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, unrest, and unexploded ordnance. Do Not Travel to Areas along the Cambodian and Thai border due to unrest. Exercise increased caution in Phnom Penh due to crime. Exercise Increased Caution in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear provinces due to unexploded ordnance.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- civil_unrest
- other
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Exercise increased caution due to crime, unrest, and unexploded ordnance., Do Not Travel to Areas along the Cambodian and Thai border due to unrest..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face significant risks from street crime, particularly in urban areas like Phnom Penh, where petty theft and scams are common.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to civil unrest and must remain vigilant in urban areas with higher crime rates.
Families with children face risks from unexploded ordnance in several provinces and limited healthcare access outside major cities, necessitating extra caution.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban centers but should avoid rural areas where infrastructure is lacking and health risks are higher.
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:
- Cambodian and Thai border
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel1 region
▶Cambodian and Thai border
Do Not Travel due to unrest.
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution8 regions
▶Banteay Meanchey
Exercise Increased Caution due to unexploded ordnance.
▶Battambang
Exercise Increased Caution due to unexploded ordnance.
▶Kampong Thom
Exercise Increased Caution due to unexploded ordnance.
▶Pailin
Exercise Increased Caution due to unexploded ordnance.
▶Phnom Penh
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
▶Preah Vihear
Exercise Increased Caution due to unexploded ordnance.
▶Pursat
Exercise Increased Caution due to unexploded ordnance.
▶Siem Reap
Exercise Increased Caution due to unexploded ordnance.
Cambodia has 9 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
Travel insurance for Cambodia
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Mobile data in Cambodia
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▶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
Check embassy for details
Currency
Riel (KHR)
Language
Khmer
Vaccinations
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
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.