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Cambodia

Celebrate the Charm and Culture of Cambodia
September 17, 2023 by
Naitik Shah
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Embark on unforgettable Cambodia holidays and discover ancient temples, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture. Explore the wonders of Angkor Wat, relax on pristine beaches, and savor delectable Khmer cuisine. Plan your dream vacation to Cambodia today!

​Highlights

  1. Angkor Wat: Explore the magnificent Angkor Wat complex in Siem Reap, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its stunning temples and ancient ruins. Watch the sunrise over Angkor Wat for a breathtaking experience.
  2. Phnom Penh: Visit the capital city of Phnom Penh, where you can discover the Royal Palace, the sobering Killing Fields, and the informative Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum to learn about Cambodia's history.
  3. Battambang: Explore the picturesque town of Battambang, known for its colonial architecture, bamboo train, and the captivating Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus.
  4. Sihanoukville and the Islands: Relax on the beautiful beaches of Sihanoukville, or venture to the nearby islands like Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem for some pristine beach time.
  5. Tonle Sap Lake: Take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, and visit floating villages to experience the unique lifestyle of its inhabitants.
  6. Countryside and Culture: Discover Cambodia's rural charm by exploring its countryside. Interact with friendly locals, visit traditional markets, and try your hand at cooking Khmer cuisine.
  7. Cambodian Cuisine: Savor the flavors of Cambodian cuisine, which includes dishes like amok (fish curry), lok lak (stir-fried beef), and fresh seafood. Don't forget to try the famous "num banh chok" noodles.
  8. Mekong River: Take a cruise on the Mekong River and explore the serene villages and lush landscapes along its banks.
  9. Cambodian Festivals: If your visit aligns with local festivals like Khmer New Year or Water Festival (Bon Om Touk), you can witness colorful parades and traditional celebrations.
  10. Adventure Activities: Engage in adventure activities such as zip-lining, trekking, and quad biking in the Cambodian wilderness.
  11. Shopping: Find unique souvenirs in local markets and artisan shops, including silk products, handicrafts, and traditional artwork.
  12. Cambodian History: Dive into Cambodia's history by visiting ancient temples, colonial-era architecture, and historical sites.


How To Reach

International airports at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Direct flights connect Phnom Penh International Airport (previously Pochentong International Airport) with mainland China (Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai), Hong Kong, Laos (Vientiane), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Singapore, South Korea (Incheon), Taiwan (Taipei), Thailand (Bangkok) and Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City).

Direct flights connect Siem Reap - Angkor International Airport with mainland China (Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai), Laos (Pakse, Vientiane), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Singapore, South Korea (Incheon, Busan), Thailand (Bangkok), Qatar (Doha) and Vietnam (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City).

Travellers specifically going to visit the Angkor temple ruins may prefer to use Siem Reap as it's only a few minutes away from the main sites.

Low-cost carrier Air Asia has flights from Kuala Lumpur to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, and from Bangkok to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and from Phuket to Siem Reap. Jetstar Asia has begun flying from Singapore to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Other airlines operating flights to/from Cambodia include Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, China Southern Airlines, Dragonair, Eva Airways, Korean Air , Lao Airlines, Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Qatar Airway, Shanghai Airlines, Siem Reap Airways (a subsidiary of Bangkok Airways), SilkAir, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, Vietnam Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Airlines.






Vietnam

Moc Bai/Bavet crossing

The main crossing is the Moc Bai/Bavet crossing on the Ho Chi Minh City - Phnom Penh road south of vietnam. Buses between the two cities cost USD-12 and take around 6 hr. Passengers vacate the vehicle at both countries' checkpoints. Only one passport photo is required for a Cambodian visa on arrival. Tours of the Mekong Delta (USD25-35, 2-3 days) can provide a more insightful journey between the two cities.

Xa Xia/Prek Chak border

Close to the coast is the Xa Xia/Prek Chak border. Cambodian visas are available on arrival. Buses run between Ha Tien in Vietnam to Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh in Cambodia. The Vietnamese consulate in Sihanoukville issues 30-day tourist visas on a same-day basis.

Tinh Bien/Phnom Den borde

Coastal areas are also served by the Tinh Bien/Phnom Den border near Chau Doc in Vietnam

Xa Mat/Trapeang Phlong crossing

The Xa Mat/Trapeang Phlong crossing on the Ho Chi Minh City - Kampong Cham road is not well served by public transport but may be useful for accessing Kampong Cham and Eastern Cambodia.

Le Tanh/O Yadaw

Banlung in North Eastern Cambodia is connect to Pleiku in Vietnam by a crossing at Le Tanh/O Yadaw. Visas are avaiable on arrival, one photo required. Change buses at Le Tanh.


Thailand

All six border crossings with Thailand are open from 07:00 to 20:00 and each offer Cambodian visas on arrival. All of the crossings are served by paved roads in both countries, except the Cambodian side of the Daun Lem crossing. Thai buses run to but not across each of the crossings: even Chong Sa-Ngam, the last to achieve Thai connections has now gained minibuses that bring gamblers to the new casino in Choam.

In Cambodia, four of the six border towns (Poipet, Koh Kong, Daun Lem and O'Smach) are directly served by buses. Pailin, Anlong Veng and Samraong (each less than 20 km from a border) are each served by buses; motorbikes and shared taxis connect each of the towns with their respective border crossings.

Cambodia's busiest land crossing is at Aranyaprathet/Poipet on the Bangkok - Siem Reap road in North-western Cambodia. Long the stuff of nightmares, the roads are now paved all the way from Poipet to Siem Reap, Battambang and Phnom Penh.

Coastal Cambodia and the southern part of the Cardamom and Elephant Mountains region is served by the Hat Lek/Koh Kong border. The road goes all the way to Sihanoukville. From Trat in Thailand, there a minibuses to the border. In Cambodia, minibuses or taxis connect the border to Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh. The Koh Kong - Sihanoukville boat service no longer runs.

The former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anlong Veng is close to the Chong Sa-Ngam (in Si Saket Province)/Choam border.

Improving roads in North-western Cambodia are making Samraong emerge as a transport hub. It is close to the Chong Jom (in Surin Province)/O'Smach border and well linked with Siem Reap.

Eastern Thailand is connected to Battambang and Siem Reap by the Ban Pakard (in Chanthaburi Province)/ Phra Prom (near Pailin) crossing, which offers a less stressful and more scenic alternitive to the more northly major crossing at Poipet.

The geographically closest crossing to Battambang is that at Ban Leam (in Chanthaburi Province)/Daun Lem. run buses to Battambang 



Laos

Stung Treng in Cambodia is connected to Pakse and the Four Thousand Islands region of Laos by the Nok Kor Korban/Tropaeng Kreal border. On Word transportation is not regularly available. Cambodian and Lao visas are available, but require a USD$2 fee on both sides of the border. Lao officials also charge a USD$2 fee for leaving the country. Expect to pay an extra few dollars on the Cambodian side if you don't have a photo for your visa application. Travel agencies on both sides offer border crossing packages.​

To/from Laos - There is one border crossing for tourists on the Mekong, a 90-minute speedboat ride north of Stung Treng. The border guards have few opportunities for "alternative" income, and will usually try to make a few extra dollars from scamming tourists.

To/from Thailand - There are no ferry services between Cambodia and Thailand. The Sihanoukville - Koh Kong ferry no longer runs.

To/from Vietnam - It's possible to travel between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh by boat, or by combination of road and boat. Fast boats leave daily from Chau Doc in Vietnam's Mekong Delta and take 5 hours to reach Phnom Penh. Chau Doc is a four hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. A popular overland route is to make a three-day trip, stopping at Can Tho and Chau Doc before taking the boat to Phnom Penh.



There are direct international train services from Nanning and Beijing in China to Hanoi. Most require a change of trains at the border at Pingxiang/Dong Dang, but the Chinese-operated daily Nanning express (T8701/MR2) runs through, although it still spends about four hours at the border for immigration.

The daily train from Nanning starts around 18:00 and arrives around 05:00 to Hanoi. Hard Sleeper c. CNY180 and soft sleeper c. CNY295. (You can consider taking the bus from Nanning instead which is a cheaper and pretty convenient day journey.


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