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Country Guide > South-East Asia > Cambodia | |
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Travel - Internal Note Visitors should be aware that there is a danger of road traffic accidents, armed robbery after dark, landmines and unexploded ordnance whilst travelling in Cambodia. All necessary precautions should be undertaken. In terms of armed robbery (particularly in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville) after dark, the greatest danger faces those travelling on motorcycles, especially regarding bag-snatching. There have also been violent incidents around popular tourist spots such as Street 154/174 of Phnom Penh. In terms of landmines, visitors should not stray off main routes, particularly in rural areas. Air Internal flights operate between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for Angkor (travel time – 45 minutes), Battambang, Koh Kong, Sihanoukville and Stung Treng. The upgraded Siem Reap Airport, the main gateway for visitors going to see the ancient temples at Angkor, is a 7 to 10-minute taxi ride from the city. Taxi fares are approximately US$5. Other airports include Bottambang, Mondulkiri, Phnom Penh, Rattanakhiri and Stung Treng. Departure tax US$20 for foreign nationals. Sea Government-run ferries depart from the Psar Cha Ministry of Transport Ferry Landing between 102 and 104 Streets and go to Kompong Cham, Kratie, Stung Treng, Kompong Chhnang and Phnom Krom. Boats are also available from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, a route popular with travellers. Due to the present rise in crime, inter-city boat travel should be restricted to the fast boats to Kompong Cham and Kratie. Some boats have been reported as poorly maintained and over-crowded; some are reported to not contain life-jackets. Care should be taken to ensure the best and most safety-conscious boat travel available is selected. Rail Some rail services operate; they are cheap but take much longer than the buses. There are plans to restore the international service to Bangkok, but a great deal of repair work is needed. If possible, other modes of transport with better maintained infrastructure should be taken. Road Traffic drives on the right. Most roads are in very poor condition, although the highway to Vietnam is open. It is possible to drive from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in a day but there are formalities involved regarding the use of the same vehicle all the way. Right-hand drive vehicles (quite common in Cambodia) are not allowed entry to Vietnam. Both Cambodian and Vietnamese visas must be obtained in advance and the Vietnamese visa must mention ‘Moc Bai’ (the border point on the Vietnamese side) as a point of entry/exit, otherwise travellers run the risk of being turned back. Care should be taken while driving as Cambodian drivers are prone to recklessness and accidents are relatively frequent. The safety of road travel outside urban areas varies greatly from region to region. If travel is undertaken in vehicle convoy during daylight hours only, potential risks can be reduced. Other vehicles cannot always be relied on to use headlights. Cattle often stray onto the roads. In Siem Reap, the local police have banned rental outlets from hiring motorcycles to tourists. Reliable information about security should be obtained before considering extensive road journeys. Bus: Buses to Phnom Penh suburbs are available from 182 Street and the bus station is open 0530-1730. Taxi: Taxis can be hired in main cities. However, cyclo’s (tricycles) or motodops (motorcycles) are a slow but inexpensive way to see the city and some of the drivers, especially those found outside main hotels, speak a little French or English. Car hire: Official visitors can arrange to hire a government car and driver. Enquiries about car hire should be addressed to the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not recognised in Cambodia, but car hire is generally not recommended. Visitors are advised to hire a car with a driver instead which is only slightly more expensive than car hire. |