๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ญ Phnom Penh ยท First days

First 48 hours in Phnom Penh

The first two days in Phnom Penh, in priority order: what has to happen, what should, and what can wait. Tick things off as you go.

For Phnom Penh
How long you are staying

Must do

  • Smart, Cellcard and Metfone sell SIMs at the airport and in town; bring your passport, as SIMs are registered to it. Data is cheap and fast.
  • Look at the visa in your passport. An E visa can be extended for work, business or retirement; a T visa cannot be extended for those. If you entered on the wrong one, ask an agent now rather than at day 28.
  • Police, fire and ambulance. Response is slow in traffic; save your nearest international clinic's own number as well.
  • The airport is about 20 km south of the city. The airport express bus runs from 5.30am to 11.30pm, and Grab and PassApp cars are the other way in; allow 45 to 75 minutes to BKK1.
  • Before agreeing to any flat, ask what the landlord charges per kWh and compare it with the EDC tariff. The difference adds up fast with air-conditioning.

Should do

  • Prices are in dollars, but change below a dollar comes in riel at roughly 4,000 to the dollar. Keep small notes of both for tuk-tuks and markets.
  • The fare is fixed in the app, so there is no haggling with tuk-tuk drivers.
  • Ask your employer which agent it uses, or other residents. Get the price, the documents and the turnaround in writing before handing over a passport.
  • Save the address and emergency number of an international clinic near your flat. Ambulances are slow in traffic, and many residents go by car.

Nice to do

  • Sisowath Quay fills with families, exercise classes and food carts as the heat breaks. It is how the city spends its evenings.
  • With your passport and visa, and often a letter from your employer or landlord. KHQR payments work across the country once you have it.
  • Many embassies run registration or alert services for nationals in Cambodia. It is the quickest route to help with a lost passport.
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