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Foreign Embassies in Cambodia
Road Distance Chart
About Mekong River
Travel by boat from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh
Travel by land from Koh Kong to Phnom Penh
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Last updated: 05/01/2008

Planning your Cambodia Trip
Angkor Thom
	Angkor tour is more than a tour.  It is a fact-finding trip that provides you with a chance of leaning and seeing with your own eyes a great civilization of an empire once called Angkor that covered an extensive area, now Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.  Click here to read a brief history of Angkor and Cambodia. Prior to your trip, take time and do a research on Cambodia and Angkor.  Your research helps you identity your interest and prioritize the places to visit.  The two Angkor temples no visitors miss are Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.  Many visitors start their tours in Siem Reap visiting Angkor temples and surrounding villages and then proceed to Phnom Penh where they end their trip while the others start their tours visiting cultural centers and markets in Phnom Penh and then travel by boat or by bus to Siem Reap and fly back to
Phnom Penh for departure.  Your can combine many options to accommodate to your travel budget.

Language: The official language is Khmer.  English is used through out Cambodia while French is still used by few elderly people working in the government departments.

Visitor Visas:  A visitor does not have to apply for a visitor visa prior to entering Cambodia.  A one-month visitor visa can be applied for at the airport or at the port of entry where visa is issued, Phnom Penh International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport.  A visitor or business visa can now be applied on line.  The processing fee for tourist and visitor visa is $ 20 and the business one is $ 25.  One copy of passport-size photo along with a visitor's passport valid for at least 4 months from the date of entry are required.  Please check with the government official website above for more details.

Dress Codes:  Casual dress is recommended, short-sleeve shirts, casual pants, or shorts (but not the very short ones, especially for women).  There is not rule or law that stipulates how you get dressed but the more sexy you get dressed you more attention you get from the public as Khmers tend to dressed modestly.

Airport Customs:  A traveler who is bringing foreign currency of more than US $10,000 is required to declare upon arrival.  The Cambodia Riels are prohibited from being exported and imported.

Airport departure tax
From Phnom Penh International Airport: $20 (International Flight)
From Siem Reap Angkor International Airport: $15 (International Flight)
Domestic flight: between $5 and $10.

International airports: Cambodia has only two international airports: Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Airlines: Bangkok Airways, China Southern, Dragonair, EVA Air, First Cambodia Airlines, Lao Airways, President Airlines, Royal Khmer Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Siem Reap Airways, SilkAir, Thai Airways, Transmile Air Services, Vietnam Airlines.  If you stay at the hotel, ask the hotel for the Yellow Page that lists all types of businesses including airlines and hotels.

Time Zones:
Cambodia: GMT + 7 hours
Thailand = Cambodia
Singapore: GMT + 8 hours

Banking: Riel is Cambodia’s currency.  Riel banknote denominators are 100, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10 000, 50 000, 100 000.   One Riel = 100 Cents.  As of June 2007, one US dollar can buy about 4,000 Cambodia Riels.  The United States dollars are widely used and accepted in business centers and hotels.  American Express, travelers’ cheques, Visa, and Master Card are accepted mainly in many hotels, restaurants, and business centers.  In 2007, some banks and financial centers in Phnom Penh

introduced ATM machines that allow customers to withdraw cash from their credit card accounts.  However, the best way is to withdraw at the bank in person as you are able to know how much the service charge is.  This type of machine is available at major shopping centers or banks.

Calmette Hospital, #3, Monivong Boulevard. Tel: 023 426 948 (General Hospital, run by the government and funded by foreign donors)

	American Medical Center, Ground Floor #3, Hotel Cambodiana, open 24 Hours (Privately operated and managed by foreign doctors)
	Tropical & Travelers Medical Clinic, #88, Street 108. Tel: 012 898 981
	International SOS, #161, Street 51. Tel: 023 216 911 (private)
	Naga Clinic, #11, Street 254. Tel: 011 811 175 (private)
	Surya Medical Services, # 39, Street 294.  Tel: 016 845 000

International codes for dial-out of Cambodia: 001 and 007

Calling Canada and U.S.A. from Cambodia: If you want make a cheap phone call  from Cambodia to US and Canada, use the internet phone.  Despite the quality is not as good a the landline phone, the Internet phone price saves you a fortune.  As of February 2008, one-hour internet phone call costs between two and three dollars.

Business Hours:  Government offices are open from 7:30 am to 11:30 am and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  Banks are open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am to noon on Saturdays.  Local banks and financial services are competitive and many of them are open long hours.  Markets and shopping centers are open daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and some of them are open late at night.  Phnom Penh has 7-11 style convenient stores and all these stores that are normally located on the gas station and open 24 hours. 

Religion:  Official religion is Buddhism.  Islam and Christianity are also practiced among minority Khmers.

Country Population: 14 million (Government census 2007).  Popular distribution: rural 87%, urban 13%.  Age distribution: 15 years and under is 41 %; 65 years and over is 3.5%.  Annual population growth: 2.3%.

Electricity:  Voltage 220 volts, AC, 50 Hz.  Travelers from a region where 110 voltage electricity is used is recommended to bring along travel kits and electrical devices that can convert voltage from 220 to 110 voltages for their use.  All hotels and Guesthouse have electrical outlets.

Drinking Water:  International travelers are advised to consume bottled water, not the tap water.  Although the government has repeatedly assured the public that water supply in Phnom Penh is safe and meets the International standard, the tap water does not have the Western standard.  Ice cubes should also be avoided as some of them are produced locally from the tap water.

Climate:  The temperatures through out the year varies between 21ºC and 35ºC (70º to 95ºF).  The ideal time to visit Cambodia is between November and March when the humidity and the temperature are low, between 21 and 25 degree Celsius.  In April, the temperature may shoot up to 35ºC and the humidity is high.  The rainy (monsoon) season starts in June and ends at the end of October.

Cambodia rainfalls and temperature in Celsius through out the year: Phnom Penh area
Phnom.Penh	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Temp (H)	31	32	34	35	34	33	32	32	31	31	29	30
Temp (L)	21	22	23	25	25	25	24	24	24	23	22	21
Humidity	60	62	63	65	70	72	73	75	78	76	75	63
Sun Light	9	9	9	8	7	6	6	6	6	7	8	9
Rain Days	1	1	4	7	13	16	17	21	20	16	8	6

Weather Data collected from various Cambodia and international sources including Department of Meteorology Phnom Penh.  Note: Data based on 8 year historical reading 1994-2001.  A rain day is recorded when the rainfall is at least 1 millimeter.  H: high; L: low; rain fall in millimeter; Sun Light in hours, Humidity in percentage.

Phnom Penh sightseeing: the river street in front of the Royal Palace along the Mekong river is the most popular venue for tourists and locals alike.  In the evening, people in family and couple stroll along enjoying the view of the Mekong river.  Lined up on one side of the river street are many small stores and meals on wheels: restaurants, souvenir shops, street sellers, bars, cafes, guesthouses, and cheap hotels.

Mekong river park, in front of Royal Palace, during the November 3-day boat race.

Siem Reap: Provincial population is 798,00, according to government census 2004.  Siem Reap town population is 85,000.  There are upscale tour services and products designed by many foreign-owned hotels to cater to foreign tourists who arrive with dollars.  These days, countless guesthouses and luxury hotels, big and small, spring up like mushrooms and the room rates start from a few dollars at a guest house to a thousand dollars a night at the luxury hotel.

Siem Reap Transportation: Taxi fares from the airport and Tonley Sap boat dock are between 5 and 10 dollars depending on the dry and wet season.  During dry season, the water level of the lake Tonley Sap is low at the bottom of the lake making the trip to the boat dock longer.  During the wet season, the water level of the lake is high causing flooding and providing the boats with an easy access docking close to town.  The trip from town to the boat dock is shorter and cheaper.

Tonley Sap lake Tour: Tonley Sap lake tour is more than just a tour.  Visitors can explore and learn about way of life of people living on floating boats and houses.  Life here is a challenge.  It is called "floating village" because this community floats with the tide of the lake water.

Phnom Penh - Siem Reap Travel: People can choose to travel by Speed boat "Mekong Express" that costs $25 (2007).  The boats departs daily at 7:30 am from Phnom Penh and arrives at Siem Reap at 1:00 pm.  The boats also departs Siem Reap at 7:30 and arrive in Phnom Penh at 1:00 pm.  The price includes: a soft drink, a snack, and lunch.  Many tourists who travel by boat enjoy the sceneries along Tonley Sap river and Tonley Sap lake.  Tourists have an opportunity observe the daily life of the fishing villages along the river.  People also can travel by Mekong Express bus that costs 9 dollars per person.  The bus trip takes between 5 - 6 hours.  The bus departs at 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning from both cities.  The bus makes a 30-munite stop break mid-way for travelers to relax.  This modern bus has a toilet on board.  A snack and a bottle water are provided as part of the bus fare.  Locals who are better off take taxi that is usually packed. The cost for each passenger is between $4 and $5.  Siem Reap-Phnom Penh taxi stations are at Psa Thmey and Psa Chroy Changva bridge market.  See Phnom Penh map.  Small private car rentals with a driver provided costs $85 per day.  Car rentals with a driver traveling in town and in Angkor complex is $25 per day.  There are many car rentals these days and travelers are advised to shop around before buy the services as they are competitive.  While some people like traveling by land some like traveling by air.  Return Airfare is $95 with Siem Reap Air and $90 with President Air.

The bus ticket from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is 5 US dollars as of February 2008.  The bus travels on national road 6A and then 6, via Kandal, Kampong Cham, and Kampong Thom provinces. You can catch the bus a block west of Central market (Psa Thmey).  See Phnom Penh map.  The bus leaves every few hours.  The first bus leaves between 7 and 8 AM.

Sihanouk Ville is 230 km from Phnom Penh and connected by national road 4.  The town was named after King Sihanouk (in power 1954 - 1970) as a dedication to his effort to build a port city.  After King Sihanouk was overthrown by Lon Nol, the town was re-named Kampong Som city.  Many people still call the city Kampong Som although young people tend to call it Sihanouk Ville.  The town has a population of 18,000 (government census 2005).  There are several beaches: Victoria, Independence, Sokha, O Chheu Teal, O Tres, Chamkar Dong (further East), Thmar Thom (Ream national park).

Sihanouk Ville Beaches: Although there are many beaches along Kampong Som coastline, the popular ones are Victoria (long, narrow sandy beach), Independence (quiet, and locals call it "7-floor-hotel beach"), Sokha (strong wind and big waves), O Chheu Teal (the most popular one, with variety of hotels and restaurants along the coastline), and O Tres (further East and less developed).

Travel to Sihanouk Ville from Phnom Penh: The trip by car or bus takes between 3 and 4 hours.  The cost of a private taxi is 25 US dollars for one way.  The public taxi that is usually packed costs between 2 and 3 dollars and it makes many stops along the way to load and unload passengers.  Public taxis and buses usually carry as many passengers as possible.  If you want to spend a whole day to adventure Southern Cambodia, a train would be your option.  (check Phnom Penh map) Phnom Penh - Kampot train, costing about 2 dollars, leaves Phnom Penh at 6:30 am and it usually takes about 12 hours.  As in may other countries in Asia and Africa, Cambodia trains have no rules and people can sit on the rooftop enjoying the sceneries in the countryside.  Another way of convenient travel is by air-conditioned public bus that departs from Psa Thmey market very morning.  It costs 4 dollars.

Koh Kong town has a population of 29,500 and is connected to Phnom Penh by a 271 km road that is partly paved with gravel and asphalt.  The adventure trip takes between 4 and 5 hours winding up and down the hills and crossing many rivers and inlets.  The main economy of this isolated province mainly depends on border crossing trade with Thailand.

Cambodia Coast line is 443 km long.  Provinces forming the coastline: Kampot, Kampong Som, and Koh Kong.

Hotel and Restaurant Tipping: Tipping is optional.  Major hotels and restaurants usually add service charge 10% to the bill and tips are not necessary.  However, if you are satisfied with services and products, offering tips is just another way of expressing satisfaction.  The tips are usually between 2,000 and 8,000 Riels (about 1/2 of a dollar to 2 dollars) depending on types of services.

Main Public Holidays
In the month of April (date of this public holiday varies from year to year according Khmer calendar)  See more Public Holidays
Khmer New Year Day  This is the major event of the year in Buddhist calendar.  Government offices and businesses are closed.  Employees and workers travel to their home town to visit their relatives and friends.  Khmer New Year is like that of Christmas Day holiday when relatives get together in a special day of the year.  Part of this New Year celebration, Cambodians visit the temples (Wat) to pray and to bring foods and gifts to the monks.  There are many traditional activities and recreations during this 3-day celebration: liver concerts, dances to local music bands, play Ang Kunh (a Khmer traditional games), and many others.

November boat race festival, a family holiday of the year.
	Boat Race and Boat shows are celebrated on the same days in November.  The boat race starts during the day while the boat shows starts in the evening followed by a spectacular firework over the confluence of Mekong and Tonley Sap river, in front of the Royal Palace. The boat shows that represent each government ministry or private business corporation display carefully decorated lights.  The boats sails slowly along the river.  The brilliant artistic lights that come various forms and shapes portrait and
	characterize the structure of
	each individual organization. Khmers have celebrated the festival generations.  The event is known to mark the end of rainy season and the start of rice harvesting season in which farmers pray for good prospects of their crops and good luck in the years to come.  At the end of the 3-day boat race festival, the King presents rewards and prizes to the winners.
	During the 3-day festival, people use whatever means available to travel to Phnom Penh city.  They converge on the Mekong river park in front of Royal palace to watch the boat races.

Last updated: 05/01/2008