Trip Report For Phnom Penh, Cambodia

[emilyb]

The locals tell me that power is very expensive here though, but I am not in a position to verify.

That's correct, though unless you're counting pennies you won't notice as an individual. It only really starts to add up for businesses (or large households I suppose). An electricity bill for a four-room condo with four people living there, aircon, fridge and multiple TVs and so on wouldn't be more than $100-$150, which isn't ridiculously expensive in this climate. I think it's largely one of those things expats just find to whinge about, while their beer budget far exceeds the electric bill differential.

Great report, I lived there for five years and this report is pretty close to spot on except the bit about the Pickled Parrot and The Garage, both of these places sell crap food.

Can't speak to Pickled Parrot. Garage has (had?) a very friendly owner, but the menu has gone downhill for sure. There are many better places to go.

To the many people posting about your SIM card experience - if internet access is important, don't buy at the airport, don't buy from the phone shop, get on the moto and go to Mobitel HQ just over on Sihanouk and get it done there. You'll pay less for the overall service, have a chance to get good answers in English, you'll get actual 3G internet service (quicker than Thailand, contrary to what's above) and it won't take 20 minutes of your day.

Edited April 7, 2012 by emilyb

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

OK, now that we've talked about all the frivolous stuff, let's talk about some really important and serious stuff... as promised...

BEER!

I made a point during my visit to sample everything that I could find of local Cambodian brews -- just one bottle or can or draught of each, though. And I must say, I found several of them to be quite good and likeable, and I'd rate the overall beer offerings there as definitely superior to Thailand's local stuff in terms of taste and variety (admitting that beer taste is certainly a subjective opinion)... and absolutely in terms of value or price.

Just to give some examples, the most common beer I found there is the ever-present Angkor lager brand, which actually I found rather bland and unexciting for my taste. But that said, it's available in restaurants and bars and such all over town for $1 or less per bottle, can or draught mug. Now, compare that in Bangkok to just about the cheapest happy hour beer specials I'm aware of being 60 baht per local brew, and you're talking double the price at a minimum.

Another difference is the availability of dark/stout beers in Cambodia, where there are several different local and very reasonably priced varieties that I quite enjoyed... In Thailand, there's a limited selection of imported dark beers, but not many widely available. And perhaps the most widely available dark I'm aware of is Beer Lao, which isn't Thai at all. I'm not aware of any of the main Thai brands producing a dark beer version.

I forgot to get a price in the markets on the regular Angkor lager beers.

But among the other varieties, I found individual Cambodian brand beers going for a range between 70 cents to $1.40 per bottle or can, which translates into 22 baht to 43 baht, which also beats the Thai locals just in terms of pricing. I also found cans of Guinness Stout going for $1.35 or about 42 baht, which is probably several times less than the price of the few markets that used to sell it in BKK.

Here's a look at some of what was on offer (and their supermarket prices in U.S. $):

Cambodia Lager bottles -- 70 cents.

Angkor Extra Stout (Dark) bottles - 95 cents.

Kingdom Dark Lager bottles - $1.10

ABC (Archipelago Brewing Co.) Stout cans - $1.40

As someone who enjoys Guinness, I quite liked the ABC Stout beers, and thought it had a cleaner taste than the Kingdom and Angkor varieties. But, without knowing anything about it, I also really liked the Black Panther Stout brand for $1 a bottle during happy hour that I found at the Freebird Restaurant/Pub.

And here's a look at Freebird's entire happy hour menu that gives you a general idea of how the restaurant beer prices go in Cambodia for the different varieties.

And lastly, the Guinness Stout on offer at the supermarket for $1.35 a can, interesting in that it's a slightly lower price than the ABC Stout I really liked at $1.40 a can. But either way, that's about 43 or 44 baht per can... and try finding anything comparable in the Thai markets for those prices.

Edited April 7, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[DP25]

When I talked about the Cambodian recipe for English, I meant more the educational process/system that's producing young people who can speak English so relatively well, especially considering the history and development level of their country.

Thailand has plenty of language and tutoring schools and programs, and loads of native English speakers and supposed "teachers" roaming around. Yet Thai students seem to be able to go thru their English lessons in school and even the language school stuff and still emerge with little English command or fluency.

I think the reason is mainly economic and cultural. Thais go through school never learning English because they don't really want or need to learn it. Thailand is a relatively large country with a successful economy, and in general Thais are not very interested in the outside world. English is certainly useful, but far from necessary. People can support themselves just fine without it. And culturally there are plenty of movies, tv shows, books, magazines, and websites entirely in Thai.

Cambodia has a small population that is incredibly dirt poor. 1/4 of the population live on $1.25 a day or less, over half on under $2 a day. A good teaching job in Phnom Penh, one that requires education, pays $80 a month. Cambodia has virtually no industry so there aren't enough jobs, huge numbers are forced to move to Thailand every year to work or else they will starve as there is no work. Even being exploited and getting below Thai minimum wage is a great improvement. Learning English is one of the only things they can do that can improve their quality of life. A Cambodian tuk tuk driver that learns English won't have his children go hungry. He also won't be as fussy over the price as he's happy to just have a customer so he can make a buck instead of nothing.

Koreans spend enormous sums on learning English, much more than the Thais, and their English is even worse. Same with the Japanese. If anything English in Thailand might just get worse

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Wiki had this info on Cambodia's economic development and propensity for corruption:

Rebuilding from decades of civil war, Cambodia has seen rapid progress in the economic and human resource areas. The country has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with economic growth growing an average 6.0% for the last 10 years. Strong textiles, agriculture, construction, garments, and tourism sectors led to foreign investments and international trade.^[7] In 2005, oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, and once commercial extraction begins in 2013, the oil revenues could profoundly affect Cambodia's economy.^[8] However the majority of Cambodians are not beneficiaries of economic growth because wealth is spread very unevenly, as a result of the prevalence of massive government corruption. According to Transparency International Cambodia is the fourth most corrupt nation in the Asia Pasific region, only Afganistan, North Korea and Myanmar are considered more corrupt, Cambodia is ranked 164 out of 182 in the world.^[9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

Excellent report Tall Guy...I wish I could take notes as good as you...I spend a lot of time in Cambo and I actually learned a few things...Thanks...Cheers.

Thanks for the earlier post about your experience with getting the one-year Cambo visa extension, and please do chime on other things that might be of use or interest to folks here on the topic.

Re the Cambodian visa extension process, everyone's posted experience here who's actually done those really suggests it's a perfectly do-able thing, albeit nominally somewhat more expensive than Thailand's comparable retirement extension.

But when you add in not having to mess with 90 day reports like in Thailand or even having to go in person yourself to Cambodian Immigration (everything reported here has involved people going 100% thru agents), it certainly strikes me as a perfectly reasonable deal.

Just on the measure of visa stuff alone, I'd perfectly well be content to hand someone $300 a year to get a one-year Cambodian visa, not have to set foot in Immigration, and not have to mess with doing or sending 90 day reports ever again, or buying 1000 baht a pop re-entry permits. The additional cost for the Cambodian method, for me, is well worth avoiding the various inconveniences associated with the Thai process.

The only question for me would be: Thailand's process, for all its various inconveniences, is a pretty well-established one and there are longstanding written rules and procedures as for what it takes to qualify and such (although those are not always followed by this or that local office).

Whereas Cambodia's current process seems to be more informal, and I guess in the worst case scenario, someone of influence in the government could wake up someday and, for whatever reason, simply tell the Cambodian Immigration office to stop issuing those extensions. I'm not saying I think that's likely, but it strikes me that Cambodia seems to operate a bit more by the seat of its pants.

You are surely welcome...You cannot get a business visa via flying into PP or anywhere else in Cambo.You must drive across the border from Trat. Once you arrive at immigration, park the car and you will be approached by a "runner". You hand him your passport and he takes care of getting it to the right person.He then came and got me, went to the counter,they took my photo, I paid my $25.00 US (I think it was 25) and off I went to Sihanoukville. Both visas as I mentioned, take up a whole page. After 24 days I went to ANA travel on Serendipity Rd. , paid my $295.00 and the passport is sent off to PP and it comes back in 5 days with another one of those big stamps. It is valid for one full year with unlimited exit and entry, driving, flying or swimming. Driving back to Thailand you will only receive a 14 day visa while flying, will get you the standard 30 day. For some it may be a problem hanging out in Sihanoukville for a month while this process takes place. But there are plenty of inexpensive places to stay (I will suggest Kangaroo Kitchen for $7.00 per day) and things to do while you wait. Victory Hill is the area of town to visit if one is seeking out an evening of "ill repute". Plenty of bars and the beer is cold and inexpensive. Most of the bars have some of the best food from all over. The beaches are much nicer than those in Pattaya or Trat and the people are much more accommodating (in my opinion) than those here in Thailand and they do smile more and it is genuine. I must add that even the "farang" are friendlier. There is NO 90 day reporting, proof of income or any of that nonsense. Starting a business there is a breeze also. That is how I wound up there. Sihanoukville is soon to open the airport again for Domestic flights only.

People have been doing the Cambo thing for 20 or more years now and the visa opportunity I feel will be a constant. At least Cambodia doesn't change the rules every month or so regarding the visa and a number of other things...I love Cambodia and will go back and forth as long as I can. I like how I am treated when I visit. As many people know, the Cambodian people have been through hell as other countries have in SEA. I just feel more for the Kmer than I do Thais...

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

Wiki had this info on Cambodia's economic development and propensity for corruption:

Rebuilding from decades of civil war, Cambodia has seen rapid progress in the economic and human resource areas. The country has had one of the best economic records in Asia, with economic growth growing an average 6.0% for the last 10 years. Strong textiles, agriculture, construction, garments, and tourism sectors led to foreign investments and international trade.^[7] In 2005, oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, and once commercial extraction begins in 2013, the oil revenues could profoundly affect Cambodia's economy.^[8] However the majority of Cambodians are not beneficiaries of economic growth because wealth is spread very unevenly, as a result of the prevalence of massive government corruption. According to Transparency International Cambodia is the fourth most corrupt nation in the Asia Pasific region, only Afganistan, North Korea and Myanmar are considered more corrupt, Cambodia is ranked 164 out of 182 in the world.^[9]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodia

I had to chuckle when I read that from the web site also... Edited April 7, 2012 by TeddyFlyfisherDavis

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It appears that Cambodia Brewery Ltd. is the local brewer of ABC Stout as well as the Anchor, [not Angkor], Gold Crown, Tiger beer brands -- all belonging to Singapore-based Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. So it seems ABC Stout is also available in Singapore.

A 2010 article in the Phnom Penh Post noted:

CBL is a joint-venture between Asia Pacific, a specialist brewery from Singapore, and Progress Import-Export, a Cambodian company which works in banking and trading.

CBL employs 2,000 workers in Cambodia, many who work at its centre in Prek Eng commune, Kien Svay district, Kandal province.

According to Asia Pacific's website:

APB brews and markets Heineken in eight Asian markets including Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam. Heineken is also imported into Laos by APB.

And here's a TIME piece from 2010 on the launch of the new Kingdom beer brand in Cambodia.

http://www.time.com/...2020970,00.html

And WOW... it seems I'm not the only one who likes that Black Panther stuff... great name for a beer, BTW...

http://www.ratebeer....sp?CountryID=37

Somebody's even put together a somewhat less than scientific fan website for Cambodian beers.

http://beer.sihanouk....com/index.html

Lastly, the L.A. Times travel section had this tidbit from Nov. 2011:

Annual beer consumption in Cambodia may stand at a lowly 7 liters a person (compared with 30 or so in Vietnam and Thailand)

Edited April 7, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[phuketrichard]

The locals tell me that power is very expensive here though, but I am not in a position to verify.

That's correct, though unless you're counting pennies you won't notice as an individual. It only really starts to add up for businesses (or large households I suppose). An electricity bill for a four-room condo with four people living there, aircon, fridge and multiple TVs and so on wouldn't be more than $100-$150, which isn't ridiculously expensive in this climate. I think it's largely one of those things expats just find to whinge about, while their beer budget far exceeds the electric bill differential.

Great report, I lived there for five years and this report is pretty close to spot on except the bit about the Pickled Parrot and The Garage, both of these places sell crap food.

Can't speak to Pickled Parrot. Garage has (had?) a very friendly owner, but the menu has gone downhill for sure. There are many better places to go.

To the many people posting about your SIM card experience - if internet access is important, don't buy at the airport, don't buy from the phone shop, get on the moto and go to Mobitel HQ just over on Sihanouk and get it done there. You'll pay less for the overall service, have a chance to get good answers in English, you'll get actual 3G internet service (quicker than Thailand, contrary to what's above) and it won't take 20 minutes of your day.

Sharkeys has a very good menu as well an some of the best Larp I have had outside Thailand. Also three very good pool tables, ( an not to mention some lovely available ladies wandering around. Also a very good shredded pork sandwich

good write up on sim and appears mobitel and cellcard come out on top ,, http://www.khmer440....=22685&start=15

PS; Beer Lao ( in cans or Bottles which i prefer)is a far better beer than the locally produced!!!!!

Edited April 8, 2012 by phuketrichard

[phuketrichard]

Excellent report Tall Guy...I wish I could take notes as good as you...I spend a lot of time in Cambo and I actually learned a few things...Thanks...Cheers.

Thanks for the earlier post about your experience with getting the one-year Cambo visa extension, and please do chime on other things that might be of use or interest to folks here on the topic.

Re the Cambodian visa extension process, everyone's posted experience here who's actually done those really suggests it's a perfectly do-able thing, albeit nominally somewhat more expensive than Thailand's comparable retirement extension.

But when you add in not having to mess with 90 day reports like in Thailand or even having to go in person yourself to Cambodian Immigration (everything reported here has involved people going 100% thru agents), it certainly strikes me as a perfectly reasonable deal.

Just on the measure of visa stuff alone, I'd perfectly well be content to hand someone $300 a year to get a one-year Cambodian visa, not have to set foot in Immigration, and not have to mess with doing or sending 90 day reports ever again, or buying 1000 baht a pop re-entry permits. The additional cost for the Cambodian method, for me, is well worth avoiding the various inconveniences associated with the Thai process.

The only question for me would be: Thailand's process, for all its various inconveniences, is a pretty well-established one and there are longstanding written rules and procedures as for what it takes to qualify and such (although those are not always followed by this or that local office).

Whereas Cambodia's current process seems to be more informal, and I guess in the worst case scenario, someone of influence in the government could wake up someday and, for whatever reason, simply tell the Cambodian Immigration office to stop issuing those extensions. I'm not saying I think that's likely, but it strikes me that Cambodia seems to operate a bit more by the seat of its pants.

You are surely welcome...You cannot get a business visa via flying into PP or anywhere else in Cambo.You must drive across the border from Trat. Once you arrive at immigration, park the car and you will be approached by a "runner". You hand him your passport and he takes care of getting it to the right person.He then came and got me, went to the counter,they took my photo, I paid my $25.00 US (I think it was 25) and off I went to Sihanoukville. Both visas as I mentioned, take up a whole page. After 24 days I went to ANA travel on Serendipity Rd. , paid my $295.00 and the passport is sent off to PP and it comes back in 5 days with another one of those big stamps. It is valid for one full year with unlimited exit and entry, driving, flying or swimming. Driving back to Thailand you will only receive a 14 day visa while flying, will get you the standard 30 day. For some it may be a problem hanging out in Sihanoukville for a month while this process takes place. But there are plenty of inexpensive places to stay (I will suggest Kangaroo Kitchen for $7.00 per day) and things to do while you wait. Victory Hill is the area of town to visit if one is seeking out an evening of "ill repute". Plenty of bars and the beer is cold and inexpensive. Most of the bars have some of the best food from all over. The beaches are much nicer than those in Pattaya or Trat and the people are much more accommodating (in my opinion) than those here in Thailand and they do smile more and it is genuine. I must add that even the "farang" are friendlier. There is NO 90 day reporting, proof of income or any of that nonsense. Starting a business there is a breeze also. That is how I wound up there. Sihanoukville is soon to open the airport again for Domestic flights only.

People have been doing the Cambo thing for 20 or more years now and the visa opportunity I feel will be a constant. At least Cambodia doesn't change the rules every month or so regarding the visa and a number of other things...I love Cambodia and will go back and forth as long as I can. I like how I am treated when I visit. As many people know, the Cambodian people have been through hell as other countries have in SEA. I just feel more for the Kmer than I do Thais...

NOT TRUE;

You cannot get a business visa via flying into PP or anywhere else in Cambo.You must drive across the border from Trat

U can get the visa any place u arrive in Cambodia Fly in or any border crossing. I got mine at Palin, ask for the normal ( what was the business visa) and pay $25. and ur done.

go to any travel agent or Lucky lucky an get the extension ( IN PP) and pay $285 and ur set for a year,

elsewhere check with any travel agent.

Airport is open but only fly's to Siem Reap

Edited April 8, 2012 by phuketrichard

[DoctorG]

An earlier post compared the cost of retirement visas (as such). While it is correct to say that the Cam yearly visa is more expensive at around $300, compared to (say) $70 for Thai, other factors apply.

I had a Thai retirement visa. My $28,000 deposit actually cost me over $1600 in lost interest for the year.

As a constant traveller my re-entry permit costs also needed to be factored in.

We also cannot forget the nuisance value of the 90 day reporting either.

I have given up my Thai retirement visa and I am currently looking for a new home-base. I have looked at Penang, Cebu, and currently checking out PP.

[OLDAUSSIE]

Re the beer, tall guy I can not help as I dont drink it. Kingdom Brewery have a free tour day every Friday with some free beers thrown in. Also the Brewery in Sihanoukville do a similar thing I Think on Wednesday, contact Mick from Anna travel as he gets pissed there most weeks.

[OLDAUSSIE]

Re the Visa: You can get the Business visa at any border crossing including airports. At the airport you will pay $25. but at Hat Lek Immigration will try it on for 1,500B

Most of the information about visas has been put on already, except when you re new your Business visa at Lucky's or any other agent just give them your passport one picture or 2? plus the money & that's it you don't even fill in forms. The only reason I always used Lucky's was because they are an old established company and I'm very careful who I give my passport to.

If you need to re new in Sihanoukville Anna travel or Samadura super market and also The Small Hotel can do it also.

[OLDAUSSIE]

Internet. When I first moved to Cambodia the cheapest I could get was $55. a month, it was so slow if you wanted to check your email you could cook breakfast while waiting for it to open. Then over the years more company's came in and opened up the competition. Last year I bought a 3G dongle and for $20. a month I got the fastest internet I have every experienced anywhere. Cambodia is now way ahead of Thailand in the internet race.

[OLDAUSSIE]

I was in PP 2 weeks ago, was able to buy Thai baht 33 per USD.At $15 USD per day our hotel did not have internet in room, but had 2 computes in the lobby no charge. The sim card and phone time for 6 days, cost me about 10 USD.

Ray

Look around Central Market for the money changers, you will always get a good exchange rate if your buying B.

[OLDAUSSIE]

Someone spoke about poverty. In Kampon Speu 60% of the population live on less than $1. a day.

[phuketrichard]

I have both,my Thai extensions costs me 1,900 +3,800 +$50 for the note from the us embassy= $236

Cambodia multi entry cost $285

I take my thai car back and forth and find having both yearly visas makes things so much easier

One BIG impotent difference is one can get involved in a business in Cambodia wiht much less $$ and much less paperwork /hassle

Electric;

most of it comes from Thailand.

Most apts will charge u anywhere from 1,000 riel to 1,500 riel/unit ( $0.25-0.37)

here in Phuket i pay $.08/unit

Edited April 8, 2012 by phuketrichard

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Beer Lao ( in cans or Bottles which i prefer)is a far better beer than the locally produced!!!!!

Thanks Richard, Dark Beer Lao is one of my favorites in Thailand, although it's hardly widely available around BKK. A lot of retail and bar type places don't stock it at all, although I have a roster of places I know where I can get it when I want it. But it strikes me as a lighter brew (not so much in color but in texture and consistency), whereas some of the Cambodian darks are more Guinness like in consistency... Not to mention one or more having 8% alcohol content. I like dark beers that I can chew on a bit...

Edited April 8, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I have both,my Thai extensions costs me 1,900 +3,800 +$50 for the note from the us embassy= $236

Cambodia multi entry cost $285

Ahh... thanks for adding that in, Richard. My earlier post on this included the extension of stay and re-entry permit cost for Thailand. But I neglected to add in the $50 U.S. consulate income letter charge for the Americans among us.... That boosts the Thai price considerably.

Factor in the significant convenience factor...and it makes Cambodia appealing just in regard to the visa issue.

[tombkk]

I have both,my Thai extensions costs me 1,900 +3,800 +$50 for the note from the us embassy= $236

Cambodia multi entry cost $285

I take my thai car back and forth and find having both yearly visas makes things so much easier

One BIG impotent difference is one can get involved in a business in Cambodia wiht much less $$ and much less paperwork /hassle

Electric;

most of it comes from Thailand.

Most apts will charge u anywhere from 1,000 riel to 1,500 riel/unit ( $0.25-0.37)

here in Phuket i pay $.08/unit

I have year visas for both countries too. Cambodian year-visa goes without paperwork. You just need to ensure you apply for "Ordinary Visa" (used to be called business visa), not "Tourist Visa" when you arrive a PNH airport. Then make the extension at any travel agency. Takes two days.

I own a company in Cambodia (i.e. 100% foreign-owned), with no required minimum investment. IOW the investment depends on your business needs, so that you don't become insolvent within a month... and there is a requirement that you have to make a profit after a certain amount of time, but that is understandable.

Internet is now pretty fast (upgraded to 1 Mbps last year) compared to the previous years. No complaints any more.

Roaming charges are still forbidding if you use a Thai SIM card, so I have a Cambodian card.

What else? Phnom Penh is a nice city, I like the people and look forward to every trip.

[phuketrichard]

I have both,my Thai extensions costs me 1,900 +3,800 +$50 for the note from the us embassy= $236

Cambodia multi entry cost $285

I take my thai car back and forth and find having both yearly visas makes things so much easier

One BIG impotent difference is one can get involved in a business in Cambodia wiht much less $$ and much less paperwork /hassle

Electric;

most of it comes from Thailand.

Most apts will charge u anywhere from 1,000 riel to 1,500 riel/unit ( $0.25-0.37)

here in Phuket i pay $.08/unit

I have year visas for both countries too. Cambodian year-visa goes without paperwork. You just need to ensure you apply for "Ordinary Visa" (used to be called business visa), not "Tourist Visa" when you arrive a PNH airport. Then make the extension at any travel agency. Takes two days.

I own a company in Cambodia (i.e. 100% foreign-owned), with no required minimum investment. IOW the investment depends on your business needs, so that you don't become insolvent within a month... and there is a requirement that you have to make a profit after a certain amount of time, but that is understandable.

Internet is now pretty fast (upgraded to 1 Mbps last year) compared to the previous years. No complaints any more.

Roaming charges are still forbidding if you use a Thai SIM card, so I have a Cambodian card.

What else? Phnom Penh is a nice city, I like the people and look forward to every trip.

I use my thai sim card sometime and its no problem but its DAM expensive. one thing i have seen is my Cambodia sim will not work for calling while i am in Thailand

Edited April 8, 2012 by phuketrichard

[zxray]

I was in PP 2 weeks ago, was able to buy Thai baht 33 per USD.At $15 USD per day our hotel did not have internet in room, but had 2 Cham Yeamcomputes in the lobby no charge. The sim card and phone time for 6 days, cost me about 10 USD.

Ray

Look around Central Market for the money changers, you will always get a good exchange rate if your buying B.

Speaking of Cambodia USD to Baht rate, Anyone from the USA like myself, doing a border run to Cham Yeam. Ten minute taxi ride to the market at Koh Kong,and you can buy Baht with USD at a substantial savings over Thailand.

Ray

[Peterh11]

Interesting report and very informative. I'd like to add that on a recent Visa run in March to PP I discovered free WIFI at all KFC branches and Mastergrill at Sorya centre. Just ask the counter staff at KFC and MG for the WIFI password. I used a Beeline SIM card and the IDD calls rates were 0.06c/min to UK,AUS,USA,Canada + most EU countries. To get the 0.06c/min rate I had to dial 179 then country code & number, the call quality was very good. Beeline have GPRS internet, which wasn't rocket fast but was ok for email/general browsing, there is no network providing 3G service in Cambodia as of yet.

[tombkk]

I have year visas for both countries too. Cambodian year-visa goes without paperwork. You just need to ensure you apply for "Ordinary Visa" (used to be called business visa), not "Tourist Visa" when you arrive a PNH airport. Then make the extension at any travel agency. Takes two days.

I own a company in Cambodia (i.e. 100% foreign-owned), with no required minimum investment. IOW the investment depends on your business needs, so that you don't become insolvent within a month... and there is a requirement that you have to make a profit after a certain amount of time, but that is understandable.

Internet is now pretty fast (upgraded to 1 Mbps last year) compared to the previous years. No complaints any more.

Roaming charges are still forbidding if you use a Thai SIM card, so I have a Cambodian card.

What else? Phnom Penh is a nice city, I like the people and look forward to every trip.

I use my thai sim card sometime and its no problem but its DAM expensive. one thing i have seen is my Cambodia sim will not work for calling while i am in Thailand

What I meant is I use my Thai SIM card in Thailand, and my Cambodian SIM card in Cambodia.

That said, I can pay voice minutes from AIS from roaming in Cambodia, and the Cambodian card is a "Mekong Card" and works in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. But I still like to avoid international roaming in these countries, as it is expensive.

[NomadJoe]

Great report. Thanks John.

[phuketrichard]

Interesting report and very informative. I'd like to add that on a recent Visa run in March to PP I discovered free WIFI at all KFC branches and Mastergrill at Sorya centre. Just ask the counter staff at KFC and MG for the WIFI password. I used a Beeline SIM card and the IDD calls rates were 0.06c/min to UK,AUS,USA,Canada + most EU countries. To get the 0.06c/min rate I had to dial 179 then country code & number, the call quality was very good. Beeline have GPRS internet, which wasn't rocket fast but was ok for email/general browsing, there is no network providing 3G service in Cambodia as of yet.

MY 3 g Nokia phone using AIS showed working on a 3 g network when i was there last march :- and the previous years as well)

Roaming charges are still forbidding if you use a Thai SIM card, so I have a Cambodian card.

i did use my Thai ais sim card an phoned the states and Thailand and was charged roaming rates

Edited April 8, 2012 by phuketrichard

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Great report. Thanks John.

Thanks to everyone here who's contributing a lot of good info... far beyond what I alone learned from my recent trip.

It's been quite an education. Looking forward to learning more.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

BTW, here are a couple of other beverage price comparisons I did between PP and BKK... Interesting to see.

Dr. Pepper soda cans:

Phnom Penh -- 95 cents from Bayon Market

Bangkok -- 48 baht or about $1.55 from Villa Market

Note that there appear to be some can graphics design and coloring differences between the two cans. And if you look at the back labels of the two, the BKK one from Villa Market oddly appears to have been canned in/come from the UK/London area, while it's not clear from the labeling where the PP one was sourced from. But I drank the later and it tasted fresh and fine. Also, the BKK/UK can seems to have its primary quantity amount listed in ml, whereas the PP one is primarily labeled in ounces (and ml as the secondary labeling), perhaps suggesting a U.S. origin.

Also, a bottle of Jose Cuervo Especial tequila

Phnom Penh -- $10 for a 750 ml bottle from Bayon Market

Bangkok -- 711 baht or about $22.95 for a smaller 70 cl bottle from Villa Market

Note the slight size difference between the bottles from the two countries. Also note on the rear labels, the text on the Villa bottle is printed in English and appears again to have been sourced from the UK/London, while the rear label text on the PP bottle has a New York corporate address and instead is printed in Spanish. They also have different ending UPC price code numbers. The PP bottle did not have a import duty label pasted over the bottle cap.

Lastly, Smirnoff Twist of Cranberry flavored vodka

Phnom Penh -- $9.40 for a 750 ml bottle from Bayon Market

Bangkok -- 719 baht or about $23.20 for similar flavors in the smaller 70 cl bottle from Villa Market

Note again, the same size difference between bottles. The Smirnoff bottle from PP did have a paper import duty label pasted over the bottle cap.

In a different thread, another member was arguing those kinds of prices in PP likely mean the products are counterfeit. But if you look at all the different price comparisons I've posted above for soft drinks, beers and now spirits, you'll find consistently lower prices on PP sourced products. So while I don't doubt some counterfeiting occurs, the breadth of the price advantages I found either means the counterfeiting is massively rampant or, more likely, foreign products are managing to make their way into Cambodia for sale at better prices than in Thailand. For example, would someone really be going to the trouble of producing counterfeit, lower priced Dr. Pepper for sale in Cambodia??? I'm open to differing arguments on the subject.

Edited April 8, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[tombkk]

Interesting report and very informative. I'd like to add that on a recent Visa run in March to PP I discovered free WIFI at all KFC branches and Mastergrill at Sorya centre. Just ask the counter staff at KFC and MG for the WIFI password. I used a Beeline SIM card and the IDD calls rates were 0.06c/min to UK,AUS,USA,Canada + most EU countries. To get the 0.06c/min rate I had to dial 179 then country code & number, the call quality was very good. Beeline have GPRS internet, which wasn't rocket fast but was ok for email/general browsing, there is no network providing 3G service in Cambodia as of yet.

MY 3 g Nokia phone using AIS showed working on a 3 g network when i was there last march :- and the previous years as well)

Roaming charges are still forbidding if you use a Thai SIM card, so I have a Cambodian card.

i did use my Thai ais sim card an phoned the states and Thailand and was charged roaming rates

By "forbidding" I meant that it is possible but expensive.

By the way, I have seen ads for 3G in Cambodia for a while now. Seems somebody is providing the service. As I am in the lounge now, waiting for my flight to PNH, I will report back tomorrow (or so) which providers offer 3G.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Richard, I believe, earlier posted some links to a ThaiVisa like forum on Cambodia called Khmer440 with the usual commercial internet addressing format.

In that, there's a sub forum on IT stuff and I'm seeing posts there that talk about people at least having Metfone 3G USB modems and 3G SIMs.

Here's another reference to that from one of the other Cambodian mobile phone providers, Mobitel/Cellcard:

http://www.mobitel.c...5G_internet.php

Here's another reference from another provider:

http://mobile.mfone.com.kh/3g.aspx

One research report on Cambodia mobile industry had the following info:

3Q11 Cambodia Mobile Operator Forecast, 2011 - 2015: Cambodia to have 16.4 million mobile subscriber connections in 2015 with Smart Mobile taking 13% market share

IE Market Research Corp., Nov 2011

Operators covered for Cambodia include:

• CamGSM Co. Ltd. (Cellcard, MobiTel),
  
• Hello Axiata Company Limited (Axiata Cambodia),
  
• Latelz Co., Ltd. (Smart Mobile),
  
• Applifone Company Ltd. (Star-Cell)(merged with Latelz in 2011),
  
• Mfone Co.,Ltd. (CamShin),
  
• BeeLine (Sotelco Ltd.), and
  
• Viettel (Cambodia) Pte. Ltd. (Metfone).
  

Edited April 8, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[DP25]

In a different thread, another member was arguing those kinds of prices in PP likely mean the products are counterfeit. But if you look at all the different price comparisons I've posted above for soft drinks, beers and now spirits, you'll find consistently lower prices on PP sourced products. So while I don't doubt some counterfeiting occurs, the breadth of the price advantages I found either means the counterfeiting is massively rampant or, more likely, foreign products are managing to make their way into Cambodia for sale at better prices than in Thailand. For example, would someone really be going to the trouble of producing counterfeit, lower priced Dr. Pepper for sale in Cambodia??? I'm open to differing arguments on the subject.

They definitely counterfeit large amounts of alcohol in Cambodia. The problem isn't that they are significantly cheaper than in Thailand, the problem is that those bottles are cheaper than the US. Real bottles would be more expensive although still cheaper than Thailand because of taxes. I'd have no confidence any bottle bought that at those prices is real.

Here is a police raid that seized 700 bottles of fake JW.

http://cambodianlaw....johnnie-walker/

Here are some pictures

http://newshopper.su...oto_1630205.htm

The Dr.Pepper is probably real, at $0.95 it's still more expensive than in the US. Not worth it for them to bother faking a single can, not sure they can manufacture them in Cambodia anyway.

Edited April 8, 2012 by DP25