Settling-in Cambodia

Daily Needs

Money & Banking

Tipping
Tipping is not a traditional custom in Cambodia, however tipping can make a big difference for someone in a country this poor. The Khmer people are known for their outstanding service and go out of their way to show hospitality so you can show your appreciation by tipping a small amount. As little as $3 could be close to a whole days wages for some common laborers. At hotels there is commonly a service charge that never sees its way into the pockets of those actually performing the service, so try to tip the staff directly.

Dollars or Riel
You may have already heard that US dollars are widely accepted in Cambodia and is considered a common currency. However in order to stretch your money it is best to use both currencies in conjunction with one another. Be a Rate Watcher. The Riel fluctuates around the 4000r/$1 mark, and most restaurants and shops that accept both currencies base their prices off of the 4000 to 1 conversion instead of changing the prices daily in accordance with the spot rate. So if exchange rates become favourable then it makes sense to exchange your Dollars and pay in Riel. However, if the rate falls below 4000 to 1 then just hold onto your dollars, as exchanging them will diminish your buying power. When bartering in the streets it makes sense to use Riel as arguing over $0.25 can be confusing with a language barrier. Instead agreeing on prices in Riel will make it much easier as you will be arguing over 1000 Riel instead, which is a much more comprehensible number for everyone involved.

Household Appliances and Accessories

Electrical goods can be bought in the shops along Monivong Street, in the Sorya shopping centre, opposite the central market, and in other stores scattered around town. Water coolers can be bought from most electrical shops near the Central Market for approximately $100. Linens can be bought cheaply along Monivong Street. You can get expensive but good quality linen at IChing (Sisowath quay/ www.ichingdecor.com) or at Elsewhere (Villa Lanka Hotel. St. 282). Elsewhere also has clothes and babies clothing. For wholesale fabric, check out Olympic Market.

Health Care

Both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have hospitals offering high quality, international standard health facilities (see individual city section below for more detailed information). Conversely, outside the larger cities it may be harder to find reputable care. Most towns will have either a small hospital or a medical clinic for general care but may not be able to offer quality care medical emergencies. Finding medical care of any kind in rural areas may be difficult.

It is highly advisable that expatriates take out an insurance policy in order to ensure that the best healthcare Cambodia is available to them when they need it. Cambodia is still developing, so some treatments are not available even at the best facilities. Keep this in mind when buying travel insurance. Make sure that your policy includes medical evacuation coverage, which will pay for you to be transported out of the country for appropriate healthcare, should this be necessary. Also make sure your cover suits all unique requirements that you or your family may encounter, such as maternity.

Shopping

Most expats combine buying fresh local produce from the markets with supermarket shopping for household goods and imported produce. There are many supermarkets which cater to expat tastes. The supply of imported produce is inconsistent so if you see something that you love, stock up as you never know when you will see it again, it could be a few months. It is likely that you will need to go to a few different places to get everything you require. Below you will find a short list of supermarkets that will be a good place to start when first settling in Phnom Penh.

Super Markets
Lucky’s – (Shihanouk Boulevard, and Paragon Shopping Mall)
Bayon and Thai Houk Suppermarket- (Monivong Street, near Central Market)
Sydney’s – (Street 128, 500m from Monivong heading away from Central Market)
Pencil – (Norodom Boulevard, next door to KFC)
Veggy’s – (Street 240)

Specialty Stores
AusKhmer/The Pantry Shop – (Street 105, 125Z) Specialty meat, cheese, wines, and catering
Dan’s Meats – (Street 214, 51A) Butcher with fine meats and home delivery
Open Wine – (Street 19, near Street 240) Wide variety of wines and some food Red Apron – (Street 240, close to junction with Street 19) Boutique wine shop

Other Shopping Areas Household Appliances and Accessories
Central Market – Referred to as Psar Thmei, the Central Market is one of Phnom Penh’s main landmarks and is hard to miss with its big yellow dome standing over the streets.

You can find everything here including fresh fruits and vegetables, household
appliances, electronics, crockery, souvenirs and clothes.

Sorya – This is a large air-conditioned shopping mall. A lot of Khmers come here to experience their first escalator ride! Lucky’s Supermarket is on the ground floor, there is a quality electronics store on the 3rd floor, and the 4th floor has an athletics shop with everything from shoes and clothes, to board games and sports equipment. The shopping centre is located near the central market

Russian Market – Most Khmers know the Russian Market as Psar Toul Tompong, keep that in mind when trying to find your way here. The market is geared towards tourists so you will find cheap clothes, souvenirs and pirated DVDs. However you can also pick up household items, food, fresh produce and mechanical parts if you do a bit of searching.

Street 240 – A few designer boutique stores line this street between the streets of, 19th and Norodom. Expect these shops to be more expensive than the other local markets.

Beautiful Shoes- located at #138B, Street 143. A great place to buy shoes is at ‘Beautiful Shoes’ with prices around $15. For around $25 you can get a custom pair made to your specifications on leather, colour, and size. This is a great place to get shoes for the whole family as they are usually of very high quality.