Cambodia is a tourist destination that attracts many international visitors in recent years. In addition to preparing for the tour, accommodation, meals, transportation, Cambodian currency, and the exchange rate is also a lot of people interested. Here are some experiences to change money before planing Cambodia tours that you should know.
Cambodia Currency
Cambodian called their national currency is RIEL (pronounced as “real” in English). RIEL is written “KHR” in short for example KHR 1,000.00. “KHR” means Khmer Riel. The word “Khmer” (pronounced as “khe-mayh”) is the original name of Cambodia.
Purchasing of Cambodia Currency
We will give you some detail examples of the purchasing power of Riel in Cambodia:
- The smallest can of Coca-Cola (Coke) in Cambodia can be bought in small retail for 2,000 Riel (about US$0.5). This price can be charged higher in the restaurant.
- A plate of fried rice with meat and vegetable is about 8,000 Riel (US$2) to 12,800 Riel (US$3,20)
- A one-kilometer ride on a “moto” will cost about 1,500 Riel (about US$0.37). A “moto” is a motorcycle that is used for public transportation purposes
- The cheapest room in a hotel that is not a luxury hotel but has good and comfortable accommodation is more or less KHR200,000 (about US$50.00)
The Use of the US Dollar in Cambodia
US dollar is also considered as the national currency in Cambodia. It is accepted everywhere and anywhere in Cambodia. Payments in large businesses are made in U.S Dollars. Cambodia is a tourist destination that attracts many international visitors in recent years. In addition to preparing for the tour, accommodation, meals, transportation, changing money when traveling to Cambodia is also a lot of people interested. Here are some experiences to change money in the Cambodia tour packages that you should know.
Exchanging some Cambodia Currency right at the gate
When you come to check-in at the border or stop at any restaurant in the Cambodian area, there will be many people doing the money exchange here. They often pull you to change money. You can exchange some of your money into Riel money, remember to change only a few to use in buying water, buying sim because the exchange rate back to the border area is not as high as in the capital Phnom Penh or Siem Reap city. This is one of the experiences when traveling to Cambodia that you should remember.
Money Exchange at banks, hotels, gold shops or exchange currency counters in Cambodia
In Cambodia, you can exchange money at various locations, some of which offer services such as banks, hotels, gold shops, or currency counters. Rates in these places will be very different. It is best to exchange money at major banks in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.
When exchanging money at hotels, gold shops, or foreign exchange counters, procedures are extremely fast, the rates are not much lower than in the bank, it is also easy to find so many people prefer to choose these places to change money in the Phnom Penh tours or Siem Reap tour.
Some other experiences when exchanging money in Cambodia tour
• Except for Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, rural areas in Cambodia use only Riel money. So visitors should change both the US Dollar and Cambodian currency to use.
• If you buy items worth less than 1 USD, you should use Cambodian money (Riel money) to pay. It will be more profitable.
• When exchanging money or receiving excess money, tourists should check carefully. Avoid the case of torn money, crumpled, or counterfeit money.
• At many hotels, restaurants, and shopping in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, credit cards are accepted. Visitors can pay by Visa Card, Master Card, and JBC.
