Regulations are relaxed and simple formalities should be observed when entering the country. Every traveller has to complete a customs declaration form during the arrival flight and must submit it on arrival.

Any amount of foreign currency can be brought into Cambodia, but the amount of Cambodian currency must not exceed 100,000 riel per person. Tourists and non-residents carrying over USD 10,000 in cash or its equivalent must declare so in order to ensure they will be allowed to exit the country with that amount.

A Diethelm Travel representative will meet travellers at the exit of the airport building, after airport immigration and customs control points have been passed. For easy recognition, our representative will display a Diethelm Travel sign with the names of the guests or group. It also will be this representative who will be in possession of tickets for ongoing flights of the clients. Should clients buy international tickets through us, they will receive them on their departure day.

Khmer cuisine is closely related to those in neighbouring Thailand and Laos although it is not as spicy. Curries, stir-fried vegetables, rice, noodles and soups are staples of the Khmer diet. Fresh river fish and shellfish are both abundant and delicious. Western food is provided only in the major cities although other Asian dishes are widely available. Cambodia is well known in the region for its prahok, a strong, fermented fish paste used in a variety of traditional dishes.

Tap water should never be drunk. Bottled mineral water and bottled drinking water are available in all reputable hotels and restaurants. Similarly, salad and fruit served at these establishments are safe.

All S VietNam tours are based on breakfast only in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville and on full board arrangements in other destinations. For full-day excursions, a picnic lunch can be provided if no adequate restaurants are available.

• Drink lots of water. Purified, bottled water is available everywhere. Never drink tap water.
• Use an insect repellent against mosquitoes. It is the only way to be sure of protection against mosquito-borne diseases.
• Since Cambodia has a hot and humid tropical climate, casual and lightweight clothing is best. Clothing made from natural fibres is the best option. A jacket might be needed on cool evenings or in hotels and restaurants using excessive air conditioning.
• A hat and high-factor sun block is advisable as protection against the hot sun when sightseeing outdoors. 
  For sightseeing tours you should wear cool, comfortable clothes and walking shoes. Sunscreen lotion and a hat are strongly recommended.
• Photos are inexpensive to process in the country. Any specialised photo or video equipment should be brought with you. Photography and video in airports, railway stations and near any military installations is forbidden and discretion should be used when photographing people, particularly monks and those in hill tribes.

Direct flights to Phnom Penh are available from Bangkok, Doha, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei and Vientiane.

Airlines currently serving Phnom Penh are AirAsia, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Dragonair, Eva Air, Jetstar Asia, Korean Air, Lao Aviation, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Silk Air, Thai Airways International and Vietnam Airlines.

Direct flights to Siem Reap are available from Bangkok, Danang, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming, Luang Prabang, Pakse, Seoul-Incheon, and Singapore. Airlines currently serving Siem Reap are AirAsia, Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Cambodia Angkor Air, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Jetstar Asia, Korean Air, Lao Aviation, Malaysia Airlines, Silkair and Vietnam Airlines.

Internet access is available in most hotels in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. There are also plenty of internet cafés with reliable connections at very reasonable prices.

The following websites provide relevant information on Cambodia:

• www.diethelmtravel.com
• www.tourismcambodia.org
• www.mot.gov.kh
• www.cambodia-web.net
• www.embassyofcambodia.org
• www.phnompenhpost.com
• www.cambodia.org
• www.angkor.com
• www.canbypublications.com
• www.asialifemagazine.com/cambodia/
• www.cambodiadaily.com

Khmer is the official language. It is inherited from the Mon-Khmer family and enriched by the Indian Pali and Sanskrit languages. There are various dialects spoken in areas outside Phnom Penh.

English is the second language, followed by French, even though they are not widely spoken except in the capital.

Cambodia runs at GMT +7 hours, the same time zone as its neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.

Governmental agencies work Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm (lunch breaks are from 12.00 pm to 2.00 pm) and are closed on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.

Banks are open Monday through Saturday morning from 7.30 am to 3.00 pm and are closed on Saturday afternoon, Sunday and public holidays.

Toul Sleng Genocide Museum
Open every day from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. Visitors are not admitted after 4.45 pm.

National Museum
Open every day from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. Visitors are not admitted after 4.45 pm.

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
Open every day from 8.00 am to 11.00 am (closed to new visitors at 10.45 am) and from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm (closed to new visitors at 4.45 pm), except when His Royal Highness King Preah

Borom Moneath Norodom Sihamoni conducts religious ceremonies at the Silver Pagoda or Royal rituals at the Royal Palace, then one of the two or both compounds will be closed. During the Water Festival, they're open only in the mornings on the first two days and closed for a full day on the third day.

Visa Regulations

General 
Immigration formalities are quicker when travellers already possess their visa. However, Cambodia has very liberal visa regulations. For USD 30 all travellers can obtain a tourist visa valid for 30 days single entry upon arrival.

A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the visit and one passport photo is needed. For travellers joining a Diethelm Cambodia tour departing from Bangkok, visas can be arranged there within 2 working days. Every traveller has to complete an immigration and a customs form during the arrival flight or upon arrival. Cambodian tourist visas can be extended 1 time for 30 days.

Visa upon arrival 
Visas upon arrival can be obtained at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports and at the following border crossings:

• With Vietnam:
  - Bavet/Moc Bai 
  – Bavet Border Crossing 
  - Kaom Samnor/Vinh Xuong (Mekong River) 
  - Phnom Den/Tinh Bien - Takeo Border Crossing 
  - Trapeang Plong/Xa Mat - Kompong Cham Border Crossing 
  - Prek Chaak/Xa Xia - Kep Border Crossing 
  - Trapaeng Sre/Loc Ninh - Kratie Border Crossing 
  - Banteay Chakrey/Khanh Binh - Svay Rieng Border Crossing 
  - O-Yadaw/Le Tanh - Banlung Border Crossing
   
• With Thailand
   - Poipet/Aranyaprathet – Poipet Border Crossing 
  - Cham Yeam/Hat Lek – Koh Kong Border Crossing 
  - Psar Pruhm/Ban Pakard – Pailin Border Crossing 
  - Kamrieng/Daun Lem – Battambang Border Crossing 
  - O’Smach/Chong Jom – Oddar Meanchey Border Crossing 
  - Choam/Choam Srawngam - Anlong Veng Border Crossing 
  
  The border crossing at Preah Vihear is currently still closed due to ongoing tensions.
   
• With Laos
  - Trabaeng Kriel/Dông Kralor – Stung Treng Border Crossing

E-visa 
Visitors can also apply for a tourist visa on the Ministry’s website with a processing time of 3 days. Valid ports of entry and exit for e-Visa holders are:

• Phnom Penh International Airport
• Siem Reap International Airport
• Bavet-Moc Bai (Cambodia-Vietnam border)
• Koh Kong-Trat (Cambodia-Thailand border)
• Poipet-Aranyaprathet (Cambodia-Thailand border)

A scanned copy of the passport and USD 35 paid by credit card will get you an emailed visa which you have to print and bring with you. All ports are equipped with the latest version of terminal system and there will be a special e-Visa lane in each port. For more information and to apply for e-Visa, please log on to www.mfaic.gov.kh. Be aware of fake visa sites.

• The Commissariat General of National Police announced that the nationals of following 14 countries cannot get E-visa: 
  Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Congo, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

These nationals can get visa on arrival with following procedure: 
Diethelm Travel has to send a guarantee letter to the Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior with the detailed itinerary of the traveller together with a copy of the international roundtrip ticket of the traveller, a passport copy as well as a passport photo. A handling fee is imposed for this procedure. 

Visa regulations for ASEAN countries 

Visa exemptions are available for the following nationalities (country, duration of stay):

• Thailand: 14 Days
• Philippines 21 Days
• Singapore 30 Days
• Malaysia 30 Days
• Laos 30 Days
• Vietnam 30 Days
• Brunei 14 Days
• Indonesia 30 Days

Post is routed by air through Bangkok and is reliable. Most hotels have IDD lines but calls and faxes are very expensive with the average cost of a call to Australia, Europe and US approximately USD 2.50 per minute. Public phones that use pre-paid phone cards are common in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Phone cards can be purchased at the post office, most hotels and supermarkets.

Visitors can buy SIM cards from several network operators at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports. "Travel SIM" cards have a validity of 1 or 2 weeks with different advantages depending on the network. These cards are non-refundable and can be topped up in town. The visitor will have to present his passport of which a copy will be made.

Theravada Buddhism: official religion; Islam (500,000); Christianity (125,000)

Pagodas and the temples are sacred, religious places where knees and shoulders have to be covered. Although many tourists do wear shorts and sleeveless shirts, please respect the culture and traditions of Cambodia. This is also the case for the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh. Visitors who do not abide to these rules of conduct may not be allowed access. Shoes (as well as hats) have to be removed before entering pagodas.

After years of political and social upheaval, Cambodia now enjoys relative stability. Continuing efforts are made to reconstruct the country from decades of war, to upgrade the infrastructure (roads, bridges, airports etc) and to ensure security. Cambodia is now once again safe for travel.

However some simple common sense precautions with possessions lessen the chances of becoming a victim to theft. Carry your handbag or rucksack to the front of you and be aware that handbag snatches due to theft from motorbikes occur, especially in the larger cities such as Phnom Penh.

Cambodia's stunning Khmer crafs

Home to an abundance of cultural riches, Cambodia is in many ways ideal for shopping. Between its age-old weaving traditions and high-caliber woodcarving, the country’s level of craftsmanship verges on incomparable. Today, the country is in the midst of a handicrafts revival of sorts: from gemstones and silver, to silk and sarongs, there are plenty of options for the sophisticated traveller in Cambodia.

Original Art 
Whether you’re an art lover or big-time collector, Cambodian art is an exciting genre that’s gaining traction in the international market. If you’re looking to find a special piece for your home, stop by one of the many shops to peruse their selection. No doubt you’ll discover a wealth of oil paintings, bronze sculptures and weavings with which to adorn your space.

Shopping Smartly
We suggest proceeding with caution when purchasing jewellery, gold and stones as Cambodia does have its fair share of fakes. Similarly, when buying antiques please be aware that exporting them is subject to the Ministry of Culture’s authorisation. Finally, be sure to bargain at every step of the way to get the best price possible — and don’t forget to enjoy the thrill of the chase!

Official name
Kingdom of Cambodia

Area
181,035 square kilometres

Monarch
HM Preah Borom Moneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia

Ethnic Groups
Khmer 90%, Cham (Khmer Islam), Hilltribes, Chinese, Vietnamese

Population
15 million (50% of the population is aged under 15) 

Capital
Phnom Penh – 2 million

Religion
Theravada Buddhism (official religion); Islam (500,000); Christianity (125,000)

Provinces
25 provinces