What Should I Avoid When Visiting Cambodia? Is It Safe to Travel Cambodia?

Cambodia is an amazing place to visit. Filled with ancient temples, stunning architecture, and a wealth of attractions, as well as a unique culture, Cambodia actually has something for everyone.

But is it safe to travel to Cambodia? And what are the things that you should avoid when taking a Cambodian trip? This travel guide will help you stay safe and know what to avoid while traveling.

Cambodia is Generally a Safe Place to Visit

In general, Cambodia is a pretty safe place to discover and explore. As a Buddhist country, the people are somewhat laid back, and very honest in the most part, but very reserved and conservative in their behavior. But there are some things to beware of while traveling in Cambodia.

Being a Buddhist country, serious crime is rare, especially against foreign tourists. However, petty crime such as pick-pocketing is common, as are scams and other opportunistic crimes. But a little clever thinking in having a belt bag and not falling for street scams can prevent these instances from happening.

Police in Cambodia are said to be corrupt, and generally, that is true, though mostly in a small way. Driving offence are simply fined on the spot so the police get to keep all the money, instead of the 70% the law permits, and other minor offenders are often let off for a small fee. It is best to avoid getting involved with the police at all, if you can help it.

Another danger in Cambodia is the chance of contracting insect-borne diseases such as Malaria and Dengue. While malaria-carrying mosquitoes are not common in most tourist areas, dengue-carriers are common, and the dengue mosquitoes come out in large numbers in the rainy season. So a good mosquito repellent, preferably with VEET, is a requirement in Cambodia.

You should also make sure that you have adequate medical insurance with good cover. Cambodia has a wide variety of healthcare providers, from the limited public healthcare facilities to pharmacies and private clinics.

Public healthcare is very limited, so you will need to use private facilities if you get sick in Cambodia. Ensure your cover includes the major private clinics in the country.

Safety Tips for Visiting Cambodia

1. Learn a few basic Khmer phrases

Getting around can be tricky in Cambodia, since there are a limited number of locals that can speak English. In tourist-heavy areas, there may well be more English speakers, but in outlying areas, they are few and far between.

Learn a few basic phrases in Khmer, such as “how much” (bonman), “Can you take me to…” (Tae anak ach noam khnhom tow), and ‘thank you” (saum arkoun), and some others that may be useful, and you will find it easier to get around. And the locals will admire you for trying to speak their language, even if you pronounce it wrong.

2. Get injected and vaccinated before your trip

One of the best tips we can give you before your trip to Cambodia is to make sure you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. For travelers that are fully vaccinated, there is no requirement for antigen testing on arrival or before you depart, so you can make your entry into the country simpler.

And while the vaccination does not make you immune to COVID-19, it can help to reduce the severity of the symptoms if you are infected in Cambodia.

3. Buy travel insurance for your trip

Travel insurance is a must for travel to Cambodia. This can ensure that, should you lose your belongings, or your wallet and passport get stolen, with all your cards, you are covered for a significant amount on your insurance as well as passport and visa document requirements. And it also covers a number of other things, such as trip delays, interruptions, and lost baggage.

4. Keep your valuables hidden

Most crime in Cambodia is opportunistic, so if you are waving your wallet or cash around in large quantities when paying for street food, expect someone to consider you as a prime target for pick-pocketing.

Keep your valuables hidden when you are wandering around outside, preferably in a belt bag, and only take out a few small bills at a time. Being the victim of theft is going to spoil your vacation.

5. Respect local customs

It pays to learn about some of the local customs you might be interacting with while in Cambodia, and knowing how to afford them the respect they deserve.

The local customs have been part of the local way of life for generations, and should be respected in the same way you would want others to respect your customs. A little pre-knowledge can help ensure you show adequate respect.

6. Avoid dressing immodestly

Cambodia is a devout Buddhist country, which means the people are more modest and conservative than most western countries. So your clothing should be according to their requirements of modesty, not your own.

Again, it is about respecting the local customs and culture. Showing too much skin, for both men and women, is frowned upon, and prohibited in temples. So bring clothes that are light and loose, but cover your body adequately.

7. Avoid drinking tap water

With the exception of higher-end hotels and guesthouses, which may have additional filters, tap water in Cambodia usually comes direct from a deep-well into a tank, where it drains into the pipes and comes out of the faucet of the bathroom.

But even in the best hotels, it is not advisable to drink the tap water, as it contains microbes that your body may not be able to handle. If you want to drink water, buy purified or spring water, as it is much safer. You may even want to brush your teeth in the bottled water, just to be on the safe side.

8. Avoid feeding or giving money to the beggars

While it may feel good to give to people begging on the street, it is actually best to avoid doing this, mainly because there is usually a scam behind most begging. If someone comes up to you and asks for help, or someone with a baby asks you to feed it or them, politely say no, and walk away.

Usually, the things they will ask you to buy cost a lot of money, and you will not notice you have already been scammed. And giving to begging kids gives them the impression that education is not important ,as they can make money begging.

9. Keep away from political demonstrations and protests

Cambodia is relatively stable, but activists still operate, and there is currently a ban on demonstrations and large gatherings under the COVID prevention rules.

The government acts against protesters with intimidation and political prosecution, so if you don’t want to end up in a Cambodian jail for a few years, steer clear of anything that looks like a protest of demonstration, no matter what your personal views may be.

10. Avoid walking alone at night especially for female traveler

As we already said, Cambodia is relatively safe, even for female travelers. However, it is still best to avoid walking around deserted streets alone at night.

Especially if you are female. Opportunistic crime may see you getting mugged, or worse, so it is recommended to stay in well-lit and busy areas at night, or in your hotel if it is very late.

11. Get yourself a tour guide

Tour guides are widely available in Cambodia, and with only limited knowledge of English available with locals, hiring a tour guide can be a blessing. Many English-speaking locals take up jobs as tour guides, as they get a decent income from it and can connect with travelers to make the trip even more memorable.

And their local knowledge is a necessity that you would not have had otherwise. Not only will they guide you around the best attractions, your tour guide will help in bargaining when buying items, point out the best items to buy, including recommending the best foods, and much more besides.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is generally safe to travel in Cambodia, as long as you follow a few common-sense practices and learn from the tips we have provided here, or do some more research on the customs and culture. To make your trip more secured, joining a Cambodia tour with tour guide is also recommended.