Overview
Facts About The Country
Facts for The Visitors
Places To Visit

CAMBODIA > FACTS ABOUT THE VISITORS

PLANNING
The dress code for Cambodia is casual, and for sightseeing tours, particularly Angkor Wat, cool comfortable clothes, walking shoes, sunscreen lotion and a hat are recommended. Visitors to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda should cover their knees and shoulders, and shoes should be removed before entering temples.

VISA AND DOCUMENTS
A fifteen-day tourist visa can be obtained at US$ 20 upon arrival at Pochentong Airport. It is valid for one month. Visitors should bring along at least 4 photos, and sign the visa applications form upon arrival. However, there are rumors that this practice may be discontinued, so to be on the safe side, apply for a visa elsewhere. Visa extensions are possible through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Security, or the Office of Immigration. The processing time is 10 days! If you fail to extend your visa, you will be charged US$3 for each day you overstay.

CUSTOMS
When entering Cambodia, all visitors must declare valuables, including foreign currency, gold, jewelry and electronic equipment.

MONEY
The official currency in Cambodia is the Riel which come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 50000 and 100000 notes. However, in the major towns and cities, US dollars can be freely spent, it actually serves as a second currency that is more readily accepted, although travelers are recommended to use smaller denomination notes as change may be difficult. Exchange rates are subject to fluctuation. Most places will refuse old, tatty or damaged US bills. Popular local and international currencies can be exchanged openly and freely. It can be difficult to change traveler’s checks outside Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang and Kompong Cham. Otherwise, there are no ATMs and credit cards are rarely accepted. You can get cash advances on your credit card at several banks. In every case, commissions are very high; they will have to phone Bangkok for confirmation. It is possible to change traveler’s checks and get credit card cash advances in the casinos. Of course, their motivation is to get the money "back" at the tables. Banks are open during weekdays from 7:30 to 14:30. Some open also at Saturday. Tipping is not expected in Cambodia, but salaries are very low so it is always appreciated. Bargaining is the rule in markets, when hiring vehicles and sometimes even when taking a room.

POST AND COMMUNICATIONS
From Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, it is normally easy to make international calls, although it is expensive. Calls are often charged even if the connection is not made - check with the telephone operator. Cambodia's international telephone code is +855. The area code for Phnom Penh is 23. The mobile phone has become a necessity in Cambodia. Public telephones normally require purchase of phone cards that can be bought at hotels post offices and supermarkets. The postal system for mail going out of the country is reasonably efficient, with mail routed by air through Thailand. Incoming post is extremely slow. Telegrams can be sent to Australia, North America and Western Europe.

BOOKS
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos Handbook by Michael Buckley
Footprint Cambodia Handbook: The Travel Guide by Joshua Eliot, John Colet, Dinah Gardner

NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES
Foreign newspapers and magazines are not available in Cambodia, even in Phnom Penh.

RADIO & TV:
It is possible to pick up the BBC World Service and Voice of America.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
It is wise to use discretion when taking photographs and polite to ask people before taking their picture. Cambodia is an exceptionally photogenic place so expect to use a lot of film. Film for color prints is readily available in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, but specialist equipment may be very difficult or impossible to find.

TIME AND ELECTRICITY
Time: GMT + 7 hours. Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz Electricity
The electricity supply in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is now regular, although most hotels and restaurants still have their own generators. However, power cuts should be expected in other parts of the country, and in some areas electricity is only available in the evenings from about 6:30pm to 9:30pm. It is advisable to bring a torch and candles. Most Cambodians light their houses with kerosene lamps.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Metric

HEALTH
All visitors to Cambodia should have up to date inoculations as recommended by their doctors. Although no health certificates or vaccinations are required by the Cambodian authorities, it is recommended that you get vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, meningitis, a polio booster and especially gamma globulin shots (against hepatitis A). In addition to this, you should take a course of malaria tablets. Take a medical kit including Panadol, antihistamines, antibiotics, kaolin, rehydration mixture, calamine lotion, bandages and band-aids, scissors, insect repellent, etc.

Do not drink water directly from the tap. Visitors should take preventive measures against mosquitoes as in any tropical country, especially at dusk, in the evenings; wear trousers, socks and long sleeved shirts, and use insect repellent. According to recent figures by UNAIDS, the United Nations program, about half of Cambodia's prostitutes are HIV positive. The total figure of the population with the disease is estimated at 120,000, with the most explosive growth in Asia. Bilharzias (schistosomiasis) is a parasitic infection, caught by contact with river water, and just getting wet may be enough. The microscopic parasites in the water burrow into the skin and causes damage to the liver and other organs. It is a chronic debilitation disease and Cambodia is one of the most dangerous regions in Southeast Asia for contracting it.

Health insurance, especially medical evacuation cover is recommended, as international standard healthcare is minimal, especially in rural areas. Although there are good doctors, hospitals are sadly lacking up-to-date medical equipment. Doctors and hospitals normally expect immediate cash payment. If you regularly need some medicine, bring enough of it with you since chances are that you will not get the same or a replacement for it.

DANGERS
Despite the easing of political tensions in Cambodia, violent outbreaks still occur. Visitors are advised to avoid political gatherings, and to exercise caution. Cambodia remains one of the world's most heavily land mined countries, with an estimated four to six million unexploded landmines strewn around the countryside. The most heavily mined part of the country is the Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces. It is recommended that you travel with a local guide in rural areas, and never venture off the path into forest or dry paddy fields, even at Angkor. Avoid solo travel during the day outside provincial towns, and in all parts of the country at night. Street crime is prevalent in the capital, so take particular care at night.

BUSINESS HOURS
Government offices: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Business offices: 08:00 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Shops: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 days a week. Banks: 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. Markets: 6:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7 days a week.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS
Water festival (October or November). This huge festival is the biggest celebration of the year. Over three days starting with the last full moon day in October or the beginning of November, up to a million people flock to the banks of Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Phnom Penh to watch the boat racing which comprises of hundreds of brightly colored boats with over 50 paddlers. In the evening brightly decorated floats cruise along the river, followed by beautiful fireworks displays. The festival marks the changing of the flow of the Tonle Sap River; it flows upstream during the rainy season and changes direction when the rains cease. The festival is also seen as thanksgiving to the Mekong River for providing the country with fertile land and abundant fish.

Pchum Ben (September) this is the most religiously significant event of the year. The festival of souls blesses the souls of ancestors, relatives, and friends who have passed away. All Buddhist temples, especially Wat Phnom, are the focal points for this festival.
King Sihanouk's Birthday Celebration (October 31) Celebrations and festivities are held throughout the capital. To honor the King's birthday. Sometimes this coincides with the Water festivals resulting in a massive celebration in front of the Royal Palace.

Khmer New Year's Day (Mid April) is celebrated at the same time as the Thai New Year. Cambodians decorate their homes to please the Heaven God and people on the streets use small bags of water and water pistols to bless people passing by. This festival is one of the happiest times of the year and everybody smiles.

Angkor Festival (November or December) this is a performing arts festival at Angkor Wat with artists from all over Asia performing great epic stories, including the Ramayana, with their own national dance costumes and music.

Royal Ploughing Day (May) This cultural ceremony takes place in the large park next to the Royal Palace and in front of the National Museum. The Cambodians believe that the Ox has a role in determining the fate of the agricultural harvest and the colorful festival depicts real ploughing activities with the King driving the Ox.

Independence Day (November 9) This ceremony takes place at the site of the Independence Monument at the junction of Norodom and Sihanouk Boulevards. It is a celebration of Cambodia's gaining of independence from France in 1953 with flags and bunting decorating the whole city.

Chinese New Year (January or February) The Chinese New Year is widely celebrated in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh with some wonderful firework displays.
National Day (January 7) This festival marks the end of the Khmer Rouge Regime.
International Half Marathon (Late December) This International Half Marathon is held at Angkor Wat and attracts competitors from all over the world.

Other Holidays and Festivals Cambodia also celebrates other special days including: International Women's Day (8 March), International Worker's Day (1 May), Genocide Day (9 May), Vesak Bucha Day - the anniversary of the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha (Late May), Ploughing the Holy Furrow (Late May), Chol Vassa - Buddhist Lent (July), and International Human Rights Day (10 December).

FOOD
Cambodian cuisine is influenced by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, but there are some distinct local dishes. Rice and Fish is the main staple of the typical Cambodian diet though many dishes are prepared with beef, pork or chicken. Seafood, especially shrimps and crabs, is abundant in coastal areas. Local specialties include Amok, fish cooked in coconut milk, and a variety of soups and curries. Most Cambodian dishes are cooked in a wok known locally as a chnang khteak. Phnom Penh is very cosmopolitan with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Nepalese, Indian, Turkish, Mexican, French, and Western restaurants.

ENTERTAINMENT
There is a large choice of entertainment venues around Phnom Penh including lively nightclubs, karaoke bars and fully licensed casinos. There is also traditional Cambodian music and dance and the Russian trained royal ballet. Bars and nightclubs are plentiful, and many of them overlook the river. Many of the international hotels provide live entertainment for their guests such as jazz pianists and vocalists singing contemporary ballads.

THINGS TO BUY
There are plenty of handicrafts and souvenirs to buy in Cambodia, both at local souvenir stalls and markets as well as in the smarter shops, especially in the hotels. Handicrafts include beautiful Cambodian silk and cotton, silver, gems woodcarvings, and paintings. It is illegal to export antiques.