Cambodia

SAFETY: good
Cambodia is one of the nations of Indochina; it is almost entirely flat and faces the Gulf of Thailand to the south-west. Following the French colonial period, a long civil war prevented adequate economic development, so the country remains rather poor, though with good prospects for growth now that the political situation has stabilised. The country has enjoyed relative calm and internal stability for some years now.

TRANSPORT: fair
Most roads in Cambodia are kept in very poor condition. The Cambodian flag carrier is Cambodia Angkor Airways. Numerous international carriers, both national airlines and low-cost operators, fly to the country's three main tourist destinations: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.
Main airports: Battambang; Kampong Chhnang; Phnom Penh; Siem Reap-Angkor; Sihanoukville

ACCOMMODATION: poor.
Hotel categories do not correspond to ours. The hotel offering is still developing. The larger cities have excellent, recently built hotels.

COUNTRY FACTS:  Full name: Kingdom of Cambodia. – Borders: Bordered to the north by Thailand and Laos, to the east by Vietnam, to the south by Vietnam and the Gulf of Thailand, and to the west by the Gulf of Thailand and Thailand. -  Time zone: +6h compared with Italy; +5h when daylight saving time is in force in Italy –  Area: 181,035 sq km – Capital: Phnom Penh –Population:16,200,000 – Religion: 93% Buddhist, 7% other religions and non-believers. – Languages: Khmer.- Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY:Riel (KHR). US dollars are the foreign currency in everyday circulation (banknotes only, no coins). When paying in US dollars, change is generally given partly in local currency (Cambodian riel).– Credit cards: not widely used; the main cards are accepted in the larger hotels and for buying air tickets. Traveller's cheques are accepted. Cash machines are rare, so it is advisable to carry small-denomination notes, although ATMs accepting Visa and Mastercard are becoming increasingly common in the main cities – Exchange: bring euros. You can also pay in US dollars, which are widely used.

ELECTRICITY: 230 V, 50 Hz. – Sockets:of various types, including flat-pin; an adapter is recommended.

DOCUMENTS: A passport is required, valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the country. During your stay it is advisable to carry a photocopy of your passport with you at all times. – Driving: To drive in Cambodia, local law requires an international driving licence to be converted into a licence issued by the Cambodian authorities. The conversion costs around 25 US dollars.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: Int. dialling code: 00855 – GSM: coverage in the main cities and along the main connecting roads. Standard: GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100 (as in Italy). Local operators: Applifone, Cambodia Advance Communications, Cambodia Shinawatra and Telekom Malaysia International – Internet: service available only in the main cities. – Web domain: .kh – Emergency numbers: Police: 117, Fire Brigade: 118, Medical Emergency: 119.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT:
Legislation on drug use and/or dealing: sentences for drug-related offences are severe, with harsh prison conditions.
Legislation on sexual abuse or violence against minors: the sexual abuse of minors is considered a serious crime in Cambodia. Sentences are long and are served in Cambodian prisons.
In the event of problems with the local police (detention or arrest), it is advisable to inform the Italian Embassy in Bangkok or the French Embassy in the country (under EU consular cooperation) for the necessary assistance.

HEALTH: Health facilities are not comparable to Italian standards; it is therefore advisable to go to hospital only for health problems that cannot be postponed, or as a stopgap pending immediate repatriation of the patient by air or transfer to another country.

The lack of adequate health facilities, the difficulty of emergency repatriation and the precarious hygiene and sanitary conditions call not only for the utmost care, but make the trip inadvisable for anyone not in excellent health.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: Mon-Sat 8:00-11:00, 14.00-17.30. Banks:Mon-Fri 08:30-15:30; Shops: Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: mid-April, Chaul Chnam (Khmer New Year, lasting three days); mid to late May, Chrat Preah Nengkal (Royal Ploughing Ceremony); 1 May, Labour Day; late September, Pchum Ben (All Souls' Day); 30 October - 1 November, the King's Birthday; early November, Bon Om Touk, the Tonlé Sap river festival; 9 November, Independence Day; Buddhist festivals.

CLIMATE: In Cambodia, a South-East Asian country facing the Gulf of Thailand, the climate is tropical and hot all year round, with a rainy season from May to mid-November, when the south-west monsoon prevails, and a dry season from mid-November to April, the first part of which is the least hot of the year, while the second, from mid-February to May before the monsoon arrives, is the hottest. The monsoon withdraws first from the north, in early November, and then from the centre and south, between the middle and end of the month. The least hot month is December, while the hottest months are April and May, when the heat is oppressive; in the rainy season temperatures are slightly lower, but the humidity heightens the feeling of mugginess.

Monthly max/min temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly rainfall in mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES

There is no Italian Embassy in the country. The Italian Embassy in Thailand is responsible.

Italian Embassy in Bangkok
All Seasons Place
CRC Tower (27th and 40th floors)
87 Wireless Road
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel.: +66 2504970 - Fax Diplomatic Chancery: +66 2504985
Fax Consular Chancery: +66 2504988
Mobile for genuine emergencies only: +66 818256103
E-mail: ambasciata.bangkok@esteri.it

Consular network
Consular Correspondent in Phnom Penh:
Dr Cannetta
mobile +855 (0)12 701244
landline +855 (0) 77897749
email consolare.cambogia@gmail.com
c/o Il Nodo International Cooperation Cambodia
N.28-29J, Street 45 BT, Village TnoatChhrob, SangkatBoeungTumpun,
Khan Mean Chey, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia

For on-the-spot assistance to Italian nationals in case of need, you may also contact:
French Embassy
1 Bd Monivong, Phnom Penh
Tel: (+855) 23 430 020 (from abroad), 023 430 020 (locally);
E-mail: ambafrance@online.com.kh