Before You Visit Cambodia

The Country's Exotic Attractions Come with Some Safety Concerns

Aug 16, 2008

Cambodia is not the safest place on Earth. But then, safety is not why people visit this region of the world. The country is home to some beautiful temples.

There was a time when Cambodia was perhaps Southeast Asia's least stable country. It continues to provide risks for anyone who wishes to visit the country. Having said that, it is only fair to add that Cambodia does have a growing tourism industry. And the truth is that Cambodia has some great attractions for the adventurous soul.

Tourism Focus

The government sees tourism as a way to generate badly needed foreign currency revenue. Cambodia has become in many ways a hospitable place.

Angkor is far and away the country's leading tourist attraction. The temples, ruins and various archeological sites there attract foreign tourists in droves. The budding sea resort of Sihanoukville is slowly growing in importance. The capital, Phnom Penh, has some charm. Battambang is worth a visit. There are a couple of good national parks.

Safety

Apart from a period of turmoil in 1997, Cambodia has become a relatively calm country. Is it safe? If you stay in Phnom Penh and the Angkor Wat area, probably. If you venture outside that area, however, you are taking greater risks - if for no other reason than that you may step on a landmine left over from 20 years of civil war.

There is currently some military tension between Thailand and Cambodia over historic temples along their border near the villar of Preah Vihear.

Travel

If you decide to visit Cambodia, you should register with your embassy upon arrival and find out what advice they have to offer on the current security situation. Angkor, Battambang, Ratanakiri, Koh Kong, Stung Treng and Mondulkiri all have air links to the capital. Travel outside Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat, is not the greatest idea; but while U.S. State Department reports say that robbery is common, the countryside is no longer the lawless landscape that it once was.

Flights into Phnom Penh leave from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. It is also possible to fly into Siem Reap from most of these locations. Getting from place to place within Cambodia can be done by road and boat (both of which are uncomfortable) or by air (which is expensive).

Health

A variety of health risks exist: AIDS, cholera, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and rabies. Make sure your cholera, tetanus, diphtheria, typhoid and infectious hepatitis vaccinations are current. Visitors should avoid drinking tap water; bottled water is preferred. Sunburn is a medical problem; visitors should use sun block even on cloudy days. Insect repellent and antiseptic rub are also important. Take precautions with food: peel fruit, avoid ice, avoid reheated food.

Accessibility

It should be noted that Cambodia as a country is not very wheelchair-friendly and travel for the handicapped may be difficult.

Weather

December and January are the best months for visiting Cambodia: humidity is more tolerable and rain is less likely. February to April are increasingly hot months. For someone not used to the heat it may seem unbearable. The April-October wet season can be a good time to visit Angkor because the temple-city's moats will be filled and the surrounding plant life particularly lush. But not much else in Cambodia is worth doing during the rainy season.

The copyright of the article Before You Visit Cambodia in Cambodia Travel is owned by Greg Cruey. Permission to republish Before You Visit Cambodia in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.