Siem Reap is a welcoming and generally safe city for visitors and families. As with any popular tourist destination petty theft can occur, particularly in busy market areas and around the main tourist strips. Basic common sense goes a long way.
- Keep valuables in a safe if your accommodation provides one.
- Lock doors and windows when you leave your room.
- Do not leave cash, cameras, phones, or jewellery in plain view.
- Keep bags close in crowded markets and busy areas.
- Use Grab for transport rather than flagging down unknown drivers, particularly at night.
- Keep a copy of your passport and visa separate from the originals.
Serious crime against tourists is uncommon. The overwhelming experience of visitors to Siem Reap is one of warmth, friendliness, and ease. A little awareness and you will have nothing to worry about.
For emergencies: Police 117, Fire 118, Ambulance 119.
Tipping in Siem Reap
Tipping is not a deeply embedded tradition in Cambodia but it is genuinely appreciated and makes a real difference to the people who serve you. Hospitality workers in Siem Reap work hard and a small tip from a visitor can be significant relative to a local wage. There is no obligation but there is rarely a more direct way to say thank you.
General guidelines in US dollars:
- Tuk tuk drivers: Round up the fare or add $1 for good service.
- Restaurant waitstaff: $1 per person or 10% of the bill. Neither is expected but both are warmly received.
- Hotel housekeeping: $1 per day left in the room.
- Massage and spa therapists: $1 to $2 per session on top of the bill.
- Tour guides: $5 to $10 for a full day depending on the quality of the experience. A great guide deserves a great tip.
- Drivers for full day hire: $3 to $5 on top of the agreed fare.
- Temple grounds staff and helpers: Small change is always appreciated.
The simplest rule is to carry small dollar bills and riel and tip whenever someone has genuinely made your experience better. It costs very little and means a lot.
Patience
Life moves at a different pace in Siem Reap and that is one of the things people love most about it once they settle in. The urgency and impatience that define daily life in Western cities does not translate here and trying to bring it with you will only frustrate you and confuse the people around you.
Things take the time they take. Smiling and waiting is always more effective than pushing. Raising your voice or showing frustration achieves nothing positive and will cause people to disengage rather than help. Cambodians are extraordinarily patient and warm and they respond in kind to visitors who approach interactions with the same spirit.
The concept of taking things as they come is not laziness. It is a different and arguably healthier relationship with time. Give yourself a day or two to adjust and you will find it deeply refreshing.
Language
Khmer is the national language of Cambodia and while you absolutely do not need to speak it to get around Siem Reap, making the effort to learn a few basic phrases will enrich your experience enormously. Cambodians are genuinely delighted when visitors try and will reward even the most fumbled attempt with warmth and encouragement.
A handful of phrases worth knowing:
- Hello: Sous sdei
- Thank you: Arkoun
- Sorry / Excuse me: Som toh
- How much: Tlai ponmaan
- Yes: Baat (male) / Chaah (female)
- No: Ot teh
English is widely spoken in restaurants, guesthouses, and tourist areas throughout Siem Reap so you will never be stuck. But a few words of Khmer go further than you might expect. Nobody in Siem Reap is hard of hearing. Speaking English more loudly does not make it easier to understand. A smile and a genuine attempt at the local language will always get you further than volume.
