Cambodia is one of Southeast Asia’s top travel destinations and for good reason! From its great food, stunning scenery, unique culture, and friendly inhabitants, there are so many reasons to visit this beautiful country.
Having visited many countries across this part of the world, we have pinpointed the most important things to know ahead of your travels and have outlined them in this article. Here are the top 11 things to know before visiting Cambodia!
Bring US Dollars
To our surprise, almost all restaurants and shops that we came across were priced in US dollars. And this is isn’t only at tourist attractions, Cambodia has adopted the US dollar since the early 1990’s due to the countries’ economic instability. The national currency, the Cambodian Riel, is still used, but is mainly used in transactions under a dollar.
We would recommend bringing US cash ahead of time because many ATMs will only dispense 100 dollar bills which many of the local shops and restaurants cannot break up. It’s also important to note that locals will not accept any bills that have any sort of defect (small tear, any marks, etc.) as the local banks will not accept them.
Get Your Visa Online Ahead Of Time
While you can get your Cambodian Visa at the airport upon arrival, we would recommend getting it before you arrive in the country to save time. Getting your visa at the airport means you will endure a lengthy line with other travelers and depending on when you arrive, this can take up to an hour or maybe more. You will need cash to get your visa at the airport
Learn A Few Khmer Phrases
Many people in Cambodia can speak English especially in more touristy areas such as Siem Reap or the island of Koh Rong. However, it’s still a good idea to become familiar with some basic Khmer phrases and words ahead of your trip.
Here are a few simple greetings and questions that may come in handy on your trip:
- Susadei (soos-a-day): Hello (informal)
- Chom Reap Sour: Hello (formal)
- Lear hi (lea-hi): Goodbye (informal)
- Chom Reap Lear: Goodbye (formal)
- Bah: Yes (male)
- Jah (chaa): Yes (femal)
- Oh teh (oh tei): No
- Arkun (ar-koon): Thank you
- Som-dtoh (som toe): Sorry/ Excuse me
- Bo man (bow man): How much?
Plan Your Trip During The Dry Season
The best time to visit Cambodia is during the dry season which runs from November-April. During these months, the temperature is slightly cooler (around 25 degrees celcius), less humid, and less rainy.
Keep in mind that dry season is also peak tourist season. In particular, December and January are the months which see the highest number of tourists.
We visited at the beginning of February and did not see one day of rain. While it was definitely still on the busier side, it did not seem to be over packed and we had no issues booking last minute tours.
We visited at the beginning of February and didn’t see a drop of rain throughout our entire stay.
Dress Respectfully At Temples
Nearly every Buddhist temple we visited in Cambodia had a strict dress code that required us to wear long pants instead of shorts as well as keeping our shoulders covered and no low-cut tops.
Some temples make an exception to these rules in places with a lot of tourists, but it is still a good idea to be modest with what you wear out of respect.
Many shops will sell light linen pants and tops which are a good idea to purchase as you’ll want to wear something light and airy because of the heat and humidity.
Download An Online Sim Card
Wifi can be very spotty even at hotels that we stayed at.
E-sims are typically significantly cheaper than purchasing an international plan through your phone company. Even better, everything can be done online through your phone so you do not need to go to a store to purchase a SIM card.
If you are planning on using an E-sim it will require some planning ahead of time. First, make sure your smart phone has the capability of using an E-sim (typically most phones past 2018 have this feature). Next, call your phone company to unlock your phone. To do this, your phone must be fully paid off.
There are many different E-sim to choose from, but we found Nomad to offer some of the most competitive prices as well as
Ask The Price Of Taxis/ Tuk-Tuks Beforehand
We were advised by a local tour guide to make a verbal agreement with tuk-tuk drivers on the price before hopping in. This will ensure you are not being ripped off which, as a tourist, is always a risk on the street. For reference, a 5-minute trip in a tuk-tuk should cost 4000 – 6000 Riel which equals $1 – 1.50.
Don’t Drink The Tap Water
One thing you will quickly get used to in Cambodia is drinking a lot of bottled water due to the fact the tap water is not safe to drink.
Any hotel or hostel that you stay at will provide you with complimentary bottles of water, but these are usually no more than 16oz so be prepared to buy more in convenient stores when you are out exploring.
To be safe, you should even use the bottled water when brushing your teeth. We made sure to always put a bottle of water next to the sink first thing when we got to the hotel to make sure we never accidentally used to the tap water to brush our teeth.
Pack Mosquito Repellent
Cambodia’s hot and humid environment creates the perfect environment for mosquitos. We noticed this the worst when we visited the island of Koh Rong off Cambodia’s southern coast, but we would recommend bringing a small bottle of repellent regardless of where you travel in Cambodia.
Negotiate Prices At The Markets
Most market stalls in Cambodia will charge a little more than usual when dealing with tourists so make sure you haggle as you shop! Generally, you should begin by offering 75% of the asking price and stay firm with that offer until the vendor agrees. You will find that a lot of stalls sell similar items as each other throughout a market so if you are unsuccessful with negotiating a price with one, move onto another and try your luck there before buying.
Brush Up On The History Before Visiting
Cambodia has an exceptionally interesting history which includes the technical innovation of the Khmer empire and being a protectorate of France. Its varied past has shaped this beautiful country’s culture as well as the architecture and infrastructure within cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
Brushing up on your knowledge of Cambodian history ahead of time allowed us to fully appreciate the streets we walked in and the temples and pagodas we visited. It is also important, when talking to locals, to be mindful of Cambodia’s recent turbulent history regarding the Khmer Rouge genocide of the 1970’s as this is still fresh in their minds and can be a sensitive topic to discuss.
