Is It Safe to Travel to Cambodia in 2026?
Cambodia - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Mainland Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline along the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest.
Is It Safe to Travel to Cambodia in 2026?
Cambodia is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Cambodia due to crime and landmines. Street crime, particularly phone and bag snatchings, occurs frequently in areas where foreigners gather; resistance can result in injury. Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote areas throughout Cambodia, especially in certain provinces. Do not travel to areas within 50km of the Cambodia – Thailand border due to ongoing fighting between Cambodian and Thai military forces.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: increased caution due to crime and landmines, ongoing fighting between Cambodian and Thai military forces, limited ability to provide emergency services.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a significant risk of street crime, particularly phone and bag snatchings in tourist areas, where resistance can lead to injury.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and limited consular support, but major cities have adequate infrastructure for meetings and accommodations.
Families with children should be cautious due to the prevalence of street crime and limited healthcare access outside major urban centers, as well as the risk of landmines in rural areas.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas, but should avoid rural regions due to limited internet access and potential health risks.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Cambodia.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Cambodia – Thailand Border
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel1 region
▶Cambodia – Thailand Border
Do not travel to areas within 50km of the Cambodia – Thailand border due to ongoing fighting.
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution6 regions
▶Banteay Meanchey Province
Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote areas.
▶Battambang Province
Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote areas.
▶Kampong Thom Province
Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote areas.
▶Pailin Province
Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote areas.
▶Pursat Province
Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote areas.
▶Siem Reap Province
Landmines and unexploded ordnance are found in remote areas.
Cambodia has 7 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Cambodia
Protect your trip to Cambodia — medical care, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation, wherever you're headed.
Mobile data in Cambodia
Skip roaming fees — get an eSIM and land in Cambodia with data already working.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Cambodia has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 23/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Required
Currency
Riel (KHR)
Language
Khmer
Notable restrictions:
- Drug possession is illegal, including medical marijuana.
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: low
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, primaquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Dengue: Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites.
- alertGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Cambodia
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Cambodia?
▶Is it safe to travel to Cambodia right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Cambodia?
▶What vaccines do I need for Cambodia?
▶Is Cambodia safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Cambodia?
More Cambodia Data
Not Free — 23/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.