Organize your stay Cambodia
Money Cambodia
The local currency is the riel. In August 2023, the euro was trading at around 4,000 riels, with an official rate of €1 for 4,500 riels. The US dollar is accepted everywhere, and it is in this currency that all major expenses (over €10) are made. Change is given in dollars for large sums, or in riels for small sums.
If you wish to exchange cash, exchange fees can be multiplied by five from one exchange office to another (these fees are often already included in the posted exchange rate). The same applies in France. So use your bank card instead. For card withdrawals and payments, the exchange rate used for transactions is generally more attractive than the rates charged by exchange bureaus.
Advice before you leave. Be sure to tell your bank advisor about your trip. He or she can check with you whether your payment and withdrawal limits have been set. If necessary, ask for an exceptional authorization to increase your limit.
Asa general rule, avoid carrying too much cash. It could be lost or stolen, with no possibility of recourse. Pay with your bank card whenever possible. Charges are lower than for ATM withdrawals, and the spending limit is often higher.
Note that when paying by credit card, you may not need to enter your pin code. You will, however, be asked to provide a signature and, if necessary, proof of identity.
Credit card acceptance. Credit cards are generally accepted as a means of payment in large hotels, as well as in some restaurants in major cities. However, if you're planning to explore more remote areas, be sure to withdraw cash accordingly, as you'll easily be able to withdraw cash from one of the nearby ATMs.
Card payment charges. Outside the Euro zone, credit card payments are subject to bank charges. These vary from bank to bank. Ask your bank advisor for details.
Budget & Tips Cambodia
Cambodia's population is largely poor, but the cost of living for foreigners is higher than in other Asian countries. Thailand, on the other hand, is more developed and cheaper. Indeed, given the average monthly income of the population ($30 to $50) and the cost of living in neighboring countries, you'll spend half as much in Vietnam for the same standard of living.) Cambodia is not a very cheap country, especially in terms of the services provided (hotels, for example). In particular, a stay at Angkor is relatively expensive: everything is organized to ensure that tourists spend as much money as possible in as little time as possible; local transport, guide fares and entrance fees to the sites will quickly put a dent in the pockets of those with little money.
Small budget: around $25 per day, including a ventilated guesthouse room, public transport and meals in street stalls.
Medium budget: around $60 per day, with well-kept air-conditioned rooms with decent toilet facilities, lunch and dinner in restaurants and comfortable means of transport (cabs and minibuses).
Big budget: more than $100 a day to stay in top-class hotels and enjoy top-quality services.
Other information
- Tipping. Tipping is not obligatory, but if you decide to tip, please allow at least $1.
- Haggling. The general rule is to start the discussion at one-third of the price quoted by the merchant and then slowly work your way up, observing the seller's reactions.
Passport and visas Cambodia
To enter Cambodia, you'll need a passport valid for 6 months after the date of your return, and a visa ($30), valid for 1 month, to be purchased on arrival. You can also apply for a visa at the Cambodian embassy in your country of departure, or online (e-visa) at www.evisa.gov.kh. The tourist visa can be extended for a maximum of one month, once only, by the immigration services located opposite Phnom Penh airport. If you overstay your visa, you're liable to a fine of $10 for each day it's overdue, with heavier penalties up to and including prison if you really go overboard.
Tip. Before you leave, photocopy all the documents you'll be taking with you. Take one copy of each document with you and leave the other with someone in France. In the event of loss or theft, this will make it much easier to renew them with the consular authorities. You can also keep copies on the official website (mon.service-public.fr). Simply create an account and scan all your identity papers and other important documents into the confidential area.
Travelling to neighbouring countries
To/from Thailand
Via Koh Kong and the Gulf of Siam. From Phnom Penh, buses take you directly to Koh Kong and the Cham Yeam border post via Route Nationale 48. The road is now in excellent condition (allow 3-4 hours). From the town, drive to the border, where you'll find an attractive, recently renovated immigration office. The policemen on duty are quite decent and, once you've obtained your exit stamp, you only have to walk another 150 meters to the left to become a "farang", the Siamese version of a "barang". Thai customs officials will automatically issue you a free one-month visa. You can then continue on your way. The first Siamese stop is the small town of Hat Lek. It's 16 km away, and can be reached by motorcycle cab or pick-up for 50 baht. From there, we head for Trat (75 km) by shared cab for 120 baht. It's a good idea to try and get to Trat in one go, as it saves a lot of time and may enable you to catch the 6 p.m. bus. Once in Trat, no problem, there's only one bus station: air-conditioned buses leave every hour for Bangkok (approx. 200 baht, 5 to 6 hours' journey). Don't forget to change your Petit Futé..
Good to know:
- Bring your bahts from Phnom Penh. The regions bordering Thailand barely know the riel, and exchange rates are poor, even in dollars.
- Border posts open at 7am and close at 5pm.
- Try to cross the border early enough to catch the 6pm bus, as the next one is at 11pm. If you miss it, don't worry, there's a huge market full of Thai food just behind the bus station.
- Bus times: Trat-Bangkok, every hour from 7am to 6pm, then 11pm and 11:30pm. Bangkok-Trat, 6am, 7am, 7.45am, 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm, 5.30pm, 7.30pm, 8.30pm, 10pm, 11.30pm.
In the Bangkok-Phnom Penh direction: to reach Sihanoukville from Koh Kong, take the bus. On arrival in Cambodia, hire a moto-dop (100 baht), touk-touk ($7-8) or cab ($10) to take you to the center of Koh Kong, 8 km away. From there, buses to Sihanoukville take 4-5 hours. Cabs are another, more expensive option. There is no longer a regular boat service available between Koh Kong and Sihanoukville.
By Poïpet and overland. You buy your ticket the day before in a travel agency and the next day, you get up reasonably early to arrive before 7:30 a.m. at the Sorya bus company on Rue 217, next to the central market, to catch the bus to Bangkok via Poïpet. You'll arrive in Poïpet at around 2pm, and it will take you as long as it takes to go through Khmer customs... On leaving the immigration office, turn left and cross the bridge. On the other side, the Thai border post will issue your one-month or two-week visa.
All you have to do is find a bus to Bangkok (Sorya employees usually accompany you on the transfer) and, 5 hours later (provided you didn't miss the first bus), you're in the City of Angels, with a cold because the bus's air-conditioning is always on full blast... The whole trip will have taken you a handful of hours and cost 15 dollars... Note that other companies also make the trip.
To/from Vietnam
By boat to Vietnam. The Capitol guesthouse has opened a Phnom Penh-Chau Doc line for courageous travelers. Bus from Chau Doc to the Neak Luong ferry, then a plastic boat to Kom Som Nor, from where you cross the border on foot, your ears still ringing from the noise of the engine (to protect yourself from the noise and the sun, you can do what the Cambodians on board do: put on a motorcycle helmet - totally ridiculous, but very effective). The border is crossed more or less quickly; if we fall out of the lunch break, we're fine, if not, we're in for two hours... We finish the journey with another Vietnamese boat waiting on the other side of the border. In the end, it takes about 3.5 hours from PNH to the border, then another 3 to 3.5 hours from the border to Chau Doc, not counting the time at the border, which is very unpredictable. It costs $12 and tickets are on sale at the Capitol guesthouse.
Getting to Vietnam by bus or cab. Companies whose buses cross the border, such as Sorya, Capitol Tour and Mekong Express, leave Phnom Penh at various times of the day (morning and early afternoon) and arrive in Saigon 6 to 7 hours later. Fares: around $12. In the case of the Capitol Tour buses, they leave at 6:45, 8:00 or 13:30 from the Capitol Guesthouse and arrive in Saigon's Rue des Voyageurs (Pham Ngu Lao) in the afternoon or evening. To get there by cab, the rules are the same as explained above, and fares are the same as for Siem Reap. Cabs don't cross the border, so you have to walk across the 200 m no-man's-land and pick up a cab on the Vietnamese side. Price: $15-$20 for a complete car to Saigon, or $5-$7 a seat (at the VN, there's one seat in front and three in back). To pay the real price, keep them waiting with a drink at the bar..
Visas. You can go through Kep and the Prek Chak border post if you get a Vietnamese visa in Sihanoukville or Phnom Penh. Vietnamese visas are not available at border crossings. Cambodian visas are available at the following borders: Koh Kong, Païlin, Poïpet, Prek Chak, Anlong Veng, Osmach, Bavet and at the land border with Laos (10 km from the border on the Mekong).
From/to Laos
Laos by road: Dong Cronlor - Voeune Kham. This passage is now open by road. To get from Si Pan Don to Cambodia, it's best to get your visa in advance: tourist racket is systematic (a few dollars).
Driver's license Cambodia
Driving a car in Cambodia requires a local license, and is therefore not possible for non-residents. In any case, we would strongly advise against it, given the state of the roads and the relative lack of respect for the Highway Code.
However, you can hire a chauffeur-driven vehicle from any hotel or travel agency.
Health Cambodia
Cambodia is a poor country and the health system is not very well developed. Phnom Penh and Siem Reap offer decent hospitals, but for any major problems you'll be transported to Bangkok, where hospitals are among the best in the world. There are numerous pharmacies throughout the country, but with limited stock. If you are on medication, don't forget to take it with you.
Tropical diseases are present throughout the country. Some can be vaccinated against. Malaria is a significant risk. Consult your doctor for the appropriate treatment (usually in pill form). Dengue fever, also carried by mosquitoes, cannot be prevented. In addition to pills, reduce the risks by avoiding mosquito bites (repellent and covering clothing). The risk of being bitten is highest between sunset and sunrise, near stagnant water and shady areas.
For advice before you travel, don't hesitate to consult your doctor. You can also contact the travel medicine society at the Institut Pasteur medical center at ✆ 01 45 68 80 88 (www.pasteur.fr/fr/sante/centre-medical) or visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website under "Conseils aux voyageurs" (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs).
In case of illness. Contact the French consulate. They'll be happy to help and advise you, and will provide you with a list of French-speaking doctors. In the event of a serious problem, the consulate will also inform the family and decide on repatriation. To find out about emergency services and establishments that meet international standards, visit www.diplomatie.gouv.fr and www.pasteur.fr
Your bank card or mutual insurance company will often accompany you if you have a problem abroad. Contact them before you leave to find out what to do in the event of a problem. They usually have a list of doctors and hospitals they work with, so you won't have to pay in advance.
Mandatory vaccination Cambodia
No vaccinations are required for travel to Cambodia. They are nevertheless recommended, as there are risks associated with the environment, insects and animals, food and drink... It all depends on the type of trip you are planning. If you decide to travel through the jungle, sleep under the stars, cross swamps or wilderness areas, we recommend that you get vaccinated against: viral hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis (extended stay in rural areas), rabies (adventure tours). If you're an adventurer of a completely different kind, you should know that AIDS is also very present in Cambodia.
Security Cambodia
Independent travel throughout Cambodia is within the reach of anyone in good health, provided that certain basic safety rules are observed.
Pursesnatching: purse snatching has also become a common occurrence in Cambodian cities, both at night and in broad daylight... To protect yourself, if you're taking a motorcycle cab, make sure the lady sits between you and the driver, with the purse between her legs, to protect her and prevent her from falling when the thugs try to snatch the purse. It's best not to carry a handbag, but rather a small backpack ostensibly secured to your person with shoulder straps and a waist belt.
Moving around Phnom Penh (at night): gangs of young delinquents have appeared in the capital and in the country's major cities: Kompong Cham, Battambang, Sihanoukville. They usually operate on small, nimble motorcycles, prowling around in search of victims who brave the darkness on moto-dop or, better still, on foot. These charming young men are armed with pistols and force motorcycle cabs to stop so they can search their victims in peace. Above all, don't panic! The most important thing is to carry only a small amount of money with you, and to give it away without any false moves, or to travel by car, Vantha cab or fast motorcycle.
Travelling in the provinces: travellers can now go anywhere, at any time of the day or night. The only precaution is to watch out for roadside or trackside mines in the remote northern and north-western provinces. Particularly in the regions of Païlin, Poïpet, Sisophon, Préah Vihear..
Travelling on Cambodian roads with your own means of transport (rental car or motorcycle): there are certain rules to be observed. As far as possible, travel with two vehicles of any kind, as this allows you to tow a vehicle that breaks down, or to call for help. Always allow plenty of room for travel time, so that you can easily turn around in the event of a mechanical or other problem. When riding a motorcycle, remember to bring a helmet: the roads can be prone to nasty falls.
For the latest information on local safety, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie. gouv.fr/voyageurs. Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, and that this sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the real situation in the country. Conditions and the feeling of safety have greatly improved in Cambodia. On the whole, it is advisable to be particularly careful at night in urban areas.
Mines. This danger, less pressing today but still real, mainly concerns poor farmers who have to work in areas polluted by these pesky devices. There's little risk of you planting rice in hot spots or chopping wood in the forest, so you can feel safe walking around Cambodia.
The areas most affected by this scourge are the north and north-west of the country, where the fighting has been heaviest, i.e. the Battambang region and all those above the northern line linking the Angkor site and the town of Kompong Thom. Nor should we be unaware of the danger; as after any war, there are explosive devices scattered all over the place, and around 300 people a month jump on mines.
Experts estimate that between 8 and 10 million mines have been left behind by all the combatants, and that it will take at least 70 years to clear the country. So always obey the signs (red skull and crossbones) and make sure you get all the information you need when you want to go for a walk in the countryside, the best thing being to take a local with you and tip him or her as a thank-you.
As far as Angkor is concerned, the entire site has been carefully cleared of mines by Cofras (Compagnie française d'assistance spécialisée), who have done a fantastic job in conditions that are not always easy. No problems either in the north-eastern provinces of Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri, where there are virtually no mines. Whatever you do, don't touch anything - scattered shells and grenades are just as dangerous as the rest.
For the latest information on local safety, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs. Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, and that this sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.
Conditions and the feeling of safety have greatly improved in Cambodia. On the whole, it is advisable to be particularly careful at night in urban areas.
Time difference Cambodia
When it's midday in Paris, it's 5pm in Phnom Penh in summer, and 6pm in winter (Cambodia has no summer or winter time). The time difference between France and Cambodia is therefore 6 hours in winter and 5 hours in summer.
Spoken languages Cambodia
The official language is Khmer, with a few dialects spoken in the provinces. English is widely spoken in major cities and tourist areas.
Communication Cambodia
The cell phone network is well developed, at least around the main cities. You can buy a local SIM card to put in your phone when you arrive at the airport, or in telephone stores in town. Cybercafés are still available, but are becoming rarer given the preponderance of smartphones. Free wifi is available in most hotels and restaurants, and the speed is quite respectable.
Electricity and measurements Cambodia
Electrical current is similar to Europe, at 220V, and plugs accept both European and American formats. The metric system is used, and temperatures are measured in degrees Celsius.
Luggage Cambodia
You can really travel light in Cambodia, where the temperature is mild all year round. Possibly a little wool for places where the air conditioning is cranked up to the max. A rain jacket too, especially if you're traveling in the wet season. But forget the umbrella, totally useless in the face of tropical downpours. A poncho is undoubtedly the best choice. You'll find them on site for a few dollars if you haven't brought your own. Don't forget your medication, as you'll be hard pressed to find European-standard pharmacies on site.
The"lambda" traveller: Are you just passing through Cambodia, without venturing beyond the urban jungles where hotels abound? In fact, you don't need much at all: a pair of light, sturdy shoes for visiting the temples, some light clothes that don't get too dirty, sunglasses, a light bush hat, a chèche (to protect you from dust, sun, very cold air-conditioning, pollution...), a tube of sun cream (especially for those who will be traveling on the roof of the speedboat), an anti-malaria preventive treatment, and everything else you need for your daily routine. As a general rule, don't pack too much: the Russian market in Phnom Penh can make up for most clothing omissions, and you'll need to save room for souvenirs..
The "adventurous" traveller: the same kit as above, plus: high boots if you want to do a bit of motorcycling, or the essentials for the enduro biker if you wish (no need to bring a helmet though, you can find some very decent ones for $30). Trekkers should bring light hiking boots that dry quickly, and no need for a hammock - there are some very good ones at the Russian market. Water purification pills are easy to find locally (pharmacie de la Gare in Phnom Penh), as are a water bottle, water filter pump, compass and GPS..
First-aid kit
- Remember to take mosquito repellents (some products are contraindicated for pregnant women and young children, so ask your doctor or pharmacist to be on the safe side).
- Sunscreen-type protection.
- Antibiotics or painkillers in case of toothache.
- Sufficient medication if you suffer from a chronic illness.
- Water purification tablets.
