Cambodia Angkor first-time guide

Fish Amok: the national dish. Coconut curry steamed fish in banana leaf, lemongrass and turmeric forward, with rice $3-6. Khmer Kitchen in Siem Reap is reliable.

Lok Lak: black pepper soy stir-fried beef cubes with lettuce and rice, lime-pepper dip, $4-7. Available at local restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Kuy Teav: breakfast noodle soup, pork or fish broth, meatballs, liver, bean sprouts, $1.5-3. Street stalls are most authentic, open 6-9 am.

Banh Chao: Vietnamese-style crepe Cambodian version, rice batter with bean sprouts and prawns, wrapped in lettuce, $2-3. Made fresh at street stalls.

Num Pang: baguette sandwich with dried pork, ham, cucumber, carrot, pate, $1.5-2.5. French colonial legacy, sold from carts.

Khmer Hot Pot (Soup Durian Khmer): not durian — a combination hot pot + grill on a copper dome, coconut lemongrass broth with veg and meat, $8-15 for 2-3 people.

Tuk Na Ek (palm sugar juice): boiled palm sap syrup over ice, $1-2, the go-to cooler, sold at street stalls and by vendors.

Landmine zones: rural Cambodia still has uncleared areas — tourist sites and roads are cleared and safe, but do not leave marked paths in the jungle. Angkor park edges have red triangle warning signs; stop when you see one.

Child labour and begging: children sell postcards or scarves at temple gates. Do not give money or buy from children — it incentivises parents to send them begging instead of school. To help, donate to an NGO.

Rainy season roads: May-Oct, Route 6 between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh floods commonly, buses may be 2-4 hr late. Angkor after rain is beautiful for reflection shots, but muddy paths — wear grippy shoes.

Tipping culture: Cambodia is a tipping country — hotel housekeeping $1, restaurants 5-10% (when service charge not on bill), tuk-tuk driver $1-2/day. Not mandatory, skip for poor service.

USD note condition: Cambodia refuses old or torn USD notes — banks reject them. When exchanging, ask for post-2006 series with no damage. Damaged notes are discounted or refused.

Siem Reap airport departure tax: included in your ticket — no separate payment. But Phnom Penh airport some low-cost carriers exclude it, collecting $25 at check-in; confirm beforehand.