What to know before visiting Cambodia

Recent history of Cambodia 

In the late 1800s France occupied and ruled over many countries within Southeast Asia.  In certain areas, especially Phnom Penh, you’ll notice many western style art deco buildings from the 1920-30s. 

Following the Vietnam/American war in the mid 1970s, Cambodia was ruled by Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.  This group lead a mass genocide of 3 million people within the country. Cambodians had to kill their fellow country men, women and children in order to survive.  The Khmer Rouge specifically targeted educated people within the country.

When visiting Cambodia you will find that although the country continues to progress beyond this tragedy, they still recognize that the events are not far behind them.  In Phnom Penh you can visit the killing fields and mass graves from that era.  There is also a genocide museum in the city center which shares information on this devastating time period.  

Visa requirements for visiting Cambodia

Whether arriving by bus, boat or plane, you need a tourist visa when visiting Cambodia. You have two options: e-visa or a visa upon arrival. I strongly recommend you apply for an electronic, or e-visa, prior to arrival

The turnaround time for an e-visa for visiting Cambodia is up to 3 business days

Your visa is valid to use for 3 months from approval.  However, once you arrive it only lasts for 30 days

The cost of a visa is $30 + $6 processing fee for an e-visa or $30 for a visa upon arrival

You will need a passport photo for either visa

DO NOT USE A THIRD PARTY TO GET YOUR VISA

Airlines (such as Delta) have an option to purchase your visa through their site ahead of your visit.  But they are using a third party vendor to do this, and as a result, charge a third party price.  The cost to get a visa through Delta’s vendor is $66 versus the $36 directly through the Cambodian government. 

Save your money and book the visa through the official site

You can use a credit card to purchase your visa online

When arriving at the airport (or driving across the border) you will save time by being able to go directly to the customs agent rather than waiting to get your visa

Be sure to bring a paper copy of your visa for customs

What languages are spoken in Cambodia

The Cambodian people speak the Khmer language (pronounced kam-ai for language and kam-air when referring to the Cambodian people).  You will find locals speaking basic English in the more tourist-heavy areas of Phnom Penh and more common in Siem Reap.  However as you venture further outside of the tourist areas in the city there will be fewer people.

Use google or a translate app when you need to or a calculator app to confirm prices. 

Be sure to learn “thank you”, which is arkoun (pronounced like ah-koon).

How do you pay for things in Cambodia

Cambodia is a very CASH HEAVY country however restaurants and bars (especially in Siem Reap) are more likely to take credit cards. If you are using the Grab app (SE Asian Uber) you can set up your credit card and not have to worry about paying for cars or TukTuks, AND the prices are cheaper than negotiating with drivers

Current

If you bring US dollars from the US you MUST make sure they are in pristine condition.  I’m not joking, they need to be as close to immaculate as possible or your vendor will reject the bill. You can not have any rips/tears, writing, fading and preferably limited creasing.  Go to your bank ahead of time and request the bank teller to give you the nicest bills they have available.  I recommend also bringing smaller bills: $20 at the largest, $10s are the best but having a few $5 and $1 will also make your life easier.

When using USD you will more often than not receive Cambodian currency as your change, especially since they do not have US coins, only bills. For example if you owe $3.50 USD you will get back the $1.50 converted to Riel.  Then you can use that money as you go throughout your trip.  

Tipping

Tipping is not very common in SE Asia or Cambodia.  At bars and restaurants it is not required to tip your servers.  You’ll also notice the level of service is very different than in North America.  After you order you’ll usually have to flag your server down when you need anything else or to pay the bill, otherwise they aren’t checking in on you. For guided tours it is a nice gesture (but not required) to tip your guide (and driver). I usually tip $5-10 for a single day tour for just myself and more for a group. It is also a nice gesture to leave a tip for your hotel cleaners. 

How do you get around in Cambodia?

Local Transportation

The best way to get around within the larger cities of Cambodia is by using the Grab app.  This is essentially the same as Uber, but it works throughout Southeast Asia. Like Uber, the app gives you options for what type of vehicle to select.  I personally prefer taking a car to or from the airport, but in town I absolutely loved riding in the small tuktuks.  And with the app you can use a credit card and save your cash.  You’re also able to tip and rate your drivers. 

TukTuks will be outside of all populated areas (temples, markets, walking streets, etc.) with drivers offering rides.  If you choose to get a ride without an app make sure you negotiate prices ahead of your ride. 

Outside of busy tourist spots you’ll also see tuktuk drivers aggressively offering tours. These aren’t scams, they will take you to the sites promised, but do not feel obliged to take a tour.  Just decline and keep walking.  Tell them you already have plans. 

Drivers for Hire

Aside from offering tours, some drivers (cars and tuktuks) will ask if you want to use their service either for the day or again at another time. You can usually negotiate a fee ahead of time.  Drivers will usually offer their whatsapp contact information to connect with them later in the day or at another day. 

On my last day in Cambodia, I did not have enough cash on hand, but my driver stayed nearby while I spent a couple of hours getting in some final temple visits.  He turned on his Grab app and was able to get automatically connected as my driver.  Then I made sure to give him extra tip (100% of tips go to the drivers) since he was so accommodating since I did not have cash. 

Walking

While traveling it's not unusual for me to get in 15000-20000 steps a day.  But not all cities in Cambodia are created equally for walking.  Phnom Penh is really not very walkable.  Sidewalks basically don't exist outside the riverfront area. You can walk in and along the streets but you’ll need to be aware of the tuktuks or scooters zipping by.  SIem Reap on the other hand is very walking friendly with sidewalks and significantly fewer people driving through the city streets than in the capital. 

Transportation between cities

While visiting Cambodia you’re likely to arrive in Phnom Penh with plans to travel elsewhere during your stay.  The most popular destination to visit is Siem Reap.  From Phnom Penh you can take a coach bus as a budget friendly option, but it takes about 6 hours.  

You can fly which will cost more, but the flight is less than an hour.  Since Phnom Penh is not that large or busy of an airport, and flying domestically does not require customs, you can plan to arrive at the airport about 90 minutes before your flight and still have plenty of time to check in and get to your gate

If you are flying be sure you check your flight status prior to leaving your hotel.  If there are any issues with your flight such as delays, you will have a better time staying at the hotel (preferably the pool) than hanging out in the small airport.

If you are traveling to Siem Reap TAKE NOTE!  As of October the new Siem Reap international airport (airport code SAI) is now open. This is important to know because if you are looking at flights and select the wrong airport, you will not find any flight options. Make sure you are selecting the correct airport to find flight options. 

Is Cambodia safe?

Yes, while visiting Cambodia I felt extremely safe my (solo) entire trip.  On sites like the US State Department website, you will see notes about Phnom Penh having some dangerous areas.  However, those notes also state that violent crime is almost never directed at tourists. Typically crimes that occur against tourists are petty theft.  

Siem Reap is the second largest city in Cambodia, but it is also largely dependent upon tourism for its economy.  While I never felt unsafe in Phnom Penh, I felt extremely safe in Siem Reap.  The city center is much smaller, more walkable and very lively with tourists and locals. It has the feel of a beachtown, but without the beach.

What is Cambodian food like?

Cambodia may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of delicious food, like you might with Thailand or Vietnam, but you won't leave hungry.  Like its neighboring countries, you’ll find a mix of food styles from noodle dishes to curries, barbecue street meat, fried rice dishes and fresh fruit smoothies.  Street food is a huge part of Cambodian culture.  When visiting Cambodia, you’ll find rows of vendors grouped together along the street with shared tables for patrons. And the best part is not only is the food good, but it is incredibly cheap.  You can easily keep your food budget to $10-15 a day.

Beware of the chili oil, they are not messing around in Cambodia.  It is HOOOTT!  Unless you have a very strong tolerance for spice and heat, use sparingly and build up from there. . 

Restrooms and sanitation

Using the bathroom is different in Asia than in North America. It is common throughout most of SE Asia to throw any toilet paper into a garbage can rather than in the toilet.  While most bathrooms had toilet paper a surprising amount did not have paper towels, (working) hand driers or soap.  I strongly recommend having some tissues on hand just in case, and always bringing hand sanitiser with you. 

Pool culture

Cambodia is hot and humid.  In the “winter” season in December the weather is still regularly 90+ degrees during the day. If it's in your budget, I strongly recommend getting a hotel with a pool.  If you’re up exploring from early in the morning through mid day you will be hot and tired. Hitting the pool in the late afternoon (preferably with a passion fruit mojito) is an ideal way to take a break from the heat before heading out for the evening.  While visiting Cambodia, you can find a 4 star hotel with a pool for under $50 a night including taxes. 

Can I plug in my electronics?

Whether you’re visiting Cambodia from North America or Europe you can easily plug in your electronics without adaptors. Hotels and airports generally use universal outlets that support both North American (Type A) and European (Type C) style plugs.

Will my phone work?

It is very overwhelming to be in a country you do not know, where they also speak a language you do not understand. For me, It is always worth the cost to have the peace of mind to be able to get around. 

If you are using an international plan through your cell phone carrier the service while visiting Cambodia works perfectly. Please check costs with your local cell phone provider.  I use AT&T in the states and there is a flat daily fee no matter the country.  However, another traveler that I met while in Siem Reap said that his UK plan cost 60 pounds per day in Cambodia compared to 5 pounds in Thailand. 

Alternate options for cell service. If you have a newer cell phone that has an e-sim option this is an easy and low cost way to connect service while you travel.  There are different plans based on what data usage you need.  A popular site among travelers is Airalo.  You can use referral code CARLI0951 to get a discount on your first e-sim purchase.

Local and regional eSIMs for travellers - Airalo

airalo.tp.st

If your phone is too old to have an e-sim you will usually see stands for sim cards outside the airport when you leave the baggage area.  The airport prices tend to be higher than if you go into a store directly, but they can assist with swapping out your physical sim card.  Just make sure to safely store your original to swap back before you get home.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU GET AN ESIM OR LOCAL SIM

If your phone is locked with your phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, Rodgers, Telus, etc.) you cannot use an e-sim or a local sim card.  I REPEAT YOU CANNOT GET A LOCAL OR E-SIM CARD.  This was a fun lesson I learned in Vietnam when my data only worked for internet but not location services and then proceeded to spend almost 2 hours of my day trying to get an e-sim and local sim card.

Your phone is locked if you have bought a new phone through your cell phone provider on a payment plan and you are still making payments.

Whatsapp

If you do not have whatsapp on your phone, download it for your trip. If you’re not familiar,  Whatsapp is a popular free messaging app that allows free calls and texts across the globe. If you book a tour while visiting Cambodia, it is very common to have your tour guide send you messages via Whatsapp prior to your start time and date.

Visiting temples in Cambodia

Cambodia is a Bhuddist country with beautiful temples throughout the country.  The temples of Angkor are the most visited sites in the country and a true bucket list activity.  Like many other religious buildings there are rules for entry.  When entering the temples, or ancient temple sites, you must have your shoulders covered and pants or skirts that extend to your knees. In the more “modern” temples that are still actively used in the country you must also take off your shoes prior to entry.  Photography is generally permitted, but be respectful of anyone praying in the temples.