This advice has been reviewed and reissued. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world, including South-East Asia. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

In recent years Cambodian authorities have averted a number of attempted bomb plots. An incident occurred on 3 January 2009 when three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in two locations in Phnom Penh. Two of the IEDs were destroyed while the third was disarmed.

Terrorist attacks can be indiscriminate and may target Western interests or places frequented by tourists.

Civil Unrest/Political Tension

We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in Cambodia because of the risk of civil unrest and violent criminal activity. Pay close attention to your personal security and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.

The security situation in Cambodia has the potential to deteriorate quickly. You should avoid public gatherings or demonstrations, particularly near political party offices, the National Assembly building and military buildings or compounds, as they may turn violent.

There is an ongoing dispute between Cambodia and Thailand relating to the land adjacent to the Preah Vihear Temple (Kha Pra Viharn in Thai) located on the border region between Preah Vihear Province in Cambodia and Sisaket Province in Thailand. There have been instances of fighting between Cambodian and Thai military troops in recent years, resulting in some injuries and fatalities. Some border crossings have been closed at times. Although military activity in the disputed region has decreased, tensions remain high. Access to the temple and surrounding area has been closed on a number of occasions. Australians are urged to be particularly vigilant if travelling to this area and to monitor local media.

There is tension along the Cambodia-Thai border and armed conflict or outbreaks of violence along the border cannot be ruled out. Australians are urged to be particularly vigilant if travelling to border areas and should stay informed of local developments.

Crime

Opportunistic crime is common in Cambodia and the frequency of incidents is increasing. Thieves frequently snatch foreigners’ bags and pick-pocketing is a problem in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap. Several foreigners have been injured in the course of these incidents, in particular when bags are pulled from passengers on moving motorbike taxis. Bag-snatching, other robberies and assaults often occur during daylight hours.

There have been reports of assaults and armed robberies against foreigners, especially in areas frequented by tourists and expatriate residents, including the Riverfront in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville (particularly at isolated beaches). You should exercise vigilance when travelling through these areas at all times, but especially after dark.

You should limit night time travel around Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap to well-lit public areas and travel in groups. At night, travel by car is safer than motorcycle, moto-scooter or cyclo (cycle-rickshaw).

Foreigners have been the target of sexual assault in Cambodia. Due to the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, victims of violent crime, especially rape, are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical assistance.

Levels of firearm ownership in Cambodia are high and guns are sometimes used to resolve disputes. There have been reports of traffic disputes resulting in violence involving weapons. Bystanders can get caught up in these disputes. Foreigners have been threatened with handguns for perceived rudeness to local patrons in popular Phnom Penh nightclubs and elsewhere.

Banditry and extortion, including by military and police personnel, continue in some rural areas, particularly at night in areas between Snoul, Kratie and Stung Treng in the north-eastern provinces.

Piracy occurs in the coastal areas of Cambodia. Armed gangs have robbed boats in recent times. See our advice to Australians travelling by sea for further information. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its website.

Local Travel

Landmines remain a danger in many parts of Cambodia, especially along the border with Thailand. Large areas of rural Cambodia are still contaminated with unexploded ordnance. Visitors to the north and northwest of Cambodia should not stray from clearly marked pathways.

Travel by roads, especially at night, is dangerous because of poor road conditions, vehicle maintenance, wandering livestock and the risk of crime. You should take precautions, including the use of a helmet and protective clothing when travelling on a motorcycle or moto-scooter (even as a passenger). Large crowds can form quickly after road accidents and the occupants of the vehicle are at risk of becoming victims of extortion. For further advice, see our bulletin on Overseas Road Safety.

Given the common use of motorcycles for urban public transport, you should ensure that your insurance policy provides coverage for riding motorcycles either as a driver or passenger.

Public transport, particularly rail, is poorly maintained. You should avoid travelling by trains because of the high risk of accidents.

If travelling beyond the Angkor Wat temple complex to outlying temples in Siem Reap, you should exercise caution because of landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Travel by boat in Cambodia can involve safety risks. Even modern vessels may be overcrowded and lack basic safety equipment.

Airline Safety

You should be aware of concerns about the safety and maintenance standards of aircraft owned by local airlines operating internal flights. This caution includes Royal Cambodian Government aircraft, including those managed by the Royal Cambodia Air Force. Local airlines often cancel or reschedule internal flights at short notice.

For further information, please refer to our Aviation Safety and Security travel bulletin.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

Severe storms and widespread seasonal flooding, including flash floods, can occur without warning in Cambodia, particularly during the local wet season from July to November. These floods may disrupt travel to some provinces. The Mekong River Commission website contains information on flood levels for the Mekong River. Travellers should follow instructions from local authorities, monitor media and weather reports, and check with tour operators before travelling to affected areas.

Further information on natural disasters, including flooding in Cambodia, is available from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.

Wildlife

Australians are advised to respect wildlife laws and to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Australian travellers should be aware that there are severe penalties under Cambodian law for wildlife trafficking and illegal hunting.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways of accessing your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques and US dollars cash. Australian currency and travellers' cheques are not accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriate currency to carry and whether your ATM card will work overseas. Visitors should take a reasonable quantity of US dollars to cover basic travelling expenses. US dollars are widely accepted throughout Cambodia although notes that are excessively dirty or torn, or of high denominations, may not be accepted. Counterfeit bills have been detected in circulation in Cambodia.

Credit card cash advances and travellers' cheque cashing services are available at banks in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Battambang for a fee. ATM facilities are widely available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Sihanoukville. Travellers should exercise caution when using ATM facilities as there have been reports of people being robbed after withdrawing cash.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering and theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling Parents brochure.

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws

When you are in Cambodia, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Penalties for drug offences, including those involving "soft drugs", are severe and include lengthy jail sentences.

Cambodian authorities are committed to protecting their cultural heritage. A permit is required to purchase or possess cultural and archaeological artefacts. The penalty under Cambodian law for an unintentional act concerning cultural heritage property is a minimum of six months and a maximum five years imprisonment and a fine equal to the value of the cultural object. An intentional act attracts a minimum of two to eight years' imprisonment and a fine equal to double the value of the cultural object.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian and Cambodian authorities are committed to combating child sex tourism. There are severe penalties under both Australian and Cambodian law for those participating in such activity. Australians may be prosecuted either in Cambodia or at home under Australian law, which prohibits sex with children under 16 overseas. The penalty in Australia can be 17 years in jail. In Cambodia, penalties are also severe.

Local Customs

Photographing members of the public without prior permission, especially monks and other religious figures, is considered culturally inappropriate. You should avoid taking photographs near sensitive sites such as military zones, assets or personnel, transportation facilities and government buildings.

Information for Dual Nationals

Under Cambodian law, Cambodian citizenship cannot be relinquished, even if a Cambodian citizen acquires the nationality of another country. We strongly advise you to travel on your Australian passport at all times.

Any Cambodian dual national aged 18 to 30 who resides permanently in Cambodia may be liable for military service. According to Cambodian law, military obligations for female citizens are applied on a voluntary basis.

For further information on issues relating to dual nationality contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Cambodia before you travel.

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure also provides further information for dual nationals.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Cambodia for the most up to date information.

Australians visiting Cambodia require a visa. The Cambodian Government has introduced an electronic tourist visa ("e-visa") facility. Travellers are able to apply for a tourist visa on-line through the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website. This applies to travellers entering Cambodia at Cham Yeam (Koh Kong), Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchey) and Bavet (Svay Rieng), as well as Phnom Penh or Siem Reap international airports.

Your passport must have at least four months' validity remaining when you arrive in Cambodia; however, all neighbouring countries (Thailand, Vietnam and Laos) require passports to have at least six months' validity. Local immigration authorities may deny entry and deport people who do not meet this requirement, even if they intend staying only for a short period.

Tourist visas are valid for thirty days only. If issued outside Cambodia, tourist visas will often provide for a validity period that is in excess of thirty days. This validity period refers to the period in which you are able to commence your thirty day visit to Cambodia. It does not extend the time you are permitted to stay in Cambodia beyond thirty days. Tourist visas must be renewed if you intend to stay in Cambodia in excess of thirty days. Tourist visas can be renewed only once.

If your passport is stolen during your stay in Cambodia, you will require a police report to obtain an exit visa. The police report must be applied for in person at the tourist police station closest to where the incident occurred.

Cambodian-Thai Border: Six legal international border crossing points are open for foreign travellers on the Cambodian-Thai border at Cham Yeam (Koh Kong), O'Smach, Poipet, Prum, Dong and Caom. Cambodian visas can be obtained at these border crossings.

Cambodian-Vietnamese Border: Cambodian visas can be obtained at the international border crossing points at Bavet, Kaam Samnor and Phnom Den. The Cambodian Ministry of Tourism also reports that Cambodian visas can be obtained on arrival at six other border crossings between Cambodia and Vietnam, but you should confirm this prior to travelling, as entry and exit conditions change regularly. Vietnamese visas must be purchased prior to travelling to the border.

Cambodian-Lao Border: The Lao side of the border crossing at Dong Krolor-Veun Kham is often closed to foreign travellers with little notice. The border crossing is in an isolated location 50km to the north of the Cambodian provincial centre of Stung Treng. It is not serviced by public transport, although rudimentary and unreliable private motor bike and truck services run to Stung Treng. Cambodian and Lao visas cannot be purchased at the border.

If travelling by air between Cambodia and Laos, Cambodian visas can be purchased on arrival at Siem Reap or Phnom Penh international airports.

Departure tax up to US$25 is required at the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return to Australia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

Health Issues

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed cases of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in a number of countries throughout the world, including Cambodia. For a list of these countries, visit the WHO website. For further information and advice to Australians, including on possible quarantine measures overseas, see our travel bulletin on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our Travelling Well brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

Health and medical services in Cambodia are poor and very limited. Outside the capital there are almost no medical facilities equipped to deal with medical emergencies. Hospitals and doctors generally require up-front payment in cash. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with the appropriate facilities would be necessary. Costs could be considerable.

The rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Cambodia is high. You should exercise appropriate precautions if engaging in activities that expose you to risk of infection. You can find out more information at the Department of Health and Ageing website.

Mosquito-borne diseases (including malaria, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis) are prevalent in Cambodia. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria and avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, including using an insect repellent at all times.

The mosquito-borne disease Japanese encephalitis is found throughout many regions of North, South and South-East Asia and Papua New Guinea. A Japanese encephalitis vaccine is registered for use and is currently available in Australia. For further details please consult your travel health doctor.

Cases of cholera have been reported in Phnom Penh and a number of provinces.

Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, tuberculosis, typhoid and rabies) are common with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis (bilharzia). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

Avian influenza: The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed human cases of avian influenza in Cambodia. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Australians who reside in Cambodia for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice before taking antiviral medicines.

Australians intending to travel to Cambodia for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.

If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in Cambodia should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Australians in Cambodia should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up to date in case they need to depart at short notice.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website.

Where to Get Help

In Cambodia, you can obtain consular assistance from the:

Australian Embassy
No. 16B, National Assembly Street
Sangkat Tonle Bassac
Khan Chamkamon
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Telephone (+855 23) 213 470
Facsimile (+855 23) 213 413

Email: australian.embassy.cambodia@dfat.gov.au

If you are travelling to Cambodia, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.