Crime and safety

The security situation in Cambodia has improved significantly over the last few years. Areas that were once plagued with bandit activity or by the threat of unpredictable Khmer Rouge factions, are now pretty safe to travel in. However, there is a huge number of guns in Cambodia, and there have been incidents of armed robbery against tourists. All areas covered in this guide are safe to travel to overland, with the exception of Stung Treng and Ratanakiri, which have been subject to infrequent bandit attacks. Even in these areas, most overland travellers do not have any problems. Check the current situation before you travel. It's also a good idea not to take anything of value to the remoter provinces and to take the minimum of cash.

Gun crime is actually more frequent in Phnom Penh than anywhere else in the country, and reaches a peak at festival times, most notably Khmer New Year. Even so, the threat is small, so it shouldn't stop you enjoying the nightlife. Taking a few simple precautions can reduce the risk further:

Do not go out alone after dark.

Do not carry your passport or other valuable items; lock them in your hotel safe.

Carry only a small amount of cash.

Use a moto or taxi rather than walk.

Use a trustworthy moto-driver, preferably someone recommended by your hotel or guesthouse.

If you are robbed, do not resist and do not run.

There are plenty of civilian and military police hanging around, whose main function appears to be imposing arbitrary fines or tolls. Of the two, the civilian police , who wear blue or khaki uniforms, are more helpful. Military police wear black-and-white armbands.

Other useful information for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections):