sentence. Fines increase daily.

If you overstay your visa by more than one month, you risk penalties such as:

• deportation
• being banned from returning to Cambodia

Check your visa and the dates carefully. If it was issued outside Cambodia, the expiry date is not how long you can stay. It's the final date you can use it to enter. 

If you want to stay in Cambodia for more than 30 days, you must renew your visa. Tourist visas can only be renewed once.

Staying in Cambodia

Renew your visa at a:

• travel agency
• vehicle rental company

You can also visit the Department of Immigration office opposite the Phnom Penh International Airport.

Land border crossings

If you plan to enter or exit via a land border crossing, first confirm it's open to foreigners. Check you can get a visa when you arrive. Day trips are not permitted at land border crossings.

Be alert to the security status of border regions and land crossings between countries.

Monitor local media for updates. Follow advice from local authorities. See  Safety .

Cambodia–Thailand border

There's an ongoing dispute over the Thailand–Cambodia border.

If you visit this border area, landmines and unexploded military weapons are a risk. The risk is higher in and around:

• the Preah Vihear temple (known as Khao Pra Viharn temple in Thailand), between Sisaket Province in Thailand and Preah Vihear Province in Cambodia
• the Ta Krabei (known as Ta Kwai temple in Thailand) and Ta Moan Thom (known as Ta Muen temple in Thailand) temples, in Oddar Meanchey province in Cambodia

Tourist attractions and border crossing points in this area can close with little or no notice.

Working in Cambodia

If you plan to work in Cambodia, you need the correct visa and a work permit. Your employment status isn't relevant.

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training issues work permits.

• Living or working overseas

Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for six months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than six months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport’s expiry date before you travel. If you’re not sure it’ll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

• In Australia, contact the  Australian Passport Information Service .
• If you’re overseas, contact the nearest  Australian embassy or consulate .

If your passport is lost or stolen in Cambodia, you'll also need to:

• get a police report from the tourist police station closest to where the incident happened
• get a replacement passport — contact the  Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh
• get an exit visa from the Cambodian Department of Immigration

Exit visas take around 3 working days from when you submit your police report, passport and exit visa request. In some individual cases it may take longer to obtain an exit visa.

Allow enough time to get a new passport and exit visa before you plan to leave. If you don't have a valid visa in your passport, this will delay your departure. You may be fined or detained.

Passport with ‘X’ gender identifier

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can’t guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers.

• LGBTI travellers

The official currency of Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel (KHR). US dollars are also legal tender.

ATM facilities are available in:

• Sihanoukville

In other areas, ATM facilities are limited and may be unreliable.

Card skimming happens throughout Cambodia. 

Cashing services for credit card cash advances and traveller's cheques are available for a fee at banks in:

Take enough US dollars to cover basic travelling expenses.

Ensure your US currency is in good condition. Sellers may not accept:

• dirty notes
• high value notes

Fake money is common in Cambodia, check received notes carefully, particularly high value notes.

Local travel

Landmines are a danger in many parts of Cambodia, especially along the border with Thailand.

Large areas of rural Cambodia still have live landmines.

If you visit the north and north-west of Cambodia, stay on marked pathways.

Take extra care if travelling away from the Angkor Wat temple complex to other temples in the Siem Reap area.

Driving permits

If you want to drive a car or ride a motorcycle larger than 125cc, you need a Cambodian driver's (or motorcycle) licence, or your Australian licence and International Driving Permit.

You can apply for a Cambodian licence equivalent to your Australian licence in person at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport's main Phnom Penh office or at their outlets located inside Aeon Mall 1 and Aeon Mall 2 in Phnom Penh and at the Heritage Walk mall in Siem Reap. If you do not have a valid foreign licence you will need to undergo testing at their main office to receive a Cambodian licence.

If using an Australian licence and International Driving Permit you can only operate the vehicles listed. You must carry both documents when operating a vehicle and comply with all Cambodian traffic law.

Under Cambodian law, you can ride a motorcycle with an engine capacity of up to 125cc without a licence. However, check with your insurer. Some travel insurers may not cover you for riding a motorcycle at all, even if you're fully licensed. Others won't cover riders unless they hold an Australian motorcycle licence, even if riding a motorcycle with capacity less than 125cc.

Road travel

Travel by road, especially at night outside major cities, is dangerous because of:

• poor road conditions
• drunk drivers
• wandering livestock
• the risk of crime

Be alert at all times on the roads and avoid travelling at night.

Driving standards are often poor. Vehicles and roads are often not well maintained.

Streets are crowded in major cities. Drivers often ignore road rules.

Serious injuries from road accidents happen every day in Cambodia. Motorcycles, buses and coaches have high accident rates.

Large crowds can form quickly after road accidents. If you're in an accident, people might try to take advantage of you.

Speed limits for motorcycle drivers are:

• 30km per hour in towns
• 60km per hour on the outskirts

Other vehicle drivers can't go over:

• 40km per hour in towns
• 80km per hour outside towns

You must wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.

If you get a speeding ticket, you need to pay the fine at a payment centre within 30 days. Always ask for a receipt.

If you plan to drive:

• learn about local traffic laws
• avoid driving at night outside major cities
• Driving or riding

Motorcycles

Motorcycles are a common form of public transport in cities. Check your insurance policy covers you for motorcycles, either as a driver or passenger.

Always wear a helmet.

Most helmets in Cambodia don't meet Australian standards. Bring a helmet and protective clothing with you if you're:

• visiting Cambodia for a motorcycle tour
• expecting to travel a lot by motorcycle

Taxis and Tuk-tuks

Official, metered taxis are generally safe and convenient. However, be alert to possible scams and safety risks.

Registered drivers with ridesharing services are available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. Limited services operate in Kampot and Battambang.

Flagged-down motorcycle taxis (moto), tuk-tuks and rickshaws are often used for short trips.

Many drivers do not use metered fares and may charge according to:

• distance travelled
• number of passengers
• time of day

Drivers sometimes take passengers without understanding their destination. Destinations are often identified by common landmarks, such as the nearest pagoda.

Before using a moto, tuk-tuk or rickshaw, you should agree on the fare with the driver, have some idea of the best route to take, or use ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Passapp.

Rail travel

Rail services are unreliable and limited. Expect frequent changes and interruptions to schedules with little notice.

• Transport and getting around safely

Sea/River travel

Travel by boat can be dangerous.

Boats taking passengers to islands off the coast of Sihanoukville have sunk.

Even modern boats may be overcrowded and lack basic safety gear.

To help keep yourself safe on the water:

• ensure any boat you plan to board has suitable safety gear, including life jackets for all passengers
• always wear your life jacket, even if others don't
• check with your tour operator or boat manager that safety standards are in place, including passenger and weight limits

If safety standards are not in place, find another boat.

• Travelling by boat

The safety and upkeep standards of local aircraft may be low.

Local airlines often cancel or reschedule flights at short notice.

DFAT doesn’t provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths. 

Check  Cambodia's air safety profile  with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider

Call police on 117 or contact the tourist police (see below).

The police may not have the resources to help you in an emergency. They may not have time to look into crimes.

Police stations and emergency numbers might not be available 24 hours a day. Phone operators may not speak English.

The tourist police have booths in tourist areas and most cities.

In other towns, contact the nearest police station. You may need an interpreter.

Be wary of putting your fingerprint or signature on a police document if you can't read it.

Always get a police report when reporting a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Consular contacts

Check the  Consular Services Charter  for what the Australian Government can and can’t do to help you overseas.

For consular assistance, contact the Australian Embassy in Cambodia.

Australian Embassy, Phnom Penh

No. 16B, National Assembly Street Sangkat Tonle Bassac Khan Chamkamon Phnom Penh, Cambodia Phone: (+855 0) 23 266 500 Fax: (+855 0) 23 266 588  Email:  [email protected] Website:  cambodia.embassy.gov.au Facebook: @AustralianEmbassyPhnomPenh  X (Twitter): @AusEmbPP

Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia

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AirAsia Cambodia heralds a new chapter for Cambodian travel and Asean integration

PHNOM PENH - May 1, 2024 —

AirAsia today proudly announced the commencement of its seventh airline, AirAsia Cambodia (flight code KT), marking a significant step forward not just in the country’s aviation landscape but strengthening Asean as a vibrant aviation hub.

AirAsia Cambodia is poised to commence its operations on Thursday, 2 May 2024, following the handover of its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) on Tuesday. With an initial fleet of two Airbus A320s, the airline will operate from the bustling hub of Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH), connecting travellers to the iconic cities of Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, and beyond through hubs in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

The start of the new airline represents an important milestone for the AirAsia Group as it recently announced its “ONE Airline” strategy. AirAsia Cambodia is now well-positioned to become a formidable force in low-cost air travel across the country and beyond, leveraging the group’s core strength to drive customer and operational excellence for sustained growth and profitability.

Tony Fernandes ,  CEO of Capital A  said: “Today is a historic day for AirAsia as we open a new chapter in Cambodia whose story of perseverance, resilience, and growth deeply inspires us. We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the Secretariat of State Civil Aviation (SSCA) of Cambodia for awarding the Air Operator's Certificate to AirAsia.

“The wealth of opportunities present in Cambodia, a country with huge economic potential is truly compelling given its strategic location within the Asean region. Cambodia's economic growth trajectory and increasing integration into the global economy position it as a key player in the region's development landscape.

“AirAsia's expansion into Cambodia underscores our profound grasp of the Asean market. Cambodia's dynamic population of 17 million and its growing youth segment present a substantial consumer base and an opportunity to cater to domestic demand whilst contributing to its economic progress. As AirAsia Cambodia prepares for takeoff, we are excited to leverage these opportunities to a broader ecosystem across our Capital A lines of business. From our digital businesses, such as online booking app AirAsia MOVE to fintech BigPay, logistics Teleport, and Capital A Aviation Services Group, including our MRO service provider Asia Digital Engineering, we look forward to integrating a wide range of services that will strengthen our capabilities of offering unrivalled services to the Asean community.”

Vissoth Nam, CEO of AirAsia Cambodia  said: “AirAsia has a long history in Cambodia and we are proud to chart a new milestone not only for the airline industry in the region but for the country today. 

“AirAsia Cambodia is a testament to Cambodian ingenuity and dedication, tailored to serve the needs of our people which is above and beyond mere transportation. With our roots firmly planted in the country’s soil, we are committed to uplifting communities, empowering entrepreneurs, and fostering economic growth with a multiplier effect.

“The enhanced air connectivity has also contributed to the steady growth of the Asean tourism industry at an annual average rate of almost 10 per cent in the last decade. As AirAsia Cambodia joins the fray, we are poised to further expand on this growth while unlocking new experiences and opportunities for millions of Cambodians at the best value and world’s best services.

“As a homegrown airline, we are also deeply humbled by the support received from Samdech Moha Borvor Tiphadei Hun Manet, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia for our establishment, reaffirming our shared commitment to providing accessible travel options for Cambodians. With his invaluable support, we stand poised and confident in our ability to connect communities, facilitate economic exchange, and foster cultural ties across the region. His endorsement further strengthens our resolve to catalyse positive change and prosperity within Asean and beyond starting with Cambodia.”

As a group, AirAsia serves a total of six routes into Cambodia from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, carrying 1.3 million guests into the kingdom historically. AirAsia Cambodia will be announcing its international destinations in the next quarter following a careful assessment of demand and market dynamics.

Release ID: 89128990

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