It’s not surprising that Cambodia has no end to the catalogue of diseases you can fall prey to- it sits bang in the middle of the tropics, and the list of maladies which can strike is impressive - cholera, typhoid, polio, plague, malaria, rabies, bilharzias. Although the Cambodian authorities require only one mandatory vaccination (yellow fever, if you’re coming from an infected zone), it would be wise to get additional vaccinations for rabies, cholera, plague and what ever your own doctor advises. While in Cambodia, take care about the food and drink you consume; eat only well-cooked (and hot) food; avoid raw foods, and drink either boiled or bottled water. Also take precautions against mosquitoes- insect repellent and malaria pills are good to carry along with you.

It’s best to get medical insurance done before your trip. Although there are a number of hospitals and dispensaries in the country, you’ll find that most are in urban areas, and you’ll need to pay cash for all treatment.

As a foreigner planning to visit Cambodia, you should know that, despite the comparative peace now reigning in the country, some parts of Cambodia are still dangerous- and especially for tourists. In some parts of the country, there is a lot of xenophobia, and you could be targeted- so, when you enter the country, register yourself with your embassy and find out whether it’s safe to get out of Phnom Penh or not. The safest places to be in are the capital and Cambodia’s most popular tourist attraction, Angkor Wat. Also try not to go too close to the Vietnam border; there has been trouble in that area for a long while now. Another hazard for the unaware tourist is the constant presence of prostitution and drugs, leading the country to outdo Thailand as the sex capital of Asia with AIDS assuming endemic proportions. Crime too has risen in the aftermath of the crippling poverty and armed robbery is quite common. There are several reports of tourists being dragged from their motorbikes. So tourists should stick to well-lit areas and move around in groups especially after dark. Even within Phnom Penh (and other towns too) you should be careful- don’t leave valuables lying around, don’t flash your money about, and try to be indoors before dark. It also makes sense to stay close to other people, particularly tourists, rather than strike out on your own.