The Cambodian official currency is the Riel, but almost all business transactions, with the exception of small purchases of fruit, etc. in the markets, are made in US Dollars. Nevertheless, it is good to always have a a few thousand Riel at hand (1 US$ equals 3500 to 4000 Riel), to make a small donation in a shrine, or just to have give something to a beggar. Cambodia is full of people crippled by land mines; while there is no reason to hand out dollar notes to them, you will probably feel heartless if you do not give at least a few hundred to a thousand riel occasionally. Thai Baht is also accepted in the shops.

US Dollar traveler cheques can be cashed at banks in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Upcountry they may be difficult to change, though. Credit cards are only accepted in the more decent hotels (Master Card or Visa).

Tipping is not expected in Cambodia, but will be appreciated.

Food

Cambodian cuisine is very good. Rice is the normal staple food, although bread, in particular baguette type bread is popular, too - a French influence from the colonial times. Fish, whether freshwater or sea fish, is abundant (Cambodia has a lot of waterways in addition to the fishing grounds in the Gulf of Siam), also prawns and other seafood. A very popular dish is Trei Aing - fish grilled over charcoal and served together with fresh vegetables like sliced cucumber or bean sprouts, green herbs like mint or coriander and served with a spicy sauce made of fish sauce with garlic, chili, lemon juice, sugar, and vinegar - a little bit like Vietnamese Nuoc Cham - with a typically Cambodian addition of ground roasted peanuts. Small pieces of fish are wrapped together with some herbs and vegetable in a salad leaf, dipped in this delicious sauce and eaten with boiled rice. Try it! There are also a lot of curries based on coconut, very similar to Thai curries, but not as spicy. Desserts are usually based on coconut and rice flour and very sweet. The selection of fresh fruit is very good - rambutans, mangosteen, star fruit, pineapple, mango, and many varieties of banana, everything is available, inexpensive, and safe to eat, provided that you wash and peel it carefully.