Viaje-Vietnam

Weather & When to go ?

All year is fine. Travellers should note that Cambodia is especially hot and humid (highs of 35 – 38 degrees) between May and September. In December, January and February, humidity is at its lowest. Photographers should travel during the hot wet period for the best colours and clearest skies. The rain is usually confined to a torrential afternoon downpour of 1-2 hour duration.

There are two main seasons in Cambodia. From November to March temperatures are slightly cooler with little rain. From May to October, the rainy season, average temperatures in the day range from 24 to 35 degrees Celsius. During this period it rains for a short time in the afternoon, temple moats are full, the scenery is greener, and there are fewer people at the temples. Many people prefer to travel at this time of the year.

 

High tourist seasons : in Vietnam runs from November to March
Lower tourist seasons : in Vietnam runs from April to September

You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).  You can also access http://www.nhc.noaa.gov for updates

 

Money & Cost

United States dollar cash is accepted everywhere and can easily be used instead of riel. As you will accumulate riel as change from payments you make in $USD, we recommend you change either nothing or very little (eg. $10USD) into riel upon your arrival in Cambodia. We advise you to carry $USD cash.

Please be aware that costs in Cambodia are significantly higher than in neighbouring Asian countries. The cost of meals, transport, and shopping often takes tourists by surprise. Credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) can be used in only a limited number of shops and restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. A number of ANZ Royal and Canadia bank ATMs are installed in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Sihanoukville allowing you to withdraw money (in either USD or riel) from your overseas account. You should notify your bank if you intend to use your ATM card or Credit card whilst travelling overseas. Cash advances can also be obtained using Visa and Mastercards at exchange booths and banks in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. We suggest you allow approximately $10USD per person for a main course meal at a nice restaurant.

A travel insurance policy that covers theft, property loss and medical expenses is more essential for Cambodia than for most other parts of Southeast Asia. Theft is less of a problem in Cambodia than some might imagine, but in the event of serious medical problems or an acciden

TRAVEL INSURANCE ADVICE

Unfortunately things can go wrong on holiday. You could fall ill or have an accident; you could have money or luggage stolen; your visit might be cancelled or cut short through injury or illness; your family may need to fly out to be with you if there is a serious incident.
Costs - particularly medical treatment costs - can easily run into thousands of dollars. Local medical facilities are unable to provide the full range of medical services available in developed countries making evacuation a requirement in many non life threatening medical emergencies. The costs of relocation as well as local international standard care are extremely high. In the most serious emergencies, you may not be positioned to authorise payment for an appropriate medical response that is urgently required. This may delay or prevent the provision of critical and possibly life saving medical attention.
Market surveys show that many people don't take insurance. People believe that their credit card accident cover, home insurance, or private health cover is sufficient. However, it is unlikely that these will give adequate cover. If you do not already have a policy we urge you to take out insurance as soon as you make a booking with us to ensure you have adequate cancellation cover.
Know what your policy covers and check that the cover is adequate.
If in doubt ask your insurer.

What should my travel insurance policy cover
• medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad – more infomation on medical and health cover
• 24 hour emergency service and assistance
• personal liability cover in case you’re sued for causing injury or damaging property
• lost and stolen possessions cover
• cancellation and curtailment (cutting short your trip) cover
• extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies, such as jet skiing.

The policy should cover the whole time that you’re away.
Your policy may also have:

• personal accident cover
• legal expenses cover
• financial protection if your airline goes bankrupt before or during your trip.
Many insurers will extend cover if you ask them. If not, shop around for a specialist policy.

Common travel insurance policy exclusions
Always check the conditions and exclusions of your policy:
• most policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents
• you must take reasonable care of your possessions or your policy will not cover you.

Travel insurance buying tips
• shop around to find a good price and the right product rather than opting to travel without cover
• cheaper policies will usually have less cover – for some the price seems most important, but is it worth the initial saving?
• consider annual multi-trip insurance if you make several trips a year – you’ll save time and money.

Cancelling or cutting a trip short
A good insurance policy will cover you for cancelling or cutting a trip short. Check carefully to see exactly what you’re covered for:
• accident
• illness
• pregnancy (unknown when you buy the policy)
• jury service or witness summons
• home emergency: fire, storm or flood, burglary
• redundancy
• strikes
• bad weather – affects the departure of flights and ships.

Ensure your policy:
• will refund the full cost of your holiday
• pays out if you need to cancel or cut short a trip because you fall ill for example
• covers pre-paid expenses such as excursions
• covers extra costs incurred to get home

Personal liability insurance
If you accidentally cause an injury to someone or damage their property they may sue you. Good travel insurance will cover you for personal liability.

Personal accident cover – disability and death
Travel insurance can cover a personal accident payment made for permanent disability or death.

Cover for stolen, lost or damaged possessions
You can normally choose the limit in your policy. Limits for single items such as cameras and jewellery can vary from as little as US$250 up to US$1000 or more. Check these limits are adequate and realistic.
You should report a loss to the Police within 24 hours. Proof of notification will be required when you make your claim.
All insurance policies say that you must take care of your belongings at all times. If you don’t, the policy may not pay out.
Tip: take as much care of your property as if it were uninsured.

Lost baggage on flights
Do not rely on compensation from an airline if it loses your luggage.
By law, airlines only have to pay a specified minimum value per kilo of lost luggage. This is unlikely to cover the full value of your things.

Legal expenses cover
Taking out legal expenses cover will help you to pursue compensation or damages following personal injury while you're abroad – very important in countries without a legal aid system.

Internet

Internet access is available in most towns throughout the country. In Phnom Penh prices just keep dropping, thankfully, and now average US$0.50 to US$1 per hour. Siem Reap is a little more expensive at US$1 to US$1.50 per hour, while in other prov-inces it can range from US$2 an hour to as much as US$5 an hour

If you're travelling with a laptop computer, be aware that your modem may not work once you leave your home country. The safest option is to buy a reputable 'global' modem before you leave home, or buy a local PC-card modem if you're spending an extended time in Cambodia.

Remember that Cambodia's power supply voltage will vary from that at home, risking damage to your equipment. The best investment is a universal AC adapter, which will enable you to plug it in anywhere without frying the innards.

Visitors carrying a portable computer who are looking for a direct connection to a server have several choices. The easiest way is to pick up one of the prepaid Internet cards offered by Online or Everyday, available from shops and some restaurants. They come in a range of values from US$10 to US$50 and can be purchased from shops, hotels and petrol stations.

Phone & Mobile Phone

Cambodia's land-line system was totally devastated by the long civil war, leaving the country with a poor communications infrastructure. The advent of mobile phones ‘has allowed Cambodia to catch up with its regional neighbors by jumping headlong into the technology revolution. Mobile phones are everywhere in Cambodia, but landline access in major towns is also improving, connecting more of the country-to the outside world than ever before.

Domestic Calls

Local calls are usually pretty cheap, even from hotel rooms. Calling from province to province is considerably more expensive by fixed lines. The easiest way to call in most urban areas is to head to one of the many small private booths on the kerbside, usually plastered with numbers like 012 and 016. Operators have a selection of mobile phones and leased lines to ensure that any domestic number you want to call is cheap. Local phone calls can also be made on the MPTC and Camintel public payphones, which are sometimes still seen in places like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Kompong Cham. It ca sometimes be difficult to get through 1 numbers outside Phnom Penh, and there! No directory inquiries service. Some hold have telephone directories for the caprice if you need to track down a number.

International Calls

There is now a whole lot more choice when it comes to calling overseas than in the old days of all calls going via Moscow. Then are several telephone cards available cardphones, several prepaid calling cards use from any telephone, from mobile phones and the growing world of Internet phone calls. Calling from hotel attracts a surcharge and the more expense the hotel. As a genen rule, whichever way you choose to ring, it i a little cheaper to make a call at weekends.
The cheapest way to call international is via Internet phone. Most of the shops and cafes around the country providing Interne services also offer Internet calls. Calling thi USA and Europe is generally the cheapest but there is a hefty surcharge for connecting to mobile numbers. Purchase a phonecard which in larger cities can be bought al hotels, restaurants, post offices and man shops. Phonecards come in denominations of US$5 to US$50.
Before inserting the card into a public phone, always check that there is a readout on the liquid crystal display (LCD) unit. If there isn't, it probably means the phone is broken or there is a power cut - inserting the card at these times can wipe the value off the card.

Mobile Phones
Telephone numbers starting with : 011, 012 or 016 are mobile phone numbers. If you are travelling with a mobile phone on international roaming, just select a network upon arrival, dial away and await a hefty phone bill once you return home. Note: Cambodian roaming charges are extraordinarily high.
Those who are planning on spending longer in Cambodia will want to hook up with a local network. Those with their own phone need only purchase a SIM card for one of the local service providers, but if you are travelling with a locked phone linked to your network back home, then you can't switch SIM cards. However, mobile phones are very cheap in Cambodia and secondhand ones are widely available. Most of the local companies offer fixed-contract deals with monthly bills, or pay-as-you-go cards for-those who want flexibility. All offer regular promotions, so it is worth shopping around

Safety & Security

Touristed areas in Cambodia are safe by world standards, but the usual commonsense safety precautions should be adhered to. Tourists should stick to set travel arrangements and avoid unknown areas. It is not safe to walk the streets of Phnom Penh at night where street lighting is poor. We recommend you keep jewellery to a minimum, and leave items of value in your hotel’s safety deposit box. Always keep a photocopy of your passport, airline tickets and credit card numbers, and a detailed record of your en-cashed travellers cheques.

Scams

There are fewer scams in Cambodia than neighbouring countries, but now that tourism is really taking off this might change. Most current scams are fairly harmless, involving a bit of commission here and there for taxi or moto drivers, particularly in Siem Reap.

There have been one or two reports of police set-ups in Phnom Penh, involving planted drugs. This seems to be very rare, but if you fall victim to the ploy, it will require patience and persistence to sort out, inevitably involving embassies and the like. It may be best to pay them off before more police get involved at the local station, as the price will only rise when there are more people to pay off.

Cambodia is renowned for its precious stones, particularly the rubies and sapphires that are mined around the Pailin area in western Cambodia. However, there are : lots of chemically treated copies around, as much of the high quality stuff is snapped up by international buyers. The long and the short of it is: don't buy unless you really know your stones.

Theft & Street Crime

Given the number of guns in Cambodia, there is less armed theft than one might expect. Still, hold-ups and motorcycle theft are a potential danger in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. There is no need to be paranoid, just cautious. Walking or riding alone late at night is not ideal, certainly not in rural areas.

Pickpocketing and theft by stealth is more a problem in Vietnam than in Cambodia, but it pays to be careful. The current hotspots are crowded pick-up trucks on popular tourist routes such as Siem Reap to Poipet or Phnom Penh, and the markets of Phnom Penh. Don't make it any easier for thieves by putting your passport and wads of cash in your back pocket. As a precaution, keep a 'secret* stash of cash separate from the bulk of your funds.

Government Travel Advice

The following government websites offer travel advisories and information on current hot spots.

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs The department's role is to advance the interests of Australia and Australians internationally. This involves working to strengthen Australia's security; enhancing Australia's prosperity; and helping Australian travellers and Australians overseas.
The department provides foreign and trade policy advice to the government. We work with other government agencies to ensure that Australia's pursuit of its global, regional and bilateral interests is coordinated effectively.

British Foreign Office : Travel advice and tips for British travellers on staying safe abroad and what help the FCO can provide if something goes wrong

Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs

US State Department The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Consular Information Program, which informs the public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security. Country Specific Information, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings are vital parts of this program.

 

 

 

Health

Travellers to Cambodia should take precautions as they would elsewhere in Asia. Some of the diseases known to exist in Cambodia include malaria, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, diphtheria, tetanus, and HIV/ AIDS. We recommend you take adequate preventative measures to minimise your risk of exposure to these health risks. We are a travel company and we are not qualified to provide detailed medical information appropriate to your individual needs. We recommend you consult with your local doctor or a specialist travel medical centre for up to date health information on vaccinations and medicine for your trip, at least one month prior to departure. Medical facilities are limited throughout the country (even in the capital Phnom Penh) compared to western standards.

Medical Kit

We also suggest you bring a simple medical kit. Your doctor should advise you what to include, however as a minimum we suggest you bring:

Aspirin or paracetamol (for pain or fever)
Antihistamines (for allergies and itches)
Cold and flu tablets
Anti diarrhea medication
Something appropriate for nausea and vomiting
Rehydration mixture (to prevent dehydration)
Insect repellant
Antiseptic and bandages
Sunscreen and lip balm
Antibiotics (discuss with your doctor)
As part of our travel registration process at the start of any journey with Relaxl Indochina, you will be asked to declare any serious pre-existing medical conditions or allergies.

Baggage & Clothing:

Please ensure that your luggage is of a standard size (preferably soft bags) as backpacks or soft cases are only permitted on our journeys. It should be clearly labelled and not exceed the airline’s own limitations. Any flight (both domestic and international) has a luggage limit of 20kg per person. If you have made your own flight arrangements, please check the luggage allowance directly with the airline. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles and trains is limited. . If you are doing a lot of shopping during your travels, it may be necessary for you to forward any excess to the city where your tour concludes, or ship purchases directly home.
Keeping the amount of luggage you carry in check will ensure your safety and comfort, and the comfort of your fellow travelers. Please note you may be required to carry your own luggage at times. Porterage is not included in the cost of your journey. Please ensure you pay porters around 1USD per person for carrying your luggage. Should you wish to avoid such payments, please carry and take responsibility for your luggage.
Comfortable casual clothes made of cotton are best in tropical and semi tropical climates – packing one set of smart casual clothes is advisable. Laundry services are available throughout the country, although hotel laundry costs can be expensive.

We suggest you include:
Flat walking shoes and sandals
Hat & sunglasses
Jumper/coat/thermals - if visiting in winter
Bathers
Money belt
Raincoat or umbrella
Basic first aid kit (see below)
Insect repellent
Alarm clock
Small torch
Swiss Army pocketknife
Power adapter
Women’s sanitary products
Ear plugs and eye patches for the train
Please note that airlines insist all sharp items (knives, scissors, nail clippers etc.) are packed in your ‘check-in’ luggage. Alcohol is no longer permitted onboard domestic flights and must also be stored in your check-in luggage.

Electricity in Cambodia is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Cambodia with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

There are three main types of voltage converter. Resistor-network converters will usually be advertised as supporting something like 50-1600 Watts. They are light-weight and support high-wattage electrical appliances like hair dryers and irons. However, they can only be used for short periods of time and are not ideal for digital devices.

Transformers will have a much lower maximum Watt rating, usually 50 or 100. Transformers can often be used continuously and provide better electricity for low wattage appliances like battery chargers, radios, laptop computers, cameras, mp3 players and camcorders. However, they are heavy because they contain large iron rods and lots of copper wire.

Some companies sell combination converters that include both a resistor network and a transformer in the same package. This kind of converter will usually come with a switch that switches between the two modes. If you absolutely need both types of converter, then this is the type to buy.

Cambodia Plug Adapters and Outlet Shapes
Outlets in Cambodia generally accept 3 types of plug:

Flat blade plug & Two round pins & Two parallel flat pins with ground pin

 

 

 

If your appliances plug has a different shape, you may need a plug adapter.
Depending on how much you plan to travel in the future, it may be worthwhile to get a plug adapter
Ask someone to help you to buy a plug adapter in Cambodia, it is easy to buy it or can find them out at any Electricity Store along streets, cost 1 or 2 cent

Plug adapter

 

 

 

 

Tipping

If you are happy with the services provided by your local staff as a guides and drivers and hotel' staff.... a tip is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, tipping inspires great service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across Vietnam destinations. As a general guide on private tours, please allow 3USD to 5USD per day per traveller for each of your local guide and driver. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip

 

 

Film & Equipment

Print film and processing is pretty cheap in Cambodia. A roll of Kodak or Fuji film (36 exposures) costs just US$2 for ASA 100 or US$3 for ASA 400. Printing is also cheap with most laboratories charging about US$4 for a roll. The Fuji labs are generally the best quality, but the Konica ones are sometimes a little cheaper.

Slide film is also available at competitive prices in Phnom Penh. It costs US$5 for a roll of Kodak Elite or Fuji Sensia, and US$6 for Fuji's Velvia or Provia range. Purchase as much as you need in Phnom Penh, as it is pretty hard to come by elsewhere in the country. Do not have slide film processed in Cambodia unless it is really urgent. Many shops claim to be able to process slide film, but you'll more than likely end up with black and white X-ray-style shots.

Most processing shops in Phnom Penh g and Siem Reap can also now burn digital images onto CD to free up space on your memory card, as well as print top quality photos straight from your camera or CD.Cheap memory cards are available all over the place.

General camera supplies can be purchased in Phnom Penh. Camera batteries are easy to replace, providing you don't require anything too obscure; don't forget to carry spares if you are heading off the trail. There is a great range of new cameras in the capital at bargain prices, as most come in tax and duty free, including all the leading brands.

Camera film is available all over the city-just pick your brand and there will be a shop within a few hundred metres. The best place for developing photos from film or from digital is City Colour Photo ( which also stocks cheap cameras and memory sticks.

If you carry a video camera, make sure you have the necessary charger, plugs and transformer for Cambodia. Take care with some of the electrical wiring in guesthouses around the country, as it can be pretty amateurish. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, it is possible to obtain video tapes for most formats, but elsewhere around the country you are unlikely to find much of use. It is often worth buying a few tapes duty-free before you start your trip.

Photographing People

The usual rules apply: be polite about photographing and video taping people; don't push cameras into their faces; and have some respect for monks and people at prayer. It shouldn't be necessary to say this, but unfortunately there are a lot of amateur photographers out there who think that they're on assignment for National Geographic. In general, the Khmers are remarkably courteous people and if you ask nicely, they'll agree to have their photograph taken. The same goes for video taping-ask permission first, although in rural areas you will often find children desperate to get in front of the lens and astonished at seeing themselves played back on a LCD screen. It is the closest most of them will get to being on TV.

 

Vietnam Shopping.

Bargaining

It is important to haggle over purchases made in local markets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, otherwise the stallholder may 'shave your head', the local vernacular for 'rip you off. Bargaining is the rule in markets, when arranging share taxis and pick-ups and in cheaper guesthouses. The Khmers are not ruthless hagglers, so care should be taken to not come on too strong. A persuasive smile and a little friendly quibbling is usually enough to get a good price. Try to remember that the aim is not to get the lowest possible price, but a price that is acceptable to both you and the seller. Remember back home, we pay astronomical sums for items, especially clothes, that have been made in poorer countries for next to nothing, and we don't even get the chance to bargain for them, just the opportunity to contribute to a corporate director's retirement fund. At least there is room for discussion in Cambodia, so try not to abuse the situation. And remember, in many cases a few hundred riel is more important to a Cambodian with a family to support than to a traveller on an extended vacation. After all, no-one bargains over a beer in a busy backpacker bar, so why bargain so hard over a cheap bottle of water?

Important Dates Affecting Touring, And Compulsory Meals

During public holidays and festivals, banks, ministries and embassies close down, so plan ahead if visiting Cambodia during these times. Cambodians also roll over holidays if they fall on a weekend and take a day or two extra during major festivals . Add this to the fact that they take a holiday for international days here and there and it soon becomes apparent that Cambodia has more public holidays than any other nation on earth!

International New Year's Day 1 January

Victory Over the Genocide 7 January

International Women's Day 8 March

International Workers' Day 1 May

International Children's Day 1 May

Constitution Day 24 September

Paris Peace Accords 23 October

King's Birthday 30 October to 1 November

Independence Day 9 November

International Human Rights Day 10 December

Women Travellers

Women will generally find Cambodia is hassle-free place to travel, although soar of the guys in the guesthouse industry will try their luck from time to time. Foreign women are unlikely to be targeted by loci men, but at the same time it pays to be careful. As is the case anywhere in the world walking or riding a bike alone late at nigh is risky, and if you're planning a trip off th beaten trail it would be best to find a travel companion. Despite the prevalence of sex workers and women's employment as 'beer girls', dancing companions and the like, foreign women will probably find Khmer men to be courteous and polite. It's best to keep things this way by being restrained in your dress; flaunting a pierced belly button is likely to get the blood racing among Khmer males. Khmer women dress fairly conservatively, and it's best to follow suit, particularly when visiting wats. In general, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers or skirts are preferred. It is also worth having trousers for heading out at night on rnotos, as short skirts aren't too practical.