Visiting Cambodia

[pipoz4444]

Thanks for the info.
In my experience, the authorities here in Cambodia, unlike some places I know, avoid “making a mountain out of a molehill” I look forward to hearing more about your visa and bank account experiences.
Good luck, Fuzzyken

Hi FK

Was in Phnom Penh for four days and then spent another four days up in Siem Reap.

Taxi drive from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap was quiet pleasant, took four & a bit hours. Road was good, plenty of facilities along the way. Took a Taxi, it was a Prius (no surprise as there are million of them in PP.). The total travel cost to be driven up to SP from PP was USD $ 70. Hotel in Siem Reap was excellent and great location, "Blanc Smith Residence".

Also ended up taking out a Lease on an Apartment over in Khan Chroy Changvar. Good value, good view, nice facilities. Overall the Chroy Changvar area has just about all that you want / need, from a BLACK CANYON Coffee shop with great menu, to a STARBUCKS, MAKRO, MAX VALU, all the main BANKS and a host of other places.

Very easy to access Duan Penh across the bridge from the Chroy Changvar area and the Chroy Changvar area is much easier to navigate around on a motor bike or in a Tuk Tuk.

pipoz444

[Fuzzy Ken]

6 Sept.24: Just for interest: 21 years ago, during my first visit to Phnom Penh, I recall looking across the Tonle Sap one evening, and wondered what the future held for what appeared to be a somewhat dark and deserted outpost.

Visitors nowadays to Phnom Penh can see for themselves, an impressive skyline stretching from the Sokha Hotel in the south, which opened in 2015, to the north, with an endless panorama of business developments and towering condominiums. Evidence enough, that the Changvar peninsular has come alive. Inevitably though, this fast-developing area requires improved access.

Commuters delayed daily during rush hours, are looking forward to a new bridge, but with work not scheduled to begin until mid-2025, patience will be required during the five-year construction period. This bridge will stretch from the Night Market area to Chroy Changvar, with a further bridge across the Mekong to Akrey Ksatr.

My article in our Phnom Penh Guide at https://fuzzykensblog.com has more information about this “extension to the established city” and the many tourist attractions on the peninsular.

[pipoz4444]

Hi FK

Yes the skyline of Phnom Penh is much more impressive than when I first visited PP in late 2019, with an ever growing development of new condominiums. Not at the rate of Bangkok, which I think is a good thing.

Likewise the Chroy Changvar area has changed sinec 2019 and this too you can notice with the quality and price of the new Condo developments in the area and the of new small businesses that are starting up. (Cafes, Coffee Shop and even a few Restaurants).

WEALTH MANSION CONDO

LA VISTA ONE CONDO

As for travel across the Chroy Changvar Bridge back to the mainland, I didn't come across to much congestion during the day or night and I must have crossed over it a dozen times. I suppose that as the Chroy Changvar area develops there will be less need for some of the the people living in the Chroy Changvar area to travel across it, back to Duan Penh. That is not to say that a new bridge, stretching from the Night Market area to Chroy Changvar across the Mekong to Akrey Ksatr, would not be highly appreciated. Still we will wait for it to happen.

Cheers

pipoz4444

[pipoz4444]

I applied for an e.Visa on line through the Government web site

Applied Sunday night and received the Visa approved via return email, on early morning the following Tuesday. 1 1/2 Days

Be careful when searching on Google as there are a few copy web sites, that lead you to paying more for extra services

Link: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/

pipoz4444

[Declan MacPherson]

I applied for an e.Visa on line through the Government web site

Applied Sunday night and received the Visa approved via return email, on early morning the following Tuesday. 1 1/2 Days


00 E Visa Snap Shot Reference No Screenshot (3).png



Be careful when searching on Google as there are a few copy web sites, that lead you to paying more for extra services

Link: https://www.evisa.gov.kh/

pipoz4444

Very helpful. Thank you!

[pipoz4444]

Paid USD $42 for the 30 Day Visa stay

I think you can get a e.Visa 90 Day if you want

Only had to provide the basics on-line
Upload a Photo
Copy of Passport
Copy of Flight Ticket In and Out

Some personal details such as

Name, Birth Date
Email Address
Passport info
Overseas Residential Address
Address during the Visit (I just gave them an Apartment address in PP)
Intended Date of Entry
Port of Entry
Purpose (Visit Friends)

[tamada]

How does US currency work there? I believe ATM dispense USD. In what denominations? What are the pre-set amounts the ATM offers?

If a visitor is bringing his own USD, what's the recommended largest denomination bill?

Are they strict on the quality of the USD bill? New, slightly used versus old bills?

If offering payment in USD, is change given in USD or riel?

Asking for a friend.

Ta
tam

[Doodoo]

Using a search engine Tam for a friend


Yes

Yes, you can use US dollars in Cambodia to pay for nearly everything as it is the unofficial second currency. Most tourist places even quote prices in US dollars, which includes restaurants, tours, and long-distance buses. If you’re following the typical Cambodia itinerary, you’ll stay within the tourist zone.

[tamada]

Using a search engine Tam for a friend


Yes

Yes, you can use US dollars in Cambodia to pay for nearly everything as it is the unofficial second currency. Most tourist places even quote prices in US dollars, which includes restaurants, tours, and long-distance buses. If you’re following the typical Cambodia itinerary, you’ll stay within the tourist zone.

Many thanks for confirming what is already known.

[Fuzzy Ken]

The US dollar is accepted just about everywhere but be aware that notes must be in very good condition.

The government, recently, requested businesses to accept USD bills that are in less than perfect condition. Also, banks have been asked not to charge for taking slightly damaged notes. This is in its early stages so let’s see what happens. In comparison, Riel notes, generally, are accepted no matter how badly damaged.

ATMs usually dish out only 100-dollar bills, (some ATMs have Riel) which can be difficult to use in shops and tuk tuks etc.

Should you be taking USD notes with you, it is better to keep to low denominations and avoid the 50s and 100s. My account at ABA bank allows me to withdraw either KHR or USD with my ABA card, but I’m unsure as to how this works with foreign cards and/or non-Cambodian bank accounts.

Most businesses use an exchange rate of 4000/4100 Riel to the dollar. Be aware though, that if you pay in dollars, your change might be a mixture of KHR and USD, which may stretch one’s mental dexterity to its outer limits, in busy shops, while you check the dollar notes for damage. There are no coins either KHR or USD, so Just be extra careful.

As a footnote: I have never had any problems here with damaged USD notes given in change in shops, who have always very obligingly, often with a nice smile, exchanged them for undamaged notes.

Lots more about this and many other hints and tips at our Phnom Penh Guide: https://fuzzykensblog.com

[Fuzzy Ken]

Thought you might like this image of the rush hour traffic entering Phnom Penh over the Changvar Bridge....

Fuzzyken

[tamada]

The US dollar is accepted just about everywhere but be aware that notes must be in very good condition.

The government, recently, requested businesses to accept USD bills that are in less than perfect condition. Also, banks have been asked not to charge for taking slightly damaged notes. This is in its early stages so let’s see what happens. In comparison, Riel notes, generally, are accepted no matter how badly damaged.

ATMs usually dish out only 100-dollar bills, (some ATMs have Riel) which can be difficult to use in shops and tuk tuks etc.

Should you be taking USD notes with you, it is better to keep to low denominations and avoid the 50s and 100s. My account at ABA bank allows me to withdraw either KHR or USD with my ABA card, but I’m unsure as to how this works with foreign cards and/or non-Cambodian bank accounts.

Most businesses use an exchange rate of 4000/4100 Riel to the dollar. Be aware though, that if you pay in dollars, your change might be a mixture of KHR and USD, which may stretch one’s mental dexterity to its outer limits, in busy shops, while you check the dollar notes for damage. There are no coins either KHR or USD, so Just be extra careful.

As a footnote: I have never had any problems here with damaged USD notes given in change in shops, who have always very obligingly, often with a nice smile, exchanged them for undamaged notes.

Lots more about this and many other hints and tips at our Phnom Penh Guide: https://fuzzykensblog.com

Thanks Ken. I've told my mate to check your blog.

[pipoz4444]

Hi Fuzzy Ken

I dropped you a PM

Regards

[pipoz4444]

For those with an interest in spending longer durations in Phnom Penh, say six months, theses are some every average month/day normal costs. $ in USD

Accommodation Rent: $ 425 per month for a quality One Bedroom Condo 60m2 plus (in the city area within several Kms of the nightlife). You can find good quality one bedroom condo's (not renovated Apartments) to rent from as $ 8 - 12 per m2 / per month, within close proximity to the nightlife area.

Electricity: $70 per month in one bedroom condo and that's running an AC part of the time

Water: $20 per month in one bedroom condo

Wi-Fi: $15 per month for an unlimited Package 10Mbps (Met-fone is the best int he city) You can buy, by the month, no different to AIS

Food: Ave $ 400 per month, if you are constantly eating out Western / Cambodian style places say in Street 172 for a good standard of meals (from say $15 - $24 per day max). You would probably struggle to spend $270 - $300 per month ($9 - $10 per day) if you bought fresh produce from the market and ate at home 2 /3 of the time.
Breakfast $4 - 6 per meal
Lunch $5 - 8 per meal
Evening $6 - 10 per meal

Without Booze and Entertainment I would say you can have a very reasonable standard of living for between
$800 to $1,100 per month

Social Drinking Cost: Well its cheaper to drink in PP than in Bangkok or Pattaya

Entertainment Cost: Well it is up to ones personal tastes

Cheers

[pipoz4444]

These are good real estate web sites for anyone looking to Rent in PP

Realestate.com.kh
https://www.realestate.com.kh/rent/phno ... d_source=1

IPS Cambodia
https://ips-cambodia.com/phnom-penh-apartments/

CAM Realty
https://www.camrealtyservice.com/

pipoz4444

[pipoz4444]

Duplication

[pipoz4444]

Handed my Passport to a Travel Agent in Phnom Penh at 11.30am yesterday along with
$295 Fee for a 12 Month Retirement Visa
$70 Fee for Express Service (Normal Service in 5 - 7 Days)

$365 Total Fee

At 8.20am today, I received a message from the Agent, that my Passport with its 12 Month Retirement Visa, was ready for collection (less than one day for the Service)

No hassles whatsoever, just gave the Agent my passport, the money and a scanned copy of my entry Visa Type E (which was the $42 Type E e.Visa obtained on line 5 days before I arrived) . So far so good and so easy.

Off down to the ACLEDA Bank tomorrow morning to open a Bank Account.

pipoz4444

[Laan Yaa Mo]

If I decided to live in Cambodia, I would probably choose Siem Reap or Battambang. The cost of a 12-month retirement visa is certainly enticing.

[pipoz4444]

If I decided to live in Cambodia, I would probably choose Siem Reap or Battambang. The cost of a 12-month retirement visa is certainly enticing.

It is only one of several places that I intend to live in when I stop working, but I must admit it is getting more livable by the day, compared to many other places. . Less regulations for Expats.

Unlike Thailand if you have a Cambodian Retirement Visa, you don't have to notify immigration and or get permission at Airport to leave the Country. You just leave and come back and all is normal as before, when you return to Cambodia.

pipoz4444

[pipoz4444]

Bank Accounts:

All done in 40 minutes, a USD and a Local Currency Account and the Bank APP downloaded onto my phone. With the App you can scan and pay at for just about everything you spend, i.e. purchases, restaurants and even a Tuk Tuk ride.

Only things I need to give the lady at the Bank was
1.Passport with Retirement Visa in it
2.Phone Number (Local)
3.An Address where I stay (didn't need to prove where I stayed)

Then they take a picture of your face, for future facial recognition. An added account security. Also had to sign a few form/papers, about half the number of that in a Thai Bank

All so easy

pipoz4444