First time in Cambodia? Don't know a word in Khmer? Not really familiar with Cambodia's culture? You come to the right place. In this page you'll find everyhing you have to know for your stay in Siem Reap

 

If you want to know something in particular, just click on the link below to jump to the right paragraph!

 

• Common Khmer Phrases
• Money
• Do's & Don'ts
• Health: A Few Tips
• Common Scams
• Emergency Contact Numbers
• Keeping Fit

Common Khmer Phrases

English	Khmer
Hello (Formal)	Chum-reap-soor
Hello (Informal)	Soor-s-dey
Thank you	Aw-koon
Please	Soom

Money

 

ATM The Average withdrawal fee in the Country is $5USD (on top of your bank fees). It can be less depending on your bank's agreement with local institutions.

Currency: US Dollars is the most used currency if you're staying in Siem Reap. You will only get Riels (Cambodian Currency) for change for small bills (less than $10). However if you're going to the country side for a few days, you will end up with a lot of Riels ( up to 50 000 Riels bills) There is a fixed parity beween USD and Riels: $1USD=4000 Riels. Be careful and make sure you get the proper change back

Do's & Don'ts

 

Do

Be prepared for personal questions: weight, age, education, income, relationship status children. Just smile, laugh and tell them you are too shy to answer if you are asked a question that makes you uncomfortable

Do prepare for a temple visit: Cover up shoulders & knees for visiting temples (only for women) Remove your hat and shoes Remember that a woman should never touch a monk

Do learn a few Khmer words and learn the Cambodian greeting, the sompiah The locals will appreciate your efforts. It will also be easier to bargain at the market as you will prove to the local merchants that you are not a regular tourist

Do remove your shoes before entering someone’s home.

 

Don’t

Don’t get angry/visibly upset “Losing face” is one of the worst things that can happen in cambodian culture: it brings shame on you and on the person you’re angry at...

Don’t touch the dogs They are trained to be guards and scavengers. They are thus often very aggressive. They may have rabies and other diseases.

Don’t buy from children on the streets or give them money. Buying from children or giving them money only keeps them on the streets as most of these children are forced by their parents to work instead of going to school. The best way to help out is to donate to reputable NGOs.

Don’t leave your chopsticks sitting vertically in your rice bowl! It is considered very rude in the Cambodian culture.

Health: A Few Tips

 

Food	The golden rule for raw fruits and veggies is to go for those you can peel yourself Otherwise it’s best to stick with cooked food Usually when a place is packed with people, the chances are that the food is fresh
Water & Ice	Avoid drinking tap water (ok for brushing your teeth) Avoid ice in chunks (unclean) and go for the cylindrical hollowed shaped cubes (clean)
Bug bites, dengue & malaria	Don’t forget to apply insect repellent every morning, late afternoon/sunset and as needed. Antimalarials can prevent malaria but not dengue. Avoid scratching bites and keep them clean to prevent infection. Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream as needed for itching.
Dog bites	Irrigate the wound as soon as possible, clean it, apply antibiotic ointment cream, then cover with a clean dressing. It is advised to consult a doctor as soon as possible as tetanus and rabies shots, antibiotics and sutures might be advised.
Intestinal problems	See map for nearest pharmacy locations Stick with white bread toast, rice, applesauce and bananas Keep hydrated with water and oral rehydration therapies Imodium is recommended only if toilet access is limited It’s recommended to consult a doctor if you have fever, bloody stools or after three days of diarrhea

*Note that we have a first aid kit at the HUB with supplies in case of need. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice.

Recommended clinic/hospitals:

 

• Medical Clinics:
  • British Khmer Clinic
  • Lysreyvyna Medical Group
  • Naga Clinic

 

• Royal Angkor International Hospital, National Route 6, Phum Kasekam, Khum Sra Ngea. +855 12 235-888; +855 63 761-888. Owned by the Bangkok Hospital Group and caters specifically to tourists. Their care is not cheap, but it is of a very high standard. There is a fully stocked pharmacy, General surgeon, Orthopaedic surgeon, Paediatrician and other hospital services such as treatment for fractures and intestinal problems. 

NB : Remember to consult at a travel health clinic to get all your vaccines in and necessary meds prescribed.

Usual immunization required: Hepatitis A & B, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Typhoid, Yellow Fever
Recommended medications (prescribed by a doctor): antimalarials and traveler’s diarrhea antibiotics
Recommended medications (over the counter): diarrhea medicine, antihistamine, motion sickness medicine, medicine for pain and fever, oral rehydration salts (can also be found in pharmacies in Cambodia), insect repellent.

Common Scams

 

Incorrect change	Convenience stores have been known to give incorrect change. Don’t hesitate to politely point out any short changing. Most likely they will admit their "mistake" and give you the right change.
Street vendor and beggars	Young children may come up to you in a crowd and grab your hands, leading you to a store where they will then try and have you buy food/baby milk/water for them. Once you leave the shop the goods you bought for them are sold back to the owners/other locals, and the cash goes to an adult.
Donation-collectors for orphanages	Young adults may approach you claiming to be volunteer workers, showing you convincing photos of themselves in the orphanage and a clipboard listing the generous donations made by foreign visitors. They may be well groomed and speak excellent English, but it's possible that your donation will go directly into their pockets. Also remember that many orphanages in Cambodia are fake and exploiting children. If you wish to donate, please ask the manager for reputable names.
Baby-milk scams	A very poor looking woman will beg for some milk powder, pointing to her baby. If one cracks and buys the milk, she later returns it to the shop, and the money is split between her and the owner.
Fake monks	Remember that monks should not touch money so if they ask for money or try to sell you something, then it’s a scam!
The “sister moving to your country” scam	A local will ask you from which country you are from then inform you that their sister is moving to your country and that their parents are anxious about it. Therefore, he/she will invite you to meet them over dinner at their home to reassure them. Either you are taken to a casino, you are forced to gamble with an uncle or they may ask for financial help for a relative who just coincidentally fallen sick.

Emergency Contact Numbers

 

• Police: 117
• Tourist Police: 012-402-424
• Fire: 118
• Ambulance: 119

Keeping Fit

 

LOCAL GYMS:

Angkor Muscle Gym. 14 minutes walking distance from AngkorHUB. Cost: $1/day (includes towel and locker), $1 extra to use treadmills and cardio bikes/20 min period. Has a very extensive collection of free weights, benches and cable machines as well as plenty of yoga mats for stretching and yoga. Home to the Angkor Body Building Association. Personal training available for $5/hour. Open: 5am-9pm.
SC Sport Club Fitness Gym. 10 minutes tuktuk ride, 39 minutes walking from AngkorHUB. Cost: $1/day. Wide range of free weights, cable machines, benches and a few cardio machines. Also has a badminton court and boxing equipment available. Open: 5am-9pm.

FITNESS CLASSES:

Angkor Fight Club: 7 minutes tuktuk ride, 27 minutes walking from AngkorHUB. Offers a very intense and rewarding 90 minutes Crossfit Class

HOTEL FITNESS FACILITIES:

Angkor Century Resort and Spa: 7 minutes tuktuk ride, 21 minutes walking from AngkorHUB. For $8/day you can access their AC gym and huge outdoor And enjoy their happy hour around the pool that starts every day at 16:00.
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor: 7 minutes tuktuk ride, 29 minutes walking from AngkorHUB. A spa package (spa treatment and massage, prices starting at $40) gives you access to their fully equipped A/C gym, 35 meter outdoor pool and tennis court. You can buy a drink also to access the pool and the tennis court.

YOGA:

Angkor Bodhi Tree: 9 minutes walking from AngkorHUB. Cost: $6/class. Afternoon and evening sessions of Kundalini, Hatha and meditation.
Siem Reap Hostel: 13 minutes walking from AngkorHUB. Cost: $5/class. Ashtanga yoga classes two times per day in open-sided room overlooking Wat Damnak.
Navutu Dreams Resort & Spa: 11 minutes tuktuk ride, 39 minutes walking from AngkorHUB. Cost: $8/class or 10 classes for $60. Gives you access to pools and gym. Three classes a day of Hatha flow, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Lengar and restorative yoga classes, as well as a meditation session on Sunday evenings, all in AC room. Free tuk tuk service leaves from the roundabout in front of the Hard Rock Cafe 30 minutes before each class and brings you back again at the end.
The Peace Cafe: 9 minutes tuktuk ride, 39 minutes walking from AngkorHUB. Lovely garden cafe in between Wat Bo Road and the river. Cost: $6/class. Two Ashtanga classes a day on Tuesday to Saturday, with one on Monday morning and none on Sunday.
and none on Sunday. Classes given in a traditional wooden house equipped with fans.