Essential Things to Know Before Traveling to Cambodia

CAPITAL
Phnom Penh

LANGUAGE
Khmer is the official language of Cambodia.

RELIGION
Cambodian’s are predominantly Buddhist (88% of the population), Muslims account for approx 2% of the population, Christianity (1%) and others (9%).

LOCAL TIME
The standard time for Cambodia is calculated from Phnom Penh. Indochina Time (ICT) is 7 hours ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY
220 volts in Phnom Penh, but 110 volts in other areas - sockets are usually of the two flat-pinned variety (i.e. American style but without the earth wire).

PASSPORT & VISA

Passports and visas are required by all nationalities. A passport valid for six months is required for entry into Cambodia. Visas for Cambodia currently can be obtained on arrival. Visa regulations can change at very short notice. If you intend to obtain a Cambodian visa on arrival it is very important that you contact your nearest Cambodian Embassy or Consulate for up to date information shortly before you travel. 

Tourist visa on arrival: US$30; (payable in US Dollars only). Bring two passport photos.

Visitors can apply for an electronic visa (e-Visa) online through the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation (www.mfaic.gov.kh/evisa). It’s advisable to apply for this at least two weeks before your departure. It is possible to change a departure date after you have applied for a visa, as long as it is before the visa expiry date. You can only use an e-Visa at certain border crossings, so check in advance that it will be valid at your port of entry.

Please note: e-Visa is now valid for travellers entering the country via the following five check points only:

• Phnom Penh International Airport
• Siem Reap International Airport
• The Thailand – Cambodia checkpoint at Cham Yeam (Koh Kong)
• The Thailand – Cambodia checkpoint at Aranyaprathet (Poipet)
• The Vietnam – Cambodia checkpoint at Moc Bai (Bavet) 

Other important entry points into Cambodia – such as Sihanoukville International Airport – are not eligible for e-Visa applications.

All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour.  Passports are required; in addition travelers are advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding Visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is sole responsibility of the traveler.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The monetary unit in Cambodia is the Cambodian Riel (KHR) but locals prefer to use dollars. Riel notes are in denominations of CR100000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100 and 50. Dollars notes (not coins) are widely accepted, yet visitors in small villages and shops vendors may not have change for high notes (including $10+). It is advisable to keep hold of small Riel change wherever you can as it is very useful. 

CREDIT CARDS
Credit cards are now more widely accepted in upmarket hotels, shops and restaurants catering to visitors. There are ATMs in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. It is always best to carry cash (US Dollars if necessary) in small denominations.

ATM
There are plenty of ATMs in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville that accept international cards including Cirrus, Plus, Maestro, Visa and MasterCard.

CLOTHING
As a general guideline clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard wearing and easily washed. In the hot summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon. Cambodia has a mixture of a tropical climate and temperate hill climate, so the weather is generally warm to hot all year round. Even so, a fleece can be invaluable and double as a pillow. You should bear in mind that Cambodia has relatively conservative attitudes towards dress, particularly in remote areas. It is best to avoid displaying too much bare flesh although the most important point to remember is to keep yourself clean and tidy. Women, and also to a certain extent men, will find that the way they dress will often determine the degree of respect they receive from both men and women. Make sure you bring lots of clothing that covers shoulders and knees and also at least one outfit which covers your legs to ankles and your arms past the elbows. In certain areas and religious sites, such as temples or wats, you may be asked to dress conservatively. Out of respect for local values, we ask that you follow your guides advice at all times.

COMMUNICATION & EMAILS

Telephone:
Prepaid telephone cards are available in post offices, hotels and shops for public phones around Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in major towns and cities and patchy elsewhere.

Internet:
Available in most areas. Internet cafes are available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and all other major towns.

Post:
Airmail to Europe takes at least a week, and longer to the USA. The main post office in Phnom Penh is located on the western side of 13 Street between 98 Street and 102 Street, open 0630-2100.

Post office hours:
Generally Mon-Fri 0730/0800-1700/1730, sometimes closed for lunch.

MEALS
Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:

• Simple snack - $US 0.50-1
• Light meal - $US 1- 3
• Fancy restaurant - $US 5-20

DRINKS
Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below. Note: Prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double those specified.

• 1l of water - $US 0.30
• 30cl bottle of soft drink - $US 1
• 60cl bottle of local beer - $US 1.5-2.5

Cambodia beer (it’s positively encouraged to consume Cambodia beer as state charges 10% VAT and 20% special excise tax for every can or bottle of beer sold locally).

FOOD
As elsewhere in South East Asia, the quality of the food is a draw in its own right. Khmer cuisine shares much with that of both Thailand and China, although it tends to steer clear of excessive use of spices. Quality restaurants are found in all areas that see mainstream tourism, while cheap but tasty food stalls are ubiquitous around the country. Most meals are rice-based.

Specialties:

• Balut (fertilized duck egg. This is possibly the most famous of all the Cambodia dishes. Visitors will see vendors selling what appear to be boiled eggs on their roadside stands and restaurants. These are, however, fertilized and are to be eaten raw, complete with the crunchy baby bird beak, bones and even feathers – if you dare).
• Prahok (fermented fish paste, used to flavour many dishes).
• Local fruits include banana, coconut, the durian fruit (known for its distinctive odour), jackfruit, longan fruit, lychee, pineapple and rambutan fruit (which has translucent white flesh).
• Crispy fried spiders (North Cambodia delicacy).
• Amok trey (fish in a thick coconut curry sauce, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed).
• Kuy teav (delicious pork stock based rice noodle porridge, eaten for breakfast and thought to originate from China).
• Bai cha (Khmer equivalent of seasoned fried rice includes sausage, pork, garlic and herbs).
• Kralan (sticky rice dish wrapped in bamboo and flavoured with sugar and grated coconut).
• Lok Lak (stir-fried Cambodian beef dish common all over the country. Often served with fried potatoes and egg.)
• Mee katang (Cantonese-style noodles often cooked with various meat and vegetables in oyster sauce).
• Nom banh chok (curry-style noodles often served with shredded fish, turmeric root, lemongrass, citrus, mint, and chili).
• Pleah sach ko (beef ceviche with garlic, lime and sugar).

Regional drinks:

• Fresh coconut juice.
• Green tea.
• Rice wine.
• Khmer drink (soda water with a squeeze of lemon)
• Angkor beer.
• Cambodia beer (it’s positively encouraged to consume Cambodia beer as state charges 10% VAT and 20% special excise tax for every can or bottle of beer sold locally).

WEATHER & CLIMATE
As in most parts of South East Asia, Cambodia experiences hot, humid weather most of the year. The country experiences two monsoons – the south-west monsoon from May to October which brings heavy rain, and the north-east monsoon which blows from October to April and brings with it the dry season. There are transitional periods between the heat and the rains and the best time to visit is during the dry season but before it gets too hot. The coolest period is between November and January and the hottest from February to April.

Phnom Penh: (approx)

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE
It is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance, however they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.