None are required but some may be advisable.

Travel physicians often recommend some or all of the following vaccinations and prophylactics. This list was compiled from magazine articles about travel in Cambodia. IT IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. Consult your travel physician and the CDC website to determine which if any of the vaccinations you should receive.

Hepatitis A – A food borne disease, not uncommon in Cambodia.

Vaccination: Injection series.
Hepatitis B – Transmitted primarily by sexual contact, shared needles and contaminated blood. Prevalent in Cambodia.

Vaccination: Injection series.
Typhoid – A food borne disease, not uncommon in Cambodia.

Vaccination: Injection or pill series.
Japanese Encephalitis – A mosquito borne disease. Limited to parts of Cambodia.

Vaccination: Injection series.
Cholera – A food/water borne disease. Occasional outbreaks in some parts of Cambodia.

Vaccination: Injection.
Rabies – A bodily fluid borne disease. Present in Cambodia. Generally limited to certain professions.

Vaccination: Injection series.
Malaria – A mosquito borne disease. Prevalent in some parts of Cambodia.

Vaccination: None. Prophylactic pills and/or good mosquito prevention habits. Mefloquine (Lariam) resistance has been reported in Cambodia.

Tetanus – Make sure your tetanus vaccination is up-to-date..

Vaccination: Single Injection.

Childhood diseases – polio, measles, mumps, rubella, etc – If you are going to be working with children such as doing volunteer work at and orphanage or teaching, it may be advisable to update your childhood disease vaccinations.

Be prepared for minor scams at the overland border crossings, especially at Koh Kong and Poipet, though similar reports are beg.

Scam #1: The most consistently reported inconvenience at the border is being overcharged for Cambodian visas. At the Poipet and Koh Kong crossings, Cambodian immigration usually charges 1200-1500 baht for a tourist visa and 1500-1700 baht for a business visa. Unlike the rest of the country, they usually refuse dollars. At current exchange rates, the price in baht is significantly more expensive than the official prices of $20 and $25. Some people have had some success paying the official price in dollars by being politely insistent. Another way to try to avoid the problem is to get an e-visa in advance so that you don’t need to get a visa at the border.

Scam #2: Drivers and touts will insist that you need their help to obtain a visa. This is not true. They want to charge an extra fee. The visa process is easy, straightforward and do-it-yourself. Do not accept their ‘assistance’ as it is not necessary and will only lengthen the process and increase the cost.

Scam #3: Immigration police may try to charge 100 baht for the normally free exit/entry stamp. Try asking for a receipt.

Scam #4: Immigration police may try to charge 100-300 baht for a SARS Form and/or Swine Flu Form. These forms, when they are required, are supposed to be free. Try asking for a receipt.

When dealing with officials, there is usually room for polite explanations and bargaining. One sometimes-successful approach is to smile, say “no, thank you”, smile some more, perhaps act like you don’t understand and walk away. This technique may or may not work but it has a greater likelihood of success than simply refusing to do what they are asking or, even worse, becoming argumentative or showing anger.

Border crossing with Laos: Border policies are not stable. Travelers report that Cambodian visas are available at the border but Laotian visas are not available at the border.

Border crossings with Vietnam: Cambodian visas are available at the Moc Bai/Bavet and ‘Chau Doc’ border crossings. There is conflicting information about the availability of Cambodian visas at Prek Chak. Vietnamese visas are not available at any overland border crossing.

Border crossings with Thailand: Cambodian visas and 30-day Thai transit visas are available at all Thai/Cambodian border crossings. Thai transit visas are free of charge. Other types of Thai visas are not available.