Cambodia Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa to enter Cambodia?
Do I need any vaccinations prior to enter Cambodia?
What should I bring?
What is the climate of Cambodia?
How much is the airport tax?
What are the health precautions while in Cambodia?
How should I dress?
What is the electricity rating in Cambodia?
What is the internet connection like in Cambodia?
What languages are spoken in Cambodia?
How long should I spend in Siem Reap?
Are there places to visit and things to do in Siem Reap besides temples?
What is the best way to get around Siem Reap?
Is it safe to drink the tap water?
What is the Khmer word for “Thank You”?
What are serious offenses in Cambodia?
Do I need a visa to enter Cambodia?
ASEAN citizen can now enter Cambodia without a visa. For all other nations, an
entry visa is required. Your passport must be valid for at least 4 months. Visas
can be obtained on arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports, and border
points with Thailand and Vietnam. You may also apply for a visa in advance
through Cambodian embassy in your country or the nearest one. You will need two
passport-sized photos and pay a visa fee of USD20 for tourist and USD25 for
business visa. The visa fee at the Cambodian-Thai border crossing is 1000 Thai
Baht. Visa is also required for children under 14 but no fee is charged. To
extend a tourist visa, please ask your travel agent or contact the local
Department of Foreigners or via email
visa_info@online.com.kh.
Do I need any vaccinations prior to enter Cambodia?
Vaccinations are not required prior to enter Cambodia.
- At least 3 passport-sized photo, one for VISA and one for the temple pass,
- Light and long-sleeves clothes to cover yourself from the sun and mosquitoes. Proper covered shirts and at least knee-length shorts should be worn inside the temples as they are sacred places,
- Sunblock, sunglasses and hats will come handy. A local-made leaf hat is light and has good covering. Sunblock is also available locally,
- Mosquito and insect repellent for sunrise and sunset hour,
- Temple stairs can be very steep and narrow, so bring appropriate outdoor shoes for climbing,
- Some US dollar cash in small denomination.
What is the climate of Cambodia?
Cambodia has a tropical climate under monsoons. It is particularly hot from
March to May and the average day temperature is around 32 to 33 degree Celsius
while during the cool season (November to February), the temperature can be
below 20 degree Celsius. During the wet season (June to October), the rain
regularly comes in the evening from 3pm to 6pm allowing clear sky in the morning
and afternoon which makes it easy to plan around.
How much is the airport tax?
The international airport departure tax at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports is
US$20. For domestic flights there is a tax of US$5.
What are the health precautions while in Cambodia?
You should be cautious on the two most common tropical diseases: dengue fever
and malaria. Both of them can be transmitted by 2 different types of mosquitoes:
the low-flying day-time mosquito and female anopheline mosquito respectively.
Both diseases however are rare in the town and are more common in country side
and the areas near the jungles. Children are to be more cautious.
How should I dress?
Cambodia is a Buddhist country and is still considered conservative. You should
dress modestly and properly covered with light and long-sleeve shirts and at
least knee-length pants to protect from the sun and mosquitoes. Should you like
to wear short-sleeve shirts, be sure to put on sun block while outside
especially from 10am to 4pm. Sleeveless and revealing dresses are not
recommended.
What is the electricity rating in Cambodia?
Cambodia’s electrical supply is 220v/50Hz.
What is the internet connection like in Cambodia?
Internet cafes with broadband DSL connection are widely available in town.
Expect the speed to be slow but acceptable in most of the places especially in
Siem Reap. Some restaurants and shops offer free Wi-fi spots. The price of the
usage at a cafe is USD1 per hour in Siem Reap and USD0.5 in Phnom Penh.
What languages are spoken in Cambodia?
Khmer is the official language but English is gaining high popularity amongst
the youth, while French is mainly spoken by the older generation. In Siem Reap,
you can also find Cambodians speaking Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Thai.
How long should I spend in Siem Reap?
If you are a first-timer, you should consider spending 5 to 6 days in Siem Reap
with 3 days visiting temples and 2 days visiting non-temple attractions. It is
recommended to mix temple and non-temple visits on a given day. In between and
the rest of the time could be spend on touring the town, spa and relaxation
services, trying different foods, shopping and nightlife. For more, read our
Recommended Tours section.
Are there places to visit and things to do in Siem Reap besides temples?
Yes, there are a variety of things to do and places to visit besides temples.
Please read Places to visit and Things to do section. There are also attractions
in other provinces such as Preah Vihear temple, Ecotourism in Ratanakiri and
Modulkiri, Water Dolphins in Stung Treng, and the sea and beach in Sihanoukville.
What is the best way to get around Siem Reap?
Sedan car is the most comfortable way of tourist transport but reurmork (tuk-tuk)
is gaining popularity thanks to cheaper price and acceptable comfort. If you
expect to travel not far i.e. within town and Angkor Park consider hiring a
reurmork. For long journey off the Angkor Park, consider a car. Each reurmork
can accommodate up to 4 people and is rain-proof, safe and widely available.
Motodop is also available for individual traveler. All transports can be
arranged in advance through our reservation.
Is it safe to drink the tap water?
It is recommended to drink bottled water and drinking water at all time although
the tap water is generally clean. The 500 riel bottled water is not only safe
but also widely available. Look for cube ice instead of block ice. Water served
in restaurants is generally safe. You should drink more water than you normally
do during the day.
What is the Khmer word for “Thank You”?
“Or Kun”. To learn more Khmer words
click here.
What are serious offenses in Cambodia?
Drug and sexual exploitation of under-age children are heavily prosecuted in
Cambodia. Offenders will be also prosecuted in their own countries for sexual
exploitation of children in Cambodia.
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