Siem Reap is comparatively a small town and the main local cuisine is the Khmer food which can be found at the restaurants across town, but the European and other Asian cuisines are also well presented including Italian, Thai, Germany, Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and of course French, given Cambodia’s long relationship with France’s gastronomical traditions and it is no surprise that some of the town’s most finest venues offer French cuisine.

In the most recent years, some of Siem Reap’s finest restaurants offer Khmer fusion and contemporary cuisines, which are diverse and unique to Cambodia.

And for economical food prices, there are many restaurants scattered across town and none is more than 5 minute tuk-tuk ride away or you can just go to the old market area, there, there are many reasonably priced eating areas which all offer Khmer cuisine and other western or Asian foods, especially around “pub street”, listings in dark blue, offer a bar / night life venue in addition to being a restaurant and listings in maroon also offer traditional performance.

The most recommended places are, Abacus, Aha, Alliance Café, Baca Villa, Blue Pumpkin, Bopha Angkor Hotel and Restaurant, Butterflies Garden to name a few.
There is also a free pocket magazine which is available in all hotels, guest houses and other places of accommodation, it gives you all the information you need about the times, menus, locations and offers.

Resplendent with white-sand beaches and undeveloped tropical islands, the port city and beach resort of Sihanoukville (Krong Preah Sihanouk), also known as Kompong Som, is Cambodias answer to the Costa Del Sol.

More and more people are visting Sihanoukville and expect numbers to go through the roof once flights to Siem Reap are resumed. Make the most of this laid back relatively unspoilt great value resort before that happens.

Sihanoukville, named after the then king, was hacked out of the jungle in the late 1950s to create the country’s first and only deep-water port, considered crucial to its international trade as ships would no longer have to pass through nearby Vietnam. During the 1960s the city became host to more and more visitors.

On weekends and holidays Sihanoukville is extremely popular with well off Phnom Penhers. The four beaches are the main attraction but during the week it is possible to find relative seclusion on your very own stretch of white sand.

Just 18km east of Sihanoukville, Ream National Park – also known as Preah Sihanouk National Park is home to breeding populations of a number of regionally and globally endangered birds of prey, including the Brahminy kite, white bellied sea-eagle and grey headed sea-eagle – you can observe them soaring majestically over Prek Toeuk Sap Estuary, which is freshwater in the wet season and saltwater in the dry. Endangered birds include the milky stork, lesser adjutant and painted stork. The park’s more common birds include the little egret, great egret, woolly-necked stork, and stork-billed kingfisher. Making this a must for keen ornithologists and beauty enthusiasts alike.

Sihaoukville is one of the most visited places in Cambodia and Sihanoukville is easily accessible by road, bus or boat. Most visitors travel to Sihanoukville from the capital city of Phnom Pehn. However, there are also services from other major destinations.

By bus
There is a regular bus service from the Central Market in Phnom Pehn to the centre of Sihanoukville and this journey takes about four hours. There are also minibus services, but they can often be too crowded and although they are cheaper are less comfortable.

By taxi
There are a number of shared taxi services that travel to and from nearby towns and cities. The journey takes approximately three hours and is much more comfortable than the bus. They can take up to eight passengers and the more people there are on board, the cheaper the fare is.

By motorbike
It is possible to hire a motorbike to travel to Sihanoukville. Many people bike down from Phnom Penh as the route is well maintained and is the cheapest and often most exhilarating way to travel. The journey is about 230kms and takes about four hours. If you decide to hire a bike, it is vital that you always stay alert to oncoming traffic and be careful of speeding traffic as driving laws are not as strict as they are in Europe.

By car
Private cars can be hired from all major towns and cities with petrol stations being found en route. Travelling by car is somewhat safer than travelling by motorbike and can also be cost effective if you have a car full of people.

Cambodia is open for international business, but as yet has not attracted a huge amount of large scale international investment.

Opportunities exist however for those wishing to export Cambodian goods for sale in other countries with products such as silverware, fabrics and handmade goods among the more popular items available. Those wishing to do business officially will need a business visa which is available from Cambodian embassies in the applicant’s home country or from embassies in neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.

Typical business hours:

• Government departments: 07:30 – 16:30 (with a break at midday), Monday to Friday.
• Retail: 07:00 – 18:00, Monday to Saturday (many shops open on Sunday)
• Banking: 0800 – 15:00, Monday to Friday.

Cambodia is open to tourism and has a growing tourist industry with a slowly improving infrastructure, which is gradually becoming capable of supporting package tourists as well as backpackers. The majority of visitors require a visa to enter Cambodia, which is now available on arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports and at the land entry points Bavet, Poipet and Koh Kong.

Visitors to Cambodia need to have a passport that is valid for at least six months as well as a passport photograph and the visa fee which is payable in US dollars. On arrival, visas permit visitors to stay for up to 30 days. Extensions are however permitted and may be applied for at the immigration office opposite Phnom Penh Pochentong Airport. Citizens of Laos and Malaysia may enter the country without a visa for up to 30 days while citizens of the Philippines may enter for 21 days without a visa.

Cambodia presents a variety of potential health risks to foreign visitors and corresponding precautions need to be taken to ensure protection against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. Those travelling for short periods in the country should seek vaccinations against Typhoid and Yellow fever from a hospital or general practitioner in their country of residence. Additionally those seeking to spend longer periods and possibly to travel into rural areas should be immunised against Japanese encephalitis and those who might engage in intimate contact with locals should be immunised Hepatitis B. Rabies vaccinations are a consideration for those intending to come into contact with animals while current tetanus immunisation is a must for all travellers.

Malaria and Dengue Fever are present in Cambodia and visitors should take necessary precautions to avoid both. Malaria tablets, whilst coming with some harsh side-effects, are a sensible course of action; you can discuss which one’s are appropriate with your doctor or find further advice on your own consulate’s website. Since Dengue cannot be protected against with oral medication, it’s essential to wear mosquito repellent at all times, especially in the evenings and when situated close to still sources of water.

Water-borne diseases present various risks to visitors and water for both internal and external purposes should be treated with careful consideration. It’s unwise to swim or bathe in untreated water sources and chlorinated pools should be considered the only exclusion to this rule. Water from taps and showers can be considered acceptable for cleaning the body externally only. For the purpose of drinking, bottled water is cheap and readily available and should be used for cleaning the teeth also. It’s unwise to trust tap water in any circumstances, even if it’s been boiled, as its differing chemical composition can be enough to upset the stomachs of those not adjusted to it.

Cases of diarrhoea and upset stomachs are common among foreign visitors and this can be due to poor levels of hygiene in food preparation or food with high volumes of spices. Normally symptoms subside after 24 hours and can be controlled with over the counter medications; however extreme cases may require hospital treatment.

Khmer Kingdom

Experience the sheer grandeur of one of the World’s Modern Wonders, visit Cambodia’s incredible Angkor complex. These 11th Century temple ruins, covering a vast area and comprising of numerous temples reclaimed by Cambodia’s tropical jungle. It’s just one of the surprises of this plucky country, where it’s sad recent history is very much part of the tourism.

We’ve been travelling to Cambodia for over a decade, recording the rise of its tourism, and present to you a blog, soon to become a full tourist site to help you plan your visit. The country has a surprisingly good tourist infrastructure and plenty to see and do, all recorded here.

From the Royal Palace, Tol Slueng Prison and Killing Fields of Phnom Penh to the beaches of Sihanoukville and tourist bustle of Siem Reap, we have the country covered. And we haven’t even mentioned the friendly locals, good food and amazing Asian landscapes.