Cambodia Travel Information

The Capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia is Phnom Penh. Inland area: 181,035 Km2. Located on the eastern coast of the South-East Asian Indochinese Peninsula, Cambodia shares its borders with Thailand to the West, Thailand and Laos to the North, Vietnam to the East and the Gulf of Thailand to the Southeast. The country has a coastline of 435 km and the two dominant topographies vary from coastal plains to mountain ranges. Cambodia has 13.4 million inhabitants. The dominant religion is Theravada Buddhism.

Currency

The official currency is the Riel (r) although US dollars are widely accepted. The exchange rate is US$ 1 = 4000 Riel. Traveler's cheques can be cashed only at major banks

Visa, Master cards, JCB, CCB and American Express are now accepted in high-end hotels, restaurants and shops in the main cities of Cambodia, such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. You can also get cash advances with your credit card at the Canada Bank in Phnom Penh.

Climate

Cambodia has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons: dry from October to May and rainy from June to October. During the rainy season it usually rains only during the evening or early morning hours. Temperatures are warm year round.

Health & medical facilities

Inoculation for yellow fever is a legal requirement for entry into Cambodia for people coming from infected areas. There is otherwise no vaccination required, but visitors are advised to receive inoculations against hepatitis A and B, typhoid and tetanus. Tablets for malaria are not necessary although doctors still recommend them. Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have good hospitals staffed with foreign medical personnel.

Cambodia Water

Tap water is available in all hotels in Cambodia. According to Cambodian authorities, tap water is well treated and cleaned. It is absolutely suitable for drinking. Cambodian people usually use tap water for their daily life as well!

However by the time it gets to your tap, it may be not cleaned as it was. So, for foreigner traveler in Cambodia, the best way to use water in Cambodia is bottled water. It is the only thing you should ever drink or brush your teeth with.

Of course, tap water in Cambodia is ok for bath!

Cambodia Flights

Since its opening to foreign tourist, Cambodia is served by many airlines. As a Cambodian tourist hub, Siem reap is the busiest airport in Cambodia. There are many flights connecting Bangkok Siem Reap, Hong Kong Siem Reap, Seoul Siem Reap... They are operated both by domestic and international airlines such as: Siem Reap Airways, Dragon Air, Thai Airway, Tiger Airway, Air Asia, Asiana Airlines....It is the same with Phnom Penh Capital which is the official gate to enter Cambodia.

Its important also to have look at the transport between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
There are only two domestic routes:
Phnom Penh - Siem Reap: Siem Reap Airways is the most reliable operator on this route, offering four daily 55-minute flights using French ATR-72 turboprops.
Phnom Penh - Banlung: PMTair has flights on Mondays and Wednesdays, using Antonov An-24 turboprops.

Cambodia boat/cruise
Boat, fery operate along many of the major rivers in Cambodia and from its neighboring countries. Major routes include Ho Chi Minh city to Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, Siem Reap to Battambang, and Sihanoukville to Koh Kong.

Boats are slower than road transport but much more interesting with sightseeing on cultural river of Mekong.

To/from Vietnam - cruising on Mekong river from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh by boat, or by combination of road and boat is now one of the favorite trip for tourist coming to Vietnam and Cambodia. Please see our Mekong cruise tours.

To/from Laos - There is one border crossing for tourists on the Mekong, a 90 minute speedboat ride north of Stung Treng. The border guards have few opportunities for "alternative" income, and will usually try to make a few extra dollars from scamming tourists.
To/from Phnom Penh - Siem Reap: High speed boat and some luxury cruise plying between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap on Mekong river nowadays attract more and more tourist.
The boat trip between Siem Reap and Battambang takes longer (especially in the dry season), and is less comfortable and more expensive than taking a seat in a share taxi, but is favored by some travelers for its up-close view of subsistence farming (and hundreds of waving children) along the river.

Cambodia bus

Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh: It can be interesting to go by tour (3 days) on the Mekong delta from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh. Bus tickets can also be bought for a bus to Moc Bai on the Vietnam side of the border and then another bus from Bavet on the Cambodian side to Phnom Penh.

Bangkok - Siem Reap: This route is in better shape than it once was but still a bit of a hassle, particularly when entering Cambodia. On this route, tourist bus employees often take kickbacks from restaurants and guesthouses they suggest, and tourist buses will stay at rest ss for 2-3 hours or feign mechanical problems, extending the travel to 12 or more hours, which usually makes tourists too tired to argue when arriving at an overpriced guesthouse.

Bangkok - Sihanoukville: Starting in Bangkok, catch a bus to Trat, and from there a minibus to the border. After crossing into Cambodia there are two possibilities - the once-daily boat to Sihanoukville (can be unpleasant in adverse weather), or else a minibus or taxi to either Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh (note that most of the road is not sealed and conditions vary considerably, depending on time of year and maintenance).

Cooking

Cambodian food is closely related to the cuisines of neighboring Thailand and Laos and, to a lesser extent, Vietnam, however there are some distinct local dishes as well. The overall consensus is that Khmer cooking is like Thai cuisine without being spicy. Curries, stir fried vegetables, rice, noodles and soups are staples of the Khmer diet. Cambodia is well known in the region for its Prahok, a strong, fermented fish paste used in a variety of traditional dishes.

Shopping

In Cambodia all sorts of goods and manufactured products can be found. From antiques, silver items, jewelry and gems, to silk, Cambodia offers a large range of beautiful handicraft products. Prices displayed are usually fixed, but in other cases bargaining is recommended.

Visa

You must first ensure your passport will be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.
Visas can be acquired directly at Cambodian Embassies and Consulates abroad or by visa on arrival at the international checkpoints of Pochentong airport in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airport. For people arriving overland from Thailand, Vietnam or Laos, visas must be arranged prior to arrival. Point of entry has to be clearly mentioned on the visa application.

Before going

If you are traveling in Cambodia from October to March warm clothes are recommended and especially appropriate in the northern area.
In the south, light clothing is a must year round
Although you can find these products in Cambodia, we also recommend that you take products for mosquitoes, and for the sun; a cap or a hat, sunglasses, a raincoat and a small bag to carry a few things in case you have to leave your large suitcases at the hotel for a few days.