Cambodia is a country that is both inspiring, beautiful, and depressing. Although nestled between Thailand and Vietnam, two southeast Asian countries that receive millions of visitors a year, Cambodia is often overlooked.
However, those who do venture here, will discover captivating beaches, tropical islands, emerald wilderness with ancient temples in the clearings, and a unique adventure that you won’t find anywhere else in Southeast Asia.
Angkor Wat with reflection in water
If you’re thinking of making a stop by Cambodia, and you’re not sure what you need to know before visiting, then this guide is for you.
We reveal beyond Angkor Wat and the tourist attractions of Siem Reap, and tell all the things to know about Cambodia before you visit.
1. The highlight of Cambodia is not a temple, it’s the people
The resilience of Cambodians never ceases to amaze me.
They are still rebuilding from a tragic past, one that we must remember was not too long ago for the local people – and yet they have an optimistic outlook about everything, an unbreakable spirit and warm smiles that’s both infectious and inspiring.
Wherever you go, whether it’s a cafe, a restaurant, a hotel, or even to a grocery store, you will always receive warmth and gracious hospitality.
Hotel staff always go the extra mile for you, even when you’ve booked a budget accommodation.
Top tip: I highly recommend you read up on the brutal Khmer Rouge days and learn about this tumultuous history before you visit. It’s not something you want to ask locals about. This was not that long ago for them and it can be insensitive.
2. Cambodia is less developed than other countries in SE Asia
As soon as you enter Cambodia you notice it’s much less developed than its neighbors.
In 1991, Cambodia was considered one of the least developed countries (LDC) in the world, but in 2024 that status was lifted.
It has made real strides in socio-economic development since then, and it’s continuing to be on the way up.
That said, Cambodia is a very poor country, and has a high poverty rate.
Aside from the capital of Phnom Penh, much of Cambodia is remote and lacks basic infrastructure.
You can expect pot-holed roads, buses that lack air conditioning, and hotels that need a bit of TLC.
3. There is A LOT of outdated travel information about Cambodia
Koh Rong Samloem, Cambodia
When researching our trip to Cambodia, we quickly realized there is a lack of reliable information and not many up-to-date Cambodia travel guides.
Because Cambodia is developing FAST, especially in tourist hotspots, many of the Tripadvisor reviews from just a couple years ago may no longer be accurate.
We almost skipped the beautiful Koh Rong Samloem island due to some bad reviews we read online. Luckily, while watching the sun rise over Angkor Wat, we bumped into another couple who convinced us otherwise.
After seeing how amazing it was for ourselves (and spending three months on the island), we felt compelled to write an updated Koh Rong Samloem Island guide to help others make better-informed travel plans.
4. Some things are more expensive than you’d expect
Like most of Southeast Asia, Cambodia is a relatively cheap country to travel in. That said, some things are surprisingly expensive.
Similar to most countries, you’ll always pay more in touristic zones and islands.
Prices on Koh Rong Samloem can even triple during high season (November to March)
Cambodia hospital
We also found medical care to be quite pricey. I had to have a follow-up wrist surgery after a nasty motorcycle accident in Thailand (a pin they put in came loose), and let me tell you…if you have an issue and want to be seen in a hospital that’s up to Western standards, it’ll cost you.
You definitely won’t want to visit Cambodia without a reliable travel insurance plan.
5. Be careful when visiting pharmacies
Speaking of healthcare, be careful about which pharmacies you buy medicine from.
Some medicine in the open-air pharmacies has been sitting out in the scorching heat for a long time and this can damage the meds.
Counterfeiting is also an issue, so be sure the pharmacy you use looks legit, or ask other travelers if they have the medication you need in exchange for some beer money.
A quick Google search for “best pharmacies in [CITY] for expats” should point you in the right direction, or you can ask the locals where they go.
It’s best to avoid pharmacies in general if you can. Try to bring medication for every eventuality and try to avoid illness at all costs.
6. Avoid illnesses by…
Speaking of illnesses, you can avoid getting sick by wearing bug spray. Cambodia has many mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and Zika virus.
Get vaccinations before you go for hepatitis A, typhoid, and tetanus. You may also want to consider rabies, hepatitis B, cholera, and Japanese encephalitis if you’re visiting for a while.
When eating street food, ensure it’s properly cooked and piping hot. Even vegetarian food, as sometimes it can be cooked in unpure water.
Don’t drink the tap water. Only drink bottled water and make sure the seal hasn’t been broken before you drink it.
7. Don’t expect blazing internet
Great office, but average internet
While it has come a long way in its infrastructure, you won’t find blazing fast internet speeds in most of Cambodia.
If you’re a digital nomad, you’ll have to choose your destinations carefully.
We roamed around the country for almost 4 months and managed to get our work done, but our travel jobs don’t usually require high-speed internet.
If you do a lot of downloading/uploading or video calls, be prepared to exercise your patience muscles.
That said, it’s actually improved a ton over the past couple years.
Best of all, data plans are SUPER cheap. Well, at least they’re supposed to be—which brings us to our next point.
8. Watch out for scams
We found 99% of Cambodians to be very honest, and the most common crime is petty theft like pickpocketing.
I can’t tell you how many times I accidentally paid with the wrong bill, only to have my overpayment graciously returned (hey, some of those bills look almost identical!).
That said, you still need to keep your wits about you. The first day we arrived in Cambodia, we had a little incident.
Our hotel in Siem Reap offered free pickup from the airport, and our tuk-tuk driver asked if I needed a SIM card. I did, so he conveniently brought us to a random third-party cell phone shop where I was sold a 30-day unlimited data plan for $20.
I had no idea what the going rate was for data, but it didn’t seem outrageous.
Three days later when my plan unexpectedly stopped working, I realized I’d been hustled.
I thought the tuk-tuk driver worked for the hotel, so I had trusted him. Turns out, it was just a random driver the hotel flagged off the street to pick us up.
I later found out that legit data plans only cost a couple bucks a week.
Moral of the story: Most people are trustworthy, but keep an eye out for anything that seems fishy.
The lady I bought the plan from had the prices scribbled on the back of a piece of scratch paper. In retrospect, that was fishy.
9. Plan your Angkor Wat itinerary strategically
The incredible Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is incredible and the main reason people visit Cambodia.
To visit, you will want to be on a tour. There are two main tour circuits—the Small Circuit and the Grand Circuit.
The Small Circuit hits all the most popular temples like Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm (AKA the “Tomb Raider” temple). These temples are the most crowded.
The Grand Circuit goes to a bunch of smaller (but still beautiful) temples. These are a bit farther away and have slightly fewer tourists.
If you have time to do both tours, you’re in for a treat, but if you have time or budget constraints and can only do one (I’d recommend the small), don’t feel like you’re missing out.
While all the temples are cool and unique, by the end of our second tour, we were completely “templed out”. We were so hot and tired that we just chilled at the entrance of the last one we visited and didn’t even go inside to explore.
That said, if you have your heart set on doing both tours, here’s one of my best Cambodia tips – save the Small Circuit (of the main temples) for last. If you do it the other way around and see all the most impressive temples first, the rest of them might feel underwhelming.
If you can, add a rest day in between the two tours to avoid temple overload.
10. Choose your Angkor Wat transportation carefully
Tuk Tuk Angkor Wat tour
There are many options when it comes to finding Angkor Wat transportation. You can take a tour van, hire a tuk-tuk, taxis, or if you have your own wheels (usually a motorbike) and do it yourself.
We did a tour van for the Grand Circuit and a tuk-tuk for the Small Circuit. They ended up costing about the same.
Hiring a tuk-tuk to take you around is a fun and flexible option. It’s easier to get photos without crowds of people because you can do the temples in whichever order you want.
The downside is most tuk-tuk drivers aren’t official tour guides, so while they can explain some things to you while driving (assuming you chose one with good English), they won’t be able to enter the temples with you and show you around.
The tour van isn’t a bad option either. We normally don’t like these types of group tours and prefer exploring solo. But a knowledgeable guide can really make or break the experience in this case. Without the fascinating stories and facts, you’ll leave with a lot of unanswered questions.
If you’re dead set on exploring by yourself, make sure to watch a documentary on Angkor Wat before heading to the temples. This will give you a good knowledge base and make it more enjoyable.
Something to keep in mind: Our hotel semi-tricked us into booking a tour with their van by telling us they had a special deal with the park where we could get a two-day pass for the price of one. Turns out, that was a promotion the park offered to anyone buying a ticket (during the dates we were visiting)—whether you were with a tour or not. Chances are your hotel will really want you to book your tour through them. Keep that in mind when listening to their sales pitch!
11. Cambodian food is the bomb
Eating fried frog
Cambodian food is amazing, and is one of the things people don’t tell you about Cambodia.
Thai food normally gets all the buzz, followed by Vietnamese, but my wife (who can’t handle most spicy Thai dishes) actually enjoyed Cambodian food even more. It’s usually made with a blend of herbs and spices, coconut milk and lime juice. It’s not spicy like you would expect, either.
Some traditional dishes you should try are the fish amok, mango chicken, nom banh chok (a breakfast dish made of lightly fermented Cambodian rice noodles) and Bai sach chrouk (a popular breakfast of rice and pork), and any of the curries…even the fried frog is delicious!
Cambodian curry is often made in a coconut, where they pierce a hole in the bottom, cut a hole in the top and fill it with spices, vegetables and meat, and then wrap it in foil and put it on a BBQ – it’s divine!
And if you head to the islands (which you totally should), be prepared for some mouth-watering barbecues on the beach!
There’s one catch.
In Cambodia, Cambodian food is good. If you’re looking for pizza, Mexican food, or other international dishes…you will almost certainly be disappointed.
We were craving burritos one day and were pleasantly surprised to find them on the menu. This “burrito” ended up being a tortilla with rice and a squirt of ketchup (I kid you not).
12. Skip Sihanoukville
one of many torn up streets in Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Sihanoukville used to be a sleepy beach town popular among backpackers. Now, it is a disaster zone.
The Chinese have taken over, investing billions of dollars and erecting (or at least partially erecting) over 100 casinos in a span of a few short years.
Things have gotten out of control, to say the least. There are more cranes and unfinished building projects in Sihanoukville than I have seen in my entire life (combined).
Now, you will need to pass through Sihanoukville to take the boat to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. If you have the right expectations, you might actually find it fascinating (in a sad kind of way).
The entire city looks like it is one big, torn up construction zone—and that’s not something you get to see every day.
Just make sure not to stick around for too long. Nowadays, it’s not the safest place to be.
13. Cambodia uses a dual-currency system
Get ready to brush up on your math skills.
In Cambodia, you can use either US Dollars, Cambodian Riel, or a combination of both. The official currency is the Riel, but they prefer you to pay in USD.
As of March 2025, $1 USD is roughly equal to 4006 Cambodian Riel. So if you pay for your $2.25 USD lunch with a $5 USD bill, your change might be split up into something like $2 USD plus 3000 Riel.
Normally, it’s pretty straightforward. Just think of a 1000 Riel note like a U.S. quarter.
Where things start to get confusing is when your total comes to something like $7.62 and you get a stack of 50 and 100 Riel notes for your exact change.
At that point, we’re talking less than $0.25 USD. I’d just accept whatever change they give you as long as it’s in the ballpark.
You can avoid some of this math by using a credit or debit card wherever it’s accepted. But many shops, restaurants, street vendors, tuk-tuk drivers, etc. only accept cash.
Top tip: try to take as much cash as you need. There are ATMs in major cities, but they usually charge a withdrawal fee for most credit cards, or are out of cash. You may need to go to a few before you have any success. You can exchange USD to local currency at currency exchange stores, but the mark up is high and since most places take USD, I recommend you don’t bother with this. Whatever you do, DON’T EXCHANGE CURRENCY AT THE AIRPORT. It has the worst exchange rate.
14. Learn the basics of the language
Locals will be grateful (and impressed!) if you take the time to learn the basics of their national language, Khmer.
It’s really not that hard. Just keep notes in your phone (or if you’re old-school like me, a couple flashcards in your wallet). Pull them out to practice whenever you’re in transport or waiting for a meal.
Here’s some of the basics to get you started:
- Hello – Soos-die
- Goodbye – Lee-hi
- Thank you – Arkoon
- Restroom? – Bangkon?
- How much? – Bow-man
- Too expensive – T-lay
If you’re at the market, you’ll have a better chance at bartering if you know your numbers:
1 – Moi
2 – Pi
3 – Bai
4 – Boun
5 – Bram
6 – Bram moi (5 + 1)
7 – Bram pi (5 + 2)
8 – Bram bai (5 + 3)
9 – Bram boun (5 + 4)
10 – Dop
15. Know the time to go
The best time to go to Cambodia is the winter, from November to March. This is the dry season, and is when most people visit the country so there are larger crowds.
The green season is after the wet season, which is another good time to go. This is from June to September, and is when the country is awash in lush and green vegetation. It has a few brief rain showers, but as it’s off-peak season, it has fewer crowds.
The rainy season is from Early May to October, with more rain falling in the earlier months.
Cambodia has high humidity year round, but it’s worse in March and April as it leads into the rainy season.
16. Adhere to the dress code
Cambodians dress quite modestly, not just in religious sites but in general.
There isn’t a dress code for the whole country as such, but you may attract some attention if you walk around in hot pants and crop tops.
You should try to keep your knees and shoulders covered, and although those booty shorts may feel comfortable on the beach, when visiting rural areas, you should cover up.
Not only to respect the locals but to protect your skin from mosquito bites.
17. Be aware of landmines
A Hero Rat demonstration at APOPO
While much work has been done to recover landmines, you should be concerned about landmines in rural areas.
When the Khmer Rouge were in power, many landmines were placed but there were no maps drawn up, so the amount of landmines still buried are unknown.
The country is still heavily contaminated by landmines, and accidents do still occur, so be careful when visiting remote areas and follow where the locals tell you to go.
If you want to learn more about how the country are dealing with the landmine situation, I highly recommend visiting the non-governmental organization APOPO (Anti-Personnel Landmines Removal Product Development) in Siem Reap, who have trained rats to sniff out TNT.
They call them Hero Rats – it’s quite heartwarming how they care about them too.
18. You need a visa
Most countries require a visa to enter Cambodia. You can apply for an e-Visa in advance online, or you can get a visa on arrival for some countries.
Click here to see what rules apply to your country.
19. You’ll appreciate Cambodia more if you understand its past
Autobiography from Chum Mey at s21 prison in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
In case you didn’t know about the Khmer Rouge history of Cambodia, you should be familiar with it.
It’s also referred to as the Pol Pot genocide, or Cambodian genocite, and happened from from 1975 to 1979. During this time, over 3 million Cambodians disappeared, died of starvation, or were brutally murdered. This accounted to 25% of the countries total population.
The story is heartbreaking, but understanding it will enhance your entire trip.
There are several books and movies about Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. I read Survival in the Killing Fields during our trip, and it was fascinating to pass through all the places described in the book.
If you get a chance, you can also visit some of the prisons and mass grave sites. In Phnom Penh, we visited the S-21 prison and had the chance to meet Chum Mey, one of the prison’s handful of survivors.
It’s depressing history, but it’s important to know about if you plan on visiting Cambodia.
Note: This post was originally published in January 2021, but has been updated to offer more tips and up-to-date information.
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What other helpful things do you want to know about Cambodia? Let us know in the comments.
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