Is Cambodia safe? We look at the 8 biggest risks & dangers for expats & foreigners in 2022!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- In this video I will talk you through the 8 things that we consider to be the biggest concerns for foreigners wanting to live long term in Cambodia. We rank each risk in terms of both likelihood and severity. Do you agree with us? Let us know in the comments!
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★ March: $120 - Heartprint
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2022
★ December: $203 - Heartprint, Reach, Cambodian Children’s Trust
★ November: $134 - Heartprint & Cre8ive Artisans Pod
★ October: $130 - Heartprint & Siem Reap Food Bank
★ September: $130 - Heartprint
★ August: $139 - Heartprint & Cambodian Children’s Trust
★ July: $117 - Heartprint
★ June: $138 - Reach
★ May: $142 - Heartprint
★ April: $138 - Cambodian Children’s Trust
★ March: $143 - Heartprint, Reach
★ January & February: $550 - Heartprint, Reach, Cambodian Children’s Trust
2021
★ December: $312 - Heartprint, Cambodian Children’s Trust
★ November: $228 - Reach, Heartprint
★ October: $330 - Reach, Heartprint
★ September: $318 - Heartprint, Reach, Safe Haven
★ August: $200 - Cambodian Children’s Trust
★ July: $203 - Reach
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★ May: $78 - Heartprint
★ April: $127 - First payment! Donated to Safe Haven & Heartprint
★ March: Waiting to meet the payment threshold
★ February: For Riel reached 1,000 subscribers & became monetised
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★ Marc’s Mildly Interesting
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★ Dave Does Cambodia
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★ Julia Haw
/ @juliahaw
★ Out Your Shell
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★ Tom Trips Out
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★ This Life Cambodia
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★ Side Trip Life
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★ Now in Lao
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★ Riding with the Ranas
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★ Andrew Taylor (Malaysia)
/ @andrewtaylor4558
Thank you for watching this video. Please do consider supporting Richard through the GoFundMe page that has been set up by his daughters. We are good friends with daughter Tanya, and she is the partner of Andy who you might know through the cannel Going Nomad AKA Pigs on Bikes: th-cam.com/users/GOINGNOMAD. We met Andy and Tanya while we were living in Siem Reap and shortly after, we met Richard. He even starred in one of our videos. Here is the link to the donation page: gofund.me/ba51c496. Richard is in an awful situation and we are really concerned for him. You can read the full story of what has happened at the GoFundMe link.
Thanks a lot for putting this video together. I often get questions about safety in Cambodia and those questions are not easy ones. Well done on this!
@@perpetualmoto thanks so much Brad! It was quite fun to make this video. 🙏🙂
Thankyou so much for helping 🙂
😊I have lived in Cambodia since 2007, the last 15 year in rural Takeo. I have rarely if ever felt unsafe. Indeed the many years I spent in London held more dangers than my current location.
After 30 trips to Cambodia in 18 years many times for 3 months I would have to say theft, violence and scams are basically nowhere to be seen. Cambodia is so safe , much safer than Melbourne AU. which is my home town.
Accidents are probably the biggest danger along with serious illness for older people.
One of the great joys of Cambodia is the local friends you will make if you take the trouble to engage with locals.
Cambodia is such a wonderful country.
We completely agree, Gary! Cambodia is incredibly safe, especially if you consider everything except the traffic. Illness after being there a long time is a concern as it would be anywhere. Thanks so much for your input.
@@ForRiel I am cambodian
There are literally multiple documentaries and endless TH-cam videos of various scams that take place in Cambodia. 🤷🏻
Perhaps what you meant to say is that you haven’t personally witnessed any.
The voice of experience, cheers bud.
@@DeeNimminmany of these are Cambodian bots pretending to be others ...
I go to the market quite frequently and have never been overcharged or ripped off, I have found most Cambodian people to be very honest.
They are amongst the most friendly people one could wish to meet.
Very happy living my retirement in Kampot.
The main market in Kampot is one of my favourite markets in Cambodia - so much atmosphere and I just love the jewellery section. It's wonderful that you have found a market where you are receiving great service and local prices. I agree that Cambodian people are very honest. Thank you for watching and sharing your experience. 🙏🙂
☀️🍀
@@ForRiel I think most ladies love the jewellery section, myself ... I like the fruit and seafood part 😋
Moving to kampot in July 😉
Have never been overcharged? Do you know what overcharged means?
Hi, thanks for the video. I am also a foreigner staying in Cambodia for over 20 years. I totally understand the 8 issues you highlighted. However on No:7, -Addiction. I feel perhaps you should include gambling and on-line gaming. I have seen foreigners get destroyed by these addictive activities. Thank you
Wow, it looks like a lot of people agree with you on this. I wasn't aware that it was an issue for foreigners in Cambodia. Thank you for pointing it out to me, I am interested in finding out more about this. 🙏🙂
Hope you didn't lose a gamble, Daniel, that made you stay here for over 20 years.
What are the most prevalent drugs of abuse out there?
@@Kholaslittlespot1ICE
As a Cambodian living in USA, I think Cambodia is safer than USA when it comes to violence crime and addiction. It is safer than Thailand and Vietnam for scam and pickpocketing. Things that I don't like about Cambodia are hygiene, food safety, and transportation. We'd like to see you make a video of where to buy qualify food in Cambodia or how buy quality meat from Australia.
Most decent grocery super stores here have a selection of different meats from the USA, Australia and Brazil. I’ve tried them all and hands down USA prime choice meat here is the best.
Coming back to Cambodia after 15 years in New Zealand and Australia . I find that a lot Cambodian restaurants nowadays are pretty cleans and up to date hygiene standards . It’s all depends on where are you prefer to eat. There are a lot of meat suppler in Cambodia ( especially in Phnom Penh ) where you can find Australia wagyu or even A5 Japanese wagyu. Australia beef also widely available in some of the supermarkets.
Yes I agree with you. I didn't think to mention food safety and hygiene. Those are definitely real and should be considered. Watching people have a rummage around in the meat pile and then move on without washing their hands still makes me twitch a bit. It is pretty easy to find meat from Australia as most of the supermarkets stock it. The negative is that it is always frozen and sometimes it's a full rump that has been frozen. It's tricky to deal with portioning it and not being able to re-freeze it. The pork in Cambodia (and all SE Asia) is first rate, and much better than the pork we are used to at home. Thanks so much for your input! 🙏🙂
I worked at a 5-diamond resort in Southern California and got food poisoning twice from eating their food. I lived in Cambodia for nine years and never got sick once, and this was with eating street food often.
@@rogermichaelwillis6425 I’ve been to Cambodia 4 times to see family. I got food poisoning twice. I get diarrhea every time I go there. Hygiene is still a problem in Cambodia, especially in rural areas.
Thanks, Claire. I regard Cambodia as a generally safe travel destination & the people seem honest, for the most part. But this video is a very worthwhile reminder that things can go wrong sometimes & we should do our best to be prepared.
Thanks so much Anthony! I think the risks are generally quite small if you take normal and sensible precautions. It's good to be prepared or at least have a plan in the event that something happens. 🙏🙂
Great info and I loved the lighting!
Cheers Kelly! I challenge you to a reaction video - how do you rate the same things? I reckon people would be interested in a different perspective. 🙏🙂
Great video Claire! My gosh you did an operational risk assessment! I was waiting to chip in with the proactive and reactive controls and come up with a residual risk rating for the country!
All great points and all things that folks should be aware of when travelling here. Chicka chow!
Haha yeah totally! We could definitely pop out a risk matrix including the proactive and reactive elements. Then we could develop it into an app that transmits a real time risk rating to a smart watch. Eg ALERT drunk Camry driver hotspot coming up. That would be so much fun! Hope you are recording video like a crazy person! 🙏🙂
@@ForRiel you had me at risk matrix!
Thank you for heads-up on what to be cautious of while living/visiting in the Kingdom. Great to see you in the video!
Cheers Richard, I'm glad you found it useful. 🙏🙂
Thanks a lot for making this video. I am planning to go to Cambodia this summer and that's exactly what I needed to show my parents to prove that the kingdom is a safe place to go.
Wonderful, John! You will have a fantastic time and if you take normal precautions, you will be absolutely fine. 🛵🙂🛵🙂
I decided to add my two cents worth. I've been living in Southeast Asia the past 9 years and 5 of those have been in Cambodia. Sorry. I decided to add my own narrative and it ended up being long! lol. Maybe someone likes to read and some of this might help them.
My two Dengue Fever experiences resulted in a rural hospitalization after the owners of a non-profit I was paying for a place to complete the requirements for a TESOL certificate decided it best not to tell me they had both been in the hospital with Dengue Fever in the months before I arrived and told me mosquito netting for my room "wouldn't look good." I was laying on a gurney without a pillow in the hospital within 3 weeks of my start. The second was during my second visit to Laos. I was able to handle this one with visits to the hospital while staying in a hotel. It was Chikungunya Fever that got me in Cambodia. Couldn't roll over in bed on my own, but I MUCH appreciated the help I got for several days of illness. The attack by the dog and rabies shots were in Thailand.
I'm a teacher so scam schools were an issue in Thailand and Cambodia. Gotta always listen to your intuition and have a plan B in mind. Not easy if you're dependent on the income. I flew from the US to "start a new school" with a crew hired by a guy I found out was a felon and the school building he said he bought was an active hotel. We were told to "tell parents whatever they want to hear" when we were sent out in the streets to recruit students. A young teacher who was hired went out drinking with everyone. I don't drink and didn't go. Huge problem of alcoholism with the Director and other teachers. They all came back. He didn't. They found him in the morgue the next day. Officials said he crashed his motorcycle. The motorcycle showed no signs of damage and they wouldn't release it. I got pushed out the day after I chatted with a psychologist acquaintance on messenger who came to my birthday party the week before. I was upset about the death and talked to him about one of the teachers throwing beer cans from his room at locals talking outside. He turned a copy of our conversation over to the alcoholic Director. That didn't go over well. I feared for my life. My two cartons of belongings shipped from the US arrived a month later. The convicted felon owner of the school made sure I never saw any of my belongings again. At another school where I worked in PP, my boss smacked a 3rd grade boy with autism with his fist so hard that his response was to take off all his clothes and run naked through the school screaming about the abuse while being chased by my boss. I quit there too.
The biggest health risk I've found in Siem Reap is walking. I don't own a motorbike and walk to markets. Dogs control the areas where I've lived. I have no idea why, but I've found that if I walk after 8am and before 2:30pm, I'm less likely to encounter packs of dogs "hunting" together. I've also found the most risky place to try to cross a street is at the corner with a stoplight with a crosswalk telling me to walk. The drivers of many cars and motorcycles see no need to be concerned about the lights, lanes or the use of sidewalks. It's much safer to cross roads in the middle of the road where you can see clearly in both directions. I was hit in Serei Saophoan at a stoplight, with a green walk-light, in a crosswalk by a motorcyclist who crossed two lanes of oncoming traffic, entered the facing lanes of traffic stopped for the light and hit me in the crosswalk. He didn't stop.
It was tough during more than a year of road construction in Siem Reap. Roads under construction were often hosed down by merchants to keep the dust down. No usable sidewalks. I slipped near a market and went flying gashing my legs and hands on the cinder size pebbles on the road and got to the intersection bloodied up in time to see a man across the street with no sidewalk being run over by the driver of a car crushing his foot as he lay sprawled out on the ground.
If you can afford it, it's best to find a couple of tuk-tuk drivers you can trust and call when needed. If not, you're at risk of drivers who will say they know your destination when you give them the information, but don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about or it's part of their scam. A driver in PP did this with me. He took me on a trip to a dark area that was no where near my destination then argued about wanting more money when we finally arrived because he had had to drive for so long. Happened last week too in Siem Reap. Even after giving the directions and destination in Khmer language and many assurances the driver knew the destination he took me to closed bars at 6:30 in the morning 3 km from my destination, but an area where I didn't know where I was. Guess he figured since I'm a foreigner, that's where I would want to go no matter what I was saying.
Wow, Kim you have seen a lot in your time in Cambodia, thank you so much for sharing. Dengue and Chikungunya sound awful and we are fortunate that we haven't had either. It sounds like you had awful experiences while you were teaching too. I am fortunate that when I taught, the school and teachers were professional and supportive; it was just the job and the hours that weren't for me.
I agree with what you say about walking, but most of the more serious encounters I have had with dogs have been while I was out running. The dogs react viciously to the unusual footfall and it piques their interest and aggression, at least that is what I have come to believe after having been chased too many times to mention.
The construction of the roads in Siem Reap was the main reason that we left, as it was impacting a lot on our quality of life. We had a little slip over in some of that super slippery mud created by locals wetting the fine dirt. I ended up sitting in the middle of the road covered in mud. Jeremy couldn't pick the bike up because he couldn't get any traction with his feet against the mud. Eventually we got back up, but it could have been a lot worse - luckily for us we were just leaving from an event so were travelling very slowly.
We never went out on our moto after dark in Phnom Penh. It was just too risky and dangerous, and with Passapps so cheap, there was absolutely no need to take the risk. Also, we never went to the riverside area as it isn't our kind of scene. We like to use the Passapp app so that the destination is plugged into their system and there is none of that funny business of taking you somewhere you don't want to go.
Thanks again for your insights and stories - it's always great to read about other people's experiences.
🛵🙏🌴🏠🙂🙏
@@ForRiel Thank you for sharing your experiences too! I was starting to feel like I was the only one laying in the mud and fearing dog attacks! I think it's important to be informed of different experiences for people thinking of visiting or staying here so they can adjust expectations and plans if desired and know the best ways to navigate the systems available.
Top notch advice. I was looking at statistics for motorbike deaths here and it really makes a huge difference if you wear a helmet, and don't drive at night. Stay safe out there and don't be a bone head.
Yeah driving at night without a helmet seems to be a recipe for disaster. PassApp is so cheap that there's really no need to risk it. I hope you've combed your hair. 🛵🙂
Great video, great tips! 2nd time to watch, from Kampot this time. lol Thanks for sharing your knowedge and experiences with us ! :)
Thank you so much Edward! I had been thinking about that video for a while before I made it - takes a bit of time to put them together. 🙏🙂
@@ForRiel You did an excellent job, that's why I watched it twice. 😁👍
I love these kinds of videos I wish others would follow your lead:
Video is nice and simple (probably not to make though)
Mega clear in what your saying and showing they are always so informative in a “Riel” way.
I have been to PP and Siem Reap and everything you show hits home with me.
Overall great job guys and thank you so much.
Thanks so much, Gary! I have been thinking about making this video for a while. It took probably around 4 hours in total, so not too bad. Really appreciate you watching. 🙏🙂
Thanks Claire, hearing your and Jeremy's perspective about these means a lot
Glad you enjoyed it! 🥰
Wow… great information as usual. These are the things that my wife and I address to foreigners that we bump into when going out.
One thing to mention with health related issues is that in Cambodia you will find pharmacies with many medications over the counter, but beware most people that manage pharmacies do not know what most of the medications in their inventory actually are for. This because they lack training. My wife being a nurse and with lots of year of experience and with knowledge of pharmaceuticals had to lecture 4 different pharmacies with those issues when finding that a woman in one of those locals seeking headache medication was given a psychotic medication for schizophrenia.
So, beware when seeking medication. By the way once explaining how and what the medication does, the owners were very appreciative.
Say hi to Jeremy, we love you Claire.
That's so true about pharmacies. I can't tell you how many times I have asked if I can have a rummage around in the boxes they keep inside the glass section of the counter. They never seem to mind. Scary to think that you could get an anti-psychotic just for a headache! That would be awful and potentially very dangerous. I saw a doctor at a clinic/small hospital in Siem Reap and found him to be excellent - blood test done on site and analysed while you wait. All for something like $25!
Thanks so much for your input on this video - it was a fun one to make. 🙏🙂
Thank you for your information. Love the way you present all your videos!
So nice of you 🥰
thanks for your time spent helping others
Thanks for your support, Laurence!
I am touring SE Asia, currently in Philippines. I loved Cambodia, found the people lovely and enjoyed Phnom Penh especially. HOWEVER, walking is a danger. The sidewalks are impassable, filled with bikes, motos and cars forcing pedestrians to walk in the road. So for a few weeks I was walking the streets, always walking into oncoming traffic. That worked ok until I was on a one way street walking from Mad Monkey to Central market and got hit by a passing moto. One moment I'm walking, the next I'm on the ground nursing my wrist. Two kids on a moto, weaving in and out of traffic, they didn't even stop. That was the worst thing that happened to me. I found the people very honest, had no problems with change in fact the opposite, found the people fastidiously fair and moral.
That can be a challenge. We walk on the side of oncoming traffic to see what's happening. Had so many close calls, luckily Jeremy is super careful and is lazer focused when riding.
Just pay attention to detail and stay away from trouble I think it is safe for me I walk around every where without worry
Yep, completely agree. The best advice is the most simple in many cases. Thanks for watching!
Bag snatches used to be the biggest problem along with mobile telephones and gold chains taken by people riding motorcycles. I always hide my gold chain , phone in the pocket and I don’t carry a handbag,,, well only on a Friday night when I’m going out .
Great topic for "news moto", very useful & informative. Good food for thought. Thanks for sharing and making people think. :) PS, I'm absolutely enjoying myself here in SR. I find myself looking at previous "news moto" vids as a great source of useful information and education. Looking forward to see if a few of those apartments & hotels will be available for me when I'm ready to relocate to Kampot. Thanks guys for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us all! :)
Hi Edward, thanks so much for watching. I am sure there will be plenty of great places to stay when you are ready to move to Kampot. We loved our time there - it's such a beautiful part of Cambodia with access to the ocean and mountains. We really appreciate you being here! 🙏🙂
@@ForRiel Thanks for the welcome!🙏😁
Thankyou so much Claire and Jeremy for the shout out to my Dad's gofundme. Very much appreciated. Any donations or share s by your viewers would be hugely appreciated. Thankyou in advance ❤️
So glad we could at least raise awareness of Richard's situation. I really hope there is a good outcome to all of this. Make sure you look after yourselves at this time.
Nice assessment. Thank you for sharing. Got to know Cambodia better.
That's great, thanks for watching! 😁
Thank You for the informative video. I feel more confident about going to Cambodia.
There are risks, but there is also plenty you can do to minimise them. Are you a very pretty grey cat by any chance? 🤣🤫😉
Very informative 👏 Thank you so much 😊
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. 🙏🙂
As usual, this is an excellent presentation. Thanks for the info.
Glad you enjoyed it!
1. Road accident often occurs, due to the inexperience of the most driver. As a cambodian myself, there are many people who drives a car with improper driving training. In Cambodia, most of their license are paid. The roads laws are not well establish in the community.
2. Theft - Yes this often occurs mainly in Phnom Penh. Be careful riding tuk tuk or passapp holding your phones near the window.
3. Health - Medication are limited in Cambodia. Getting sick for specific case are hard to diagnose. Stay away from specific local food, as most of these foods and drinks are often not sanitize. Because local farmers don't have freezer to keep their veggies and meat fresh, they use chemicals that contaminate them.
4. Diseases - I'm really afraid of mosquitos, not because of the diseases, but because these damn mosquitos loves foreigner's sweet blood, and when we get bitten foreigners heals slower than locals. Locals can handle bites, as they have higher immunity.
5. Landmine, stay away from deserted land field, if there aren't people in the area, the land may have not been come for mines.
6. Scam - definitely a lot of scams. Though this is normal in many other countries.
Yes, 100% agree there are so many people driving cars in Cambodia who don't really have any experience. No wonder there are so many accidents. I agree that scams are everywhere. I had a lot of people trying to scam me in Australia when selling things online. I really think Cambodia is very safe if you are aware of your surroundings and take care with your things. Thanks so much for watching.
Thanks for the video !
My pleasure, and thank you for watching.
Only thing I wish Cambodia have is an MRT or train system it’s so much easier to travel by those than Tuk Tuk and card or buses which puts me at risk for accidents. Like in Japan, Singapore and Thailand it’s so easy to travel around in their train
That would be wonderful, but I'd say it's many years away yet. At least the bus system is operational and modern. Thanks so much for watching. 😀🙏
Once tuk tuk goes it will never come Back….enjoy tuk tuk while you can…..❤
Im actually really glad you talked about theft and ranked it a 2. I have been here for 5 weeks so far and find that it is really hard for me to leave my house sometimes because of how much fear my family has engrained in my head. I have felt very scared about my safety in terms of theft of my bag or phone that I would just rather wear the same pants that have pockets when I leave. I feel now more at ease about leaving my house as this was one of my most biggest fear.
Hi Allisa, I'm sorry that you feel so fearful of your safety. Sometimes family members can do more harm than good when it comes to giving advice. If you go to Decathlon, they have really small backpacks that cost $3. You can easily switch it so you're wearing it on your front if you are in an area that makes you feel uneasy. I also have a crossbody bag that I sometimes wear under an open shirt but over a sleeveless top and this stops people being able to access the strap. Thieves are opportunistic and will always move on to an easier target. All the best for your time here in the Kingdom. 🛵🙏🙂🚶♀️🙏🚶♂️🙏🙂
Thanks for all your tips..!!
My pleasure!
Very informative. I’ve lived in a lot of cities and none are completely safe. It’s important to always be aware of your surroundings and never rent a place that lacks security. The more security, the better. Don’t travel down empty roads, etc, don’t let anyone follow you, especially into a vulnerable place, don’t drive, and don’t be out when the vampires are looking for blood
Thanks so much! I agree - there is a small amount of danger associated with living anywhere, and awareness of surroundings is crucial. The building where we stayed in Phnom Penh had fantastic security and we always felt great about being there. Thanks for watching!
@@ForRiel you’re welcome 🙏
Hi, me again. Back in Cambodia in April and taking my pug to Kep beach again lol.
I love your videos and find this one, as you hopefully intended, as a heads up and things to be aware of. The Alcohol thing especially as I have seen the sorry state of some people populating the same bars day on day. But hey it's a free world I guess. I share your love of Cambodia and it's people 😊
Thanks so much for watching, Derek! Yes there are a lot of people, especially in places like Kampot, starting their day with beers in the morning. It's absolutely their choice, but a slippery slope if you are on your own with nobody around to tell you that you maybe ought to slow down. Love Kep in all of its weirdness!
I'm really glad you brought up addiction. I've witnessed the propensity for this and it can be quite alarming.
Thanks Julia. We have seen it too and it's pretty confronting. Do you watch @BangkokPat ? Great channel - he talks about the same issue in Thailand and in much more detail. 🙏🙂
@@ForRiel interesting! I'll give it a watch!
I’m now into my 14th year as a resident of Cambodia. I would reckon Cambodia to be basically very safe, if you keep your wits about you. One thing you missed out on Claire is the issue of driving non-moto vehicles, and the fact that, if you do have a road accident, as a foreigner you WILL be at fault, no matter how blameless you think you are. All good drivers will tell you that you are only one bad driver away from an accident, and there are many, many bad drivers in Cambodia. Khmers used to tend to drive badly slowly, which was fine for the western-trained driver. However now there are also a lot of very bad Chinese drivers, and they tend to drive very fast, a habit that Khmers are increasingly copying. RTAs are becoming more commonplace and more deadly. I decided to stop driving here five years ago and have never regretted the decision. For long trips I take taxis I trust, and for local trips I take tuktuks.
Any long-term expat resident of Cambodia will have endless tales of mishaps and adventures, as do I, but most will also raise a glass to the good fortune that brought them to this always welcoming, sometimes insane, often infuriating, ultimately blessedly beautiful country. You usually do an Only In Cambodia segment. The refrain often heard here from expats is a rueful “This Is Cambodia!”, or a sotto-voce “TIC!”, a catch-all expression to explain the latest manifestation of weird, wonderful, crazy or just unexpected.
To anyone thinking of visiting the Kingdom, don’t be dissuaded by the potential negatives, do come and enjoy the many positives.
Hi Charles, lovely to hear from you and have your opinion as a long-term expat. 14 years is quite the stint! Are you in PP? Have you moved around much in that time? I rode motos everywhere we lived in Cambodia except PP. There's just too much traffic, too many distractions, and too many people in a hurry. It was fantastic to live in TTP so close that I could walk to most of the places I wanted to go. I hope this video didn't seem too negative, and like you, I would encourage anyone to visit the Kingdom and consider it as a long-term option as well. We loved living there. 🙂🎉🙂🎉🙂
You must make sure that you have sufficient medical insurance and read the fine print carefully
Yes definitely! 🇰🇭🙏😊
Cambodia feels very safe, the people are friendly and community minded. I think bowel health deserves a mention, worth taking worm/parasite tablets every few months. Also too much sticky high gluten rice can cause problems. 2 out of 5 seems a bit high for theft. Cases do make a splash in the media.
Yes, we took those worm tablets while we were there. Simple, easy, and we felt so much better afterwards. Thankfully we never experienced theft but we're aware it happens. Funny someone else was saying we should have put it much higher! Everyone's experience is different, I guess. 🙏🙂
If struck with a sudden onset, life-threatening medical condition, Cambodia isn't high on my list of where I'd want to be located. So, I'd say that's the greatest potential danger.
Same can be said for any remote location. Life is short and sometimes you need to take small risks, to get big rewards.
Excellent video !
Thank you very much! 🙏🙂💚
One of your best videos 🙏👌❤️
Thank you!
@@ForRielgot a big story if you interested.
very good anaysis and am sure valuable to some
Thanks so much Dennis! 🙏🍺😁
Very informative.
Glad it was useful. Thanks for watching!
❤love Cambodia……people so friendly……I felt very safe……will go back
Fantastic, it's a beautiful place to live.
Well done thanks
Thank you, and thank you for watching!
If standing by your side, not Cambodian, your rating are absolutely correct and with reasons. Love your videos about my country. I hope some politicians watch your video and make a better lives for Cambodian.
Thank you so much, it's really great to hear that you agree, at least for foreigners. We love Cambodia and have not had any major issues with safety while there. 🙏🙂
We been to Cambodia countless of times. In 2018, both my wife and I contracted dengue fever while we were there. I got really sick and thought that I was going to die. Of course, I started to have symptoms while we were in Korea on the way back home. When we arrived home, I went straight to the ER. Our local doctor didn't have much experience in treating dengue but I survived. For sure, I would say traffic accident has always been my main concerned while we were there. Everything else, I don't feel threaten. Thanks for the info Claire.
Wow sounds like you had a nasty case of dengue. Awful! I agree that traffic is probably the main thing to be concerned about. Thanks so much for your input. 😁🙏🍍🛺🐈⬛
I got dengue fever in the Philippines in 2020 and yes you do think you're going to die.
Very good video and universal for all traveling abroad . I traveled to Cambodia and loved the culture and the Cambodian people. Outside Angkor wat was children begging at a level I have never seen but they were hard selling merchandise , it was hard to handle , they whet relentless. I felt bad and wanted to adopt them all . The Khmer people are beautiful and there ancient history is the greatest of all civilizations in Asia. Than you.
Thank you for watching, Forrest! Yes the children begging is a tricky one and charity is difficult because you can't help everyone. Cambodia is a wonderful place to be, I agree.
Great video tip
Thank you for watching!
Great video
Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Im long term Thailand and Vietnam traveller, love to see Cambodia and Myanmar someday
They both have a lot to offer. We spent a month travelling around Myanmar and loved it. I think that was around 8 years ago.
Really enjoyed the presentation. Can you suggest a good value Health insurance, also just to clarify does them mean long term or ongoing travel insurance?
Thanks so much Michael! We used SafetyNet. Thankfully we never had to claim from them, but they were recommended to us by someone who had a bad leg injury from a moto crash - four breaks, I think. He was very happy with the service they provided and the care he received under the insurance. You can have a look at their policies and prices on this page: www.safetynet-health.com/for-individuals/. Another benefit of using this company is that they are affiliated with Forte and will give you a Forte Covid insurance certificate when you take out a policy with them (good for Thiland). I'm not sure if you can purchase it outside Cambodia as we bought ours while we were there.
@@ForRiel Greatly appreciate your help in this area, especially given it’s the most important aspect of expat planning and one of the more pricey components of the budget that seems to be missed in many of the “what does it cost” TH-cam bloggers vids.
Love your charitable work supporting the people.
Joy and peace,
Mike
Very informative great video, congratulations Claire...‼️👌🍁🙏🥂👏🍺🤝🌷👏🍻🙏.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much for watching, Oscar!
you're amazing. You know the news in detail. Do you read Khmer, too?
Oh no, I cannot read Khmer and am not very good at speaking either. I need to try harder. Thank you for watching!
Claire, Re the guy who had a stroke, if he had previously informed the insurance company that he had a blood pressure issue, but it is under control with medication, then that companies response, is reprehensible
Yeah it absolutely is. His daughters are fighting the ruling but it's not going to be easy as these companies are expert in getting out of paying up. It's an awful situation. 🙏🙂
Great information ℹ️ why did your friend needs to return to the UK?
He's in a really bad way and I guess his family want to be with him and also he can access medical care for free there. 🙏🙂
As for medical, after recent experiences with the Australian medical care and have been in the transfer hospital in Samroang…. I think they are now on a par. I also got a dog bite in Bali Few years ago and the service in the Kuta hospital was way better than I have had in Perth.
My only experience was at Nek Teap clinic in Siem Reap. The service was excellent - saw doctor, blood test on site, blood analysed, saw doctor about the results all within an hour and for a cost of about $25. Amazing service that would not be possible here in Australia.
Thanks that was really informative, would you say it was safer for international traveler’s in Cambodia or Asians?
I think it is generally very safe for everyone! There are things you can do to minimise risk and I think this is true whether you are western or from another Asian country. Thanks so much for watching! 🙏🙂
Noting relevant for me 🇳🇴👍
Yes, really the roads are the most dangerous thing you will face here.
What needs to be made known, If you are injured in a motor bike accident, and you have accident,travel, insurance ect, your insurance is VOID, if you don’t have a bike license in you home country,
Yes that is so true. We try to tell people all the time that it's not just whether you can legally ride in Cambodia, it's the insurance side as well. We wouldn't ride if we weren't licensed to ride in Australia. 🙏🙂
Beautiful country wonderful people I love It and would recommend it for everyone who loves adventures
I agree, 100%!
An interesting survey (poll?) you could put on your community page:
What shocked you the most when you first came to Cambodia (or what still shocks you the most)?
Great idea! I'm trying to think of polls that have four or less options because the poll feature allows a maximum of four. I'll need to think about this one.
There’s not a lot of videos about this so thanks for that
Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!
Thanks for the tips. Great video!
I am from Cape Town planning on moving next year god willing to teach English. Many of my family and friends are concerned about my safety. After watching this and many other videos, I realized this is far from dangerous.
I mean no disrespect, but where I am from South Africa as a whole is a million times more dangerous. Drugs, murders, gangs, rapes, robberies and break ins etc. Sadly, we have become so use to this lifestyle.
The truth is, in my humble opinion. Wherever you go the general safety rules apply to apply.
Mine your own business, do not MESS with locals. Do not walk with valuables exposed. Always stay in a group in the day and night time. Yes, use your skincare in your have issues like me ( eczema ) and use the repellants.
So I guess, the same rules apply no matter the place or country.
PS: I want to go to Cambodia now more than ever!
Thanks
Thank you for watching! There is a good sized Saffa community here in Siem Reap, and they have told us the same - that Cambodia is safe and easy compared to their country. People do say bad things about Cambodia and the things that can happen, but we have not experienced anything negative apart from a very minor bit of overcharging here and there. Nothing to worry about at all!
@@ForRiel Appreciate the feedback. If you dont mind me asking. Currently, how would you rate Phnom Penh
Thanks
You're welcome!
I think if we stay away from d main roads@national roads/hiways , especially if u r riding a motorbike ,we can avoid unnecessary accidents .
The highways are the worst. Very unsafe with all the huge trucks using them.
I'm seriously tempted, long term COPD is a worry though.
That is concerning. Do what's best for your health. 🍍🇰🇭🏝
I also have COPD and am curious if maintenance inhalers are readily available in the pharmacies. I know that rescue inhalers are.
Can you get sanitary pads easily or are you better off with a cup or disc? Thanks.
You can get pads no problem, but you can also buy the cups here in a couple of places.
I’ve been in lots of countries and Cambodia is one of the safest places I have been to.
Yes, I'd definitely agree with that! The biggest danger are the dogs and the traffic. Apart from that, I don't think there is much to be worried about. Thank you for watching.
Avoid sleazy bars and dark alleys and respect local cultures and norms and u will b safe. Don't try to provoke d locals or intimidate anyone or when u r tipsy or drunk , just head to bed otherwise u might get into trouble . Cambodians are generally , typically friendly , and welcome foreigners with open arms . Of course , crimes do occur occasionally but in general it's very safe der
Hi Pat, I agree with all you have said. Respect is really important and trouble is easily avoided. 🍺😁🍍🙏
@@ForRiel have a great time day. Cheers 🙏🙏♥️♥️
I'm still waiting for Blogger to do a content of 8 biggest risks & danger for local citizens & expats to live in America..
So dangerous with all those guns! 🔫🔫🔫
I'm living in the USA and dreadful of sending our little children off to school every day. Can you please do a safety tips for us? 🙏😰😬
I'm so sorry about what has happened over there. It's heartbreaking and pointless. Those poor children.
Reform the gun laws, for a start...
@@antonyvaughan7808nonsense, most gun crimes are committed by black criminals against blacks, read the fbi statistics. better to stop big pharma injecting kids with garbage, and stop woke schools from infecting kids with woke ideology.
@@jtns2845I think someone has been watching way too much FOX News 😅🎉
How about the risk of government? I think it's a lot more unstable than people think.
We don't talk about the government on our channel.
@ 5:23 Its funny you mention Dengue fever. The country i wanted to visit the most wea/is Cambodia. I started my journey in December 2019 to Cambodia, but the plandemic stopped that in Malaysia. I waited for the rules and regulations to end. They ended and i got into Cambodia, within 2 days of entering i got dengue fever and it took about 28 days to recover. I did not got to the hospital cause there is no treatment for it. Just got to rest and eat really healthy.
Oh no! If you go to hospital with dengue here, they'll just put you on a saline drip for a few days. Awful that you were unwell for so long, but that does seem to be common, along with weakness and sometimes depression. I hope you recovered and were able to enjoy the Kingdom.
Where did you get it? We’re you golfing or outside a lot? Mosquito repellent?
When I travel I keep cash in my shoes. If I'm at a restaurant I go to the loo just before leaving and pull out the correct money to pay. Don't carry anything that can be snatched. 😊
Yes, it's good to take precautions, and eventually, they become second nature. Minimising exposure to risk is important.
Hello! Live in Phnom Penh and feel like only danger is getting phone stolen....unless you are walking riverside 4am looking for 'somehth
ing'..then could be a lot worse lol
So true, Cambodia is a very safe country. 🙏
Thanks for the info. Great video. And I wouldn't dare disagree with either of you.
Stay safe. Stay punny. Peace.
You should disagree even just for fun! 🤣🤣🤣🍺🙏
Thanks 4 sharing helpful information. How about ghosts? A lot of ppl die there. War is hell. 👻🤘👊
Yes, ghosts are a consideration after all of those poor people died. 😢
This is fun
Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Excellent coverage of really important points to consider I find the people are just way more passive and patient in general here and I feel safer living here in Siem Reap than I do in NZ
Thanks so much, it's great to hear your perspective. I think Cambodia is incredibly safe and we had only very minor issues in our time there. I agree with your assessment of Cambodian people. 🙏🙂
Hey thx I'm thinkn bout checkn out cambodia when I retire the phils and thailand are two extremes I'm eliminating from my list
Cambodia is definitely worth a look, but having said that, it's not for everyone. Come for a visit first if you have the means. Thanks for watching.
@@ForRiel thx I'm definitely the type to not need a lot of Namerican luxuries and I've been in a couple poorer countries where the scams just get plain tiring 🤙🤙🫡🫡
Can you make a video of Cambodian who living abroad? Can they buy a house in Cambodia? What kind of visa do they need and about double citizenship.
Hi Calvin, I'm not sure about those things, but this Facebook group is excellent and I am sure you will find answers there: facebook.com/groups/333901840112789
In 2016 Hun Sen decided that driving a motorcycle below 125 CC did not need a license. 1 motorcycle, 5 family members on the same motorcycle. The cost was too much for the everyday farmer. No-one knows the right of way laws. Cambodians have convinced themselves that if their front wheel is in front of yours they have right of way. This is the cause for most of the accidents in Cambodia. This is not the law, just common belief.
It is certainly a extremely draining exercise riding anywhere. I have to say it's one the most unpredictable place I've ever ridden.
Thanks for watching and commenting 🙂
As far as Dengue goes, there's nothing in the book for that one, I'm afraid. Caught it in Samoa in 2001 and felt like a dog that was beaten with a stick. It lasts five days and you can't really eat. All you can really do is lie in bed with a blinding fucking headache. Luckily, I found a quack down there who gave me a wheelbarrow full of codeine (he was a fellow Brit) and told me to sleep through it. Pretty sure he got struck off a few years back. Shame. He was a good bloke.
Anyhow, my advice there is to just ride it out and stay hydrated. I used beer mainly, which works well with codeine.
Great channel, btw. Best from Blighty.
Oh wow, dengue sounds awful. Thankfully we haven't had it, but many, many people we know have had it, often more than once. Jeremy had typhoid and that was terrible. We had unwittingly let our vaccinations slide as we didn't realise it was only good for two years. Thanks so much for watching!
@@ForRiel Indeed, Clare. The old dengue is no Mardi Gras at all. Sorry to hear about Mr Thatcher's typhoid, but that's the price we pay for being feckless, global tramps.
Looking forward to catching up with you guys some day over an iced latte (filled with bourbon) and we can swap tropical disease stories.
- about accidents i agree because accidents happen almost everyday, especially during night time and along the national road just avoid driving at night during 12am to 5am this is the time where drunk people go home from party.
- theft is happen every day, try to avoid using ur value things near the road or the road that less people even when u driving dont use ur phone, u may get serious injury from theft. at night avoid go the street that less people or less light street during 1AM to 6 AM this is active time for theft (be careful riding TukTuk too, they may take u to some silent place and rob u at night).
- Violence is happen quite a lot in Phnom Penh, i mean usually happen small group of high school gangster and every school has their own gangster group. usually gangster didnt do anything to traveler i think because they cant speak other language and they have nothing brag about by doing violence with traveler.
- about scam it happen a lot, especially a lot about the price some place sell 2 to 3 times normal price to foreigner, it's good for buying in Mart or where that has price on it however not all people scam at price, for some people selling street food or stuff along the street they honest and they have their own pride for make living on their sweat and not scam the other, just help buy them and u will make their day because they will have money to buy food for themselves or their family for a day or 2.
I live in Phnom Penh so i share a bit problems here.
take care when u travel every one.
Yes it's a good idea to stay off the streets late at night! You have some very good advice to avoid theft - definitely things everyone should know. We used to do most of our shopping in the Marts in Phnom Penh because being able to see the prices was easier for us. Thanks so much for sharing this great information! 🙂🙏
Theft likelyhood 2 out of 5? That must be a joke. I'd give it a 10 out of 5. You see it almost daily. No place else in SEA it is happens more than in Phnom Penh
Wow, have you experienced theft yourself? We lived in TTP and it never happened to us, but I think the riverside area would be much worse. Please give more detail - I'm genuinely curious about this stuff. 🙏🙂
Where did you see that ? You are so lucky to see it daily.
It has never happened to us!
Can you buy Private health insurance inside Cambodia??
Yes, there are options, one of which is Safetynet.
what about food hygiene and safety? pvt money changer risky?
We have no concerns about food hygiene, and no worries about money changer because we don't use them. We only withdraw in Riel, so no issues! 🐈⬛🙏🎯🇰🇭
How safe is bicycling?
About the same as riding a motorcycle, just need to be super aware of your surroundings.
Thanks for watching and commenting 🙂
I disagree about land mine in Cambodia .
So far how many tourists were killed or injured by land mine?
Not very many if they stay in safe areas. So we put it as low but extreme if it did happen.
See Braeton Howard (RIP) aka 'No Joke Howard'. I think he ticked all boxes.
Yeah his lifestyle was intense to say the least....
Hi there,I hope the govt or NGOs build fire stations near crowded areas esp KM 8 & 9...their houses are so closed to each others.Or subsidised for house owners to own fire extinguishers.
We actually have fire hydrants throughout Siem Reap now so things are slowly changing.
@@heartprints_by_wendy KM 8 & KM 9 is at P Penh
@@abdulrahmanabdulghani8833 yes I am aware, I merely meant it is starting to be on their list so hopefully will improve throughout the country.
Yes I have seen those areas where the houses are so very close together. Everyone cooks on open flames too, which makes it even more dangerous. I hope fire safety improves - even a fire retardant blanket in each house would be a good thing. 🙏🙂
Could you mention a place where there are no problems?
We've only ever had very minor issues. I think road safety is the biggest thing to worry about jn Cambodia.
Hi can you let me know can you used 1 and 2 us dollars in Cambodia as I have been told you can now used them now.thaks paul
They're still sound but their use is decreasing rapidly. Don't bring anything smaller than $10.
Great and very useful video; well thought out “For Riel”. Great service and good on you for sharing!
Diseases / Health /Accidents are both topics that perked my ear. I am in the medical field and I would put these items top of my list; A lot of these things depend on your personal situation (and most underestimate their risk = humans are poor at assessing risk = I.E. risk from vaccines vs risk from disease.):
The big issue for the individual is how risk starts to multiply and you almost ensure some future problem (some that are catastrophic):
- age is a multiplier
- behavior is a multiplier (sex / drugs / etoh)
- being male is a multiplier
- pre existing health / mental health issues (I find the % of expats with issues with these very high) - multiplier
- how connected are you to the community / have a safety net - if low then is a multiplier
- length of time in country (this could go either way = lower risk as you learn vs increase exposure to risky situations) - plus / minus multiplier
Great topic = well thought out!
Yes! This is absolutely true. All of those things compounded make it very likely that something negative will happen. I hadn't actually thought about it that way before, but you are right. Another multiplier is lack of funds, so lack of a safety net in terms of being able to leave if necessary. Also lack of funds in terms of not having enough money to do preventative things like seeing a doctor or dentist when the problem is small. Thanks so much for your input - much appreciated. 🙏🙂
For Riel, is the $2000 (or $3000) for quarantine still required to enter Cambodia?Thanks!
I believe that is not required anymore
Not if you are vaccinated. If unvaccinated you can either book and pay for a hotel to do your 7 days, or pay the deposit and have the cost of the 7 days subtracted from it. I believe it's only $1,000 now due to the reduction in days from 14 to 7. 🙏🙂
@@ForRiel thank you very much!
There is no quarantine for unvaccinated traveller's to Cambodia or Vietnam now. Check online for current information.
@@craig1594 tnx!
I would rank theft in phnom penh at a 4 or 5 likelihood. maybe the provinces would be a 2. had my bag snatched with phone and wallet along the riverside near the public gym.
Oh no! That's awful, and I'm sorry to hear that happened to you.
50cent beer ! I am coming over :)
Mad no to! Get it while it's cold.
Whit the new millionaires escape from china Cambodia become one of the bigers developers contrys in Asia and quality of live skyrocket
Hopefully 😉🇰🇭
Claire, sorry to be a nuisance, you forgot risk no 9 , sitting in the front seat of a mini van, travelling between Phnom Penh , and Seam Reap , with a Cambodian driver, that is high risk, !
Oh yeah, mini vans in general are bloody dangerous! The drivers are usually crazy and drive so aggressively. Totally nuts.
Great job, you should get citizenship of honor
I wish! Wouldn't that be wonderful? 🙏🙂