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In the past, Siem Reap (Cambodia) was the capital of the Angkor dynasty. Here, travelers can easily encounter architectural structures and historical relics of the Angkor civilization.
Exploring Siem Reap independently: Where to go and how much to budget?
Below are travel tips, dining, accommodation, and sightseeing experiences, as well as estimated expenses for those intending to travel to Siem Reap.
Visa: If you have a Vietnamese passport, you will be granted a visa waiver for up to 30 days when traveling to Cambodia. However, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
Buying airplane tickets: Departing from Hanoi, you can fly directly to Siem Reap. Ticket prices range from 2.2 to 5 million Vietnamese dong, depending on the airline and booking time. It is advisable to book early for the most suitable price.
Siem Reap Airport is approximately 6 km away from the city center. You can choose to travel by tuk-tuk or taxi with prices ranging from 8-10 USD.
Accommodation: Similar to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap has developed tourism infrastructure. If you have a good budget and prefer luxury and quality service, you can book a room in the QL6 area. This street is home to many of the finest resorts and hotels in Siem Reap, ranging from 3 to 5 stars.
Traveling to Siem Reap, if you prefer a lively area, close to night entertainment venues, and affordable prices, you can choose the Western Quarter (around Pub Street and Siem Reap Night Market) located in the city center.
Pub Street offers various services, from dining to entertainment, at reasonable prices. A cup of black coffee costs around 20,000 Vietnamese dong, and cocktails start from around 60,000 dong.
Additionally, you can enjoy affordable massage services, the most famous being fish massage for feet, priced at around 1 USD for 10 minutes.
Nearby, the night market sells souvenirs ranging from clothing to jewelry. This is an ideal shopping spot for tourists, but remember to negotiate prices beforehand.
However, for convenient sightseeing, you can choose to rent a room at hotels, guesthouses along Charles De Gaulle Road, the stretch connecting Siem Reap to Angkor.
Note, you should check room prices, quality, photos, and reviews before booking. Booking through online services is also cheaper than booking directly from hotels.
Some budget-friendly hotels you can consider are Velkommen Guesthouse, The Luxury Concept Guesthouse, Angkor Wall Hoho, and Angkor Orchid Central Hotel.
Tourist Attractions: The most famous in Siem Reap are Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. Tourists can purchase 3 types of tickets priced at 37 USD, 62 USD, and 72 USD respectively for one day, three days, and seven days. These tickets are free for children under 12 years old, no discounts for students. A note when traveling here, you should keep the tickets carefully or you will be fined from 100-300 USD. Also, dressing modestly and respectfully is a mandatory requirement here.
Additionally, other attractions near there that attract tourists are Tonle Sap (the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia - 25 km from the city), Kampong Kdei Dragon Bridge (the oldest stone bridge in Southeast Asia made of laterite with unique architecture - about 50 km from Siem Reap), Kulen Mountain, and Linga River (considered a sacred place of the Cambodian people) and Preah Vihear (located on the border with Thailand).
Furthermore, you can also purchase tours at hotels. Prices for some tours are as follows (for reference): full-day tour to 8 main temples (10-15 USD), Bantaey Srei and Kbal Spean temples (25 USD), Beng Mealea tour (35 USD), Tonle Sap tour (35-40 USD), elephant ride to temples in Angkor Thom (45-50 USD).
Tuk-tuk tours can be quite expensive, averaging 1 USD per kilometer. Usually, the driver doubles as a guide, providing brief introductions to the destinations. Motorbike tours offer the flexibility to explore wherever you like, priced at 30-40 USD.
You can also rent bicycles or electric bikes for 2 USD and 10 USD respectively. For motorbikes, you need an international driving license. In particular, hot air balloon rides are available for tourists to admire the panoramic view of Angkor from above.
Food: Some dishes to try when visiting Siem Reap are Amok, Nom Banh Chok, Bai Sach Chrouk, coconut milk cakes, fried chili crickets, hu tieu, grilled squid, Khmer curry, Khmer beef salad, dosa cakes.
The best time to visit Cambodia is during the dry season, from November to April. However, the hottest period in Siem Reap falls in March and April, making it challenging for tourists to explore places that require a lot of walking.
Additionally, during the rainy season, travelers may face some difficulties in transportation, but Siem Reap at that time exudes a very charming and mysterious beauty.
Before traveling, you should exchange Vietnamese currency for USD. When in Cambodia, you can use USD to exchange for the local currency, Riel. A small tip to save costs is to exchange only small amounts at a time and inquire about purchasing items in Riel.
Source: Kim Ngân/Zing news
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourMay 16, 2018
