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Content about Cambodia on WorldSupporter
Cambodia: Updates & Travel
Cambodia: Updates & Travel
Travel in Cambodia
- The temples of Angkor Wat are among the most beautiful in the world. In addition, Cambodia has beautiful, quiet beaches, remote wildlife parks and a tasty cuisine. Fall for the charms of Siem Reap or immerse yourself in the city life of Phnom Penh. The people are friendly and hospitable and will welcome you with open arms to this beautiful country in Southeast Asia.
- Travel by boat from Battambang to Siem Reap is the most beautiful water route in the country.
- Take the bamboo train at Battambang. This 'train' is a bamboo platform on a train track that is powered by a go-kart engine. Ask the driver to stop at tourist spots or beautiful views.
- Take a cooking class: Fan of Cambodian cuisine? Many restaurants in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Sihanoukville offer cooking classes.
- Take a trip through the jungle! Visit Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu (and later Buddhist) temple complex in the world. The Tomb Raider movies starring Angelina Jolie were also filmed here.
- Sihanoukville is Cambodia's beach capital. You can also snorkel, dive and surf here.
- Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. There is a lot to see and do. For example, visit the silver pagoda, the national museum and the central market. Also visit Choeung Ek. This is one of the many "killing fields". In this area, 17 km north of Phnom Penh, approximately 17,000 people were murdered under the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979. The remains of the deceased have now been exhumed and collected in a mausoleum that serves as a memorial.
- There is plenty to do in and around the city of Siem Reap. Visit the Prek Toal bird sanctuary or the flooded forest of Kompong Pluk (an incredible village of bamboo apartment buildings). Siem Reap is best known for the temples of Angkor. This enormous temple complex is one of the 7 wonders of the world. From the 9th to the 14th century, this was the center of the Cambodian empire. In the second half of the 19th century, the overgrown city was discovered in the jungle by French scientists. You can visit the complex with a guide.
- Visit Kratie as a stopover between Phnom Penh and Laos. You can get here via the river. This is the place to see Irrawaddy dolphins. These freshwater dolphins are almost extinct, but here on the river you can still visit them.
- The Tonlé Sap lake: the fastest way to get from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap is via this lake. When you travel across the lake, you end up in a water world with floating villages and many fishing boats. You can also spot many water birds and admire the houses on stilts. The trip takes about 4 to 6 hours.
- Be aware that any possession of drugs (including cannabis) is prohibited and carries very severe penalties. In many places, cannabis is still smoked and sometimes used in cooking as a seasoning. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, you will find “Happy herb pizzerias” that are illegal.
- Be aware of an alcoholic drink that is drunk in the north. This is called the alcohol that does not burn. It is a drink based on opiates.
- Many areas in Cambodia have now been demined, but keep in mind that there are still landmines in some areas. Never ignore a landmine warning sign.
- Don't get ripped off on the way to the Killing Fields. There are many taxi companies that charge far too high prices from unsuspecting tourists. Keep in mind that for 15 euros you can get a tuk tuk for a whole day and a ride to the Killing Fields by taxi should not cost more than that.
- And don't go out alone at night.
Updates Cambodia
- More about Cambodia, updates and contributions, see the link below.
How does healthcare work in Cambodia, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?
How does healthcare work in Cambodia, and what travel insurance, health insurance or expat insurance do you need?
- How does the healthcare system work in Cambodja?
- What is the quality of healthcare in Cambodia?
- How does the public healthcare system work in Cambodia?
- How does the private healthcare system work in Cambodia?
- How is the general practitioner arranged in Cambodia?
- How is the dentist arranged in Cambodia?
- How is pregnancy care arranged in Cambodia?
- How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Cambodia?
- What work and travel insurance policies are suitable for short and long stays in Cambodia?
- What emigration and expat insurance can you take out for Cambodia if you are going to live there for a while?
How does the healthcare system work in Cambodja?
What is the quality of healthcare in Cambodia?
- Unfortunately, Cambodia’s healthcare system still has many problems. For example, a universal social security system was created in 2008, but it still only covers 10% of the working population.
- Cambodia’s healthcare system consists of both public and private institutions. Private institutions are preferred by foreigners because of their quality.
- For more serious problems, you are advised to seek help abroad, such as in Thailand, Vietnam or Singapore.
- The local emergency number is 119, but the system does not always work well (sometimes the answer is not given) and ambulances may not meet the expectations of most foreigners. It is wise to keep an emergency number of a private hospital in your pocket.
- There are many pharmacies, not all of which are of the same good quality. Cambodia has strict regulations, but despite this, many medicines can be bought without a prescription. There are also many counterfeit medicines on the market. It is wisest to buy medicines from the larger pharmacy chains in Phnom Penh.
How does the public healthcare system work in Cambodia?
- The Ministry of Health oversees the public healthcare system. The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) provides very limited healthcare coverage for people working in the private sector.
- The public healthcare system has made great strides in the past twenty years. However, many problems remain. For example, the public sector struggles with limited resources and infrastructure. The quality of care in public hospitals is often substandard, especially outside the major cities.
- Clinics generally provide standard/basic care, while hospitals provide more specialized care.
- Unfortunately, there is often a shortage of staff and the condition of the facilities is very poor.
- English is not always spoken in public healthcare institutions.
How does the private healthcare system work in Cambodia?
- There are a limited number of institutions that provide care at a reasonable level. These are mainly found in Phnom Penh, such as the Royal Phnom Penh Hospital and some in Siem Reap and other cities.
- Private clinics are a lot more expensive than public healthcare and in serious cases they cannot provide the right care due to the lack of equipment and specialists. In that case, medical evacuation to Singapore or Bangkok, for example, is necessary.
- In rural areas, there are generally no good private institutions.
How is the general practitioner arranged in Cambodia?
- Cambodia does not work with a general practitioner system. There are general practitioners/family doctors available at private clinics.
- It can be useful to ask others for recommendations for a good private clinic. Most options can be found in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
How is the dentist arranged in Cambodia?
- There are both public and private dental clinics. Despite the state of the rest of the healthcare system, the dental care is of good quality and very cheap. This makes the country a popular medical attraction for oral care.
- Dentists generally speak good English in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
How is pregnancy care arranged in Cambodia?
- There is good private pregnancy care in Cambodia. For local women, outside the cities in remote areas, this is different. There is often no pregnancy care available and women go through pregnancy without professional help. 89% of births take place outside health centers and only 32% of births are attended by professional care workers.
- Many women choose to give birth abroad, but nowadays a limited number of private clinics and hospitals (especially Thai) offer relatively good pregnancy care, both prenatal and postnatal. It is useful to talk to other foreigners about their experiences.
- Pain medication for labor may not be available everywhere.
- Abortion is legal in Cambodia up to 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, specific rules apply for an abortion to be legal.
How safe or unsafe is a trip or stay in Cambodia?
What should you pay attention to in terms of safety in Cambodia?
- Cambodia is fairly safe. Violent crimes against foreigners are rare and the locals are known for their friendliness and helpfulness.
- In tourist areas, pickpocketing and bag snatching do occur. It is also wise to watch out for phone snatching from scooters.
- “Drink spiking” occasionally occurs in Cambodia. Keep a close eye on your drinks.
- There are still landmines in remote areas. Stay on the main roads when traveling outside of the cities.
- Flooding occurs during the rainy season and high air pollution can occur during the dry season.
What should you look out for in terms of diseases in Cambodia?
- There are several health risks in Cambodia. For example, mosquito-borne diseases occur, especially in the rainy season. Protect yourself well against mosquitoes by wearing covering clothing and using spray.
- Food poisoning and stomach problems are also common.
- Heat-related problems can occur due to the heat in combination with extreme humidity.
- Discuss the vaccination advice with a good vaccination doctor well before departure.
What should you pay attention to when it comes to traffic in Cambodia?
- In Cambodia you will come to the country of many motorbikes and few traffic rules. Foreigners usually drive a scooter or take taxis.
- Do not expect people to adhere to the traffic rules or that you will be given priority as a pedestrian. People drive quite aggressively and it can take quite some getting used to if you want to participate in traffic as a newcomer.
- In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap the roads are reasonable, in the countryside the roads are bad and can flood.
- Buses between major cities are cheap and popular among travelers.
- Apps such as Grab and PassApp are popular and reasonably safe to use.
What work and travel insurance policies are suitable for short and long stays in Cambodia?
Is the trip to Cambodia and your return sufficiently covered? Are you sufficiently covered before, during and after your activities? Which insurance best suits your trip and your activity? Read more about insurances for abroad on JoHoinsurances.org.
What emigration and expat insurance can you take out for Cambodia if you are going to live there for a while?
- It is strongly recommended for expats and emigrants to take out comprehensive international health insurance that covers medical evacuation, as complex medical treatments often have to be carried out in neighbouring countries such as Thailand or Singapore. Read more about insurances for abroad on Expatinsurances.org.
Cambodia: selection of contributions by WorldSupporters - Bundle
Cambodia: selection of contributions by WorldSupporters - Bundle
Content about Cambodia shared by WorldSupporters
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