Siem Reap Travel Tips

Banks: 08:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday and 08:00 to 12:00, Saturday
Post Offices: 08:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 07:00 to 17:30, some closed on Sunday
Museums: 09:00 to 18:00, daily, some closed at lunchtime and on Monday
Business Offices: 08:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday

As the largest tourist attraction in the country, Siem Reap and nearby Angkor have long ago been de-mined to smooth the way for foreign tourism, so there is no need to worry in this respect. However, some rural areas just outside of the city may not yet have been cleared for mines and unexploded ordinance, so make sure to look out for the warning signs when walking off the beaten path.

Cambodian roads present a risk of serious injury as some of the roads are in need of repair. To minimise the chance of an accident, never ride on a motorbike without wearing a helmet and always exercise good judgment when driving.

Bicycle riders should also take caution but will struggle to find a hire helmet anywhere as they simply don’t exist in most places. Pedestrians should be extremely cautious when crossing the road in Siem Reap. Expect motorbike riders in particular to approach from unforeseen directions, often against the flow of traffic.

Crime is not a major problem in Siem Reap but has definitely increased in the past decade as more tourists have come. The problem is mainly as a result of more foreigners hanging around town, which prove a temptation for the odd local when the income disparity is so great. Theft is rarely violent but things can go missing if not looked after properly. Make sure to clutch your bag tightly while riding on a motorbike.

Having decided to abolish money altogether between 1975 and 1980 when the Khmer Rouge took over, Cambodia afterwards reintroduced the riel. Coins worth 50, 100, 200 and 500 riel are in circulation but are rarely used. The notes begin with a 50 which is also not often seen, the 100 much more popular. Notes worth 1000, 2000 and 5000 riel are the most commonly used but there are 50,000 and even 100,000-riel notes. Expect to use US dollars and even Thai baht much more regularly.

Currency exchange is no great problem in Siem Reap given that there are places to change money at the airport; nearly everyone accepts US dollars and Thai baht and in fact, both are usually preferred. There are numerous exchange kiosks in the centre of Siem Reap; and while many hotels are also happy to exchange money, their rates are likely to be inferior. No places should charge fees for changing money. Try to pay for small purchases with riel and larger ones with foreign currency; otherwise you are likely to get Cambodia’s multi-currency system working against you.

Cash machines are readily available in the city; so too places that will offer cash advances on your credit card, usually for a flat fee so do it in large amounts. Visa and MasterCard are preferred. All mid- and top-range hotels and restaurants will usually accept credit cards, as will tour operators and some souvenir shops. Many other places will not, so make sure to hold onto plenty of cash.

As with most countries in the region, you will be asked to fill out an arrival card before entering Cambodia, whether at Angkor International Airport or any other immigration and customs point into the country. This form will ask various questions about your status and purpose of visit, and demand you declare any illegal items or cash over a certain amount whether in riel or any other currency.

Illegal materials in Cambodia follow a pattern similar to any other country. Narcotics including marijuana are illegal as are firearms and pornography.

One litre of alcohol, 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars) or up to 250g of tobacco is permitted through Cambodian customs. Please refrain from trying to chip a piece of Angkor Wat off to take home with you or indeed from buying anything that is purported to have been removed from Angkor. Cambodian customs are very strict about such items and some countries, including the US, have passed laws designed to discourage the plundering of the site since its popularity has escalated in the past decade.

Emergency services: 119

As a city in a Buddhist country, Siem Reap follows strict etiquette when it comes to anything associated with religion. In theory, visitors here should avoid pointing their feet directly at another person or from wearing short sleeves or revealing clothing in a religious building.

Cambodian greetings are customary among locals but not necessarily a faux-pas if performed incorrectly, as long as someone else’s greeting is not ignored. If you want to get in with the locals, hold your palms together in front of your chest in a sort of praying motion upon meeting someone followed by a handshake if that other person is a man.

Perhaps the most important, and most difficult, local custom to follow is not to show any anger. You may have just been charged 10 times over the odds for a tuk-tuk ride 500 metres around the corner but to get angry means a massive loss of face for yourself and the driver. Feel free to put across your point of view, but do so without swearing or raising your voice and everything should work out much better.

There isn’t too much that can go wrong when eating out in Siem Reap. Make sure to never get angry with any of the staff to preserve face and fully expect for animals, babies or just about anyone or anything to share the restaurant space with you. This is no reason for complaint in Cambodia.

When paying the bill, make sure to check whether the currency you are planning to use is readily accepted. Leave a tip at your own discretion. In a low-cost restaurant serving Cambodian food you would not be expected to leave a tip, although you may do so; while in a mid- to top-level place, 10 per cent would be considered fair.

Khmer with its unique script is the main language of Cambodia and the most widely spoken language in Siem Reap. English speakers are easily found, and after that French is the most commonly spoken language.

Medical facilities in Cambodia are not all up to international standards. There is one private hospital that lives up to Western standards, the Royal Angkor International Hospital on Airport road, which also features an ambulance service and employs staff that can speak English and other foreign languages. There are a handful of pharmacies around the city, including one near Psar Chas, which sell the basics – so if you need a regular prescription sort out the necessary supplies before departure.

In terms of infectious diseases, mosquito-borne infections are the most common, especially in the wet season. Make sure to take malaria prevention medicine prior to departure following consultation with a prescribing doctor if you are going to the more rural areas, and check what other vaccinations or preventative drugs may be recommended. Powerful insect repellent and large doses of sunscreen should be considered obligatory travel items for Siem Reap.

Indeed, mosquito bites are the most common minor affliction to affect visitors to the city; so too minor stomach upsets and diarrhoea. Never drink the tap water in Siem Reap and make sure to buy sealed bottles of water.

Royal Angkor International Hospital: +855 63 761 888

Emergency services: 119

The official government tourist office is in a shiny, new white building facing the Grand Hotel D’Angkor. Anyone claiming to be the tourist office based anywhere else is not telling the truth. Call the local tourism hotline on: +855 63 963 572. In the rare event that a tour guide causes problems, contact the Khmer Angkor Tour Guide Association on: +855 63 964 347.

Visas are required by almost all nationalities and are ready upon arrival at Angkor International Airport or any legal entry point into Cambodia. Make sure to have a passport photo and fresh US dollars handy for a one-month single entry tourist visa. Children pay half price for a tourist visa. These will be applied in your passport and will take up a whole page so make sure you have space before you board the plane.