Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, Cambodia

I arrived in Cambodia on Thursday 26th May at Phnom Penh International airport. I flew with Vietnam airlines which is recognised by the European Civil Aviation authority, though i must admit i'd never heard of it before!

Visa on arrival is available for UK citizens and costs $20 US. At land crossings, i've heard you have to pay $25 with the extra $5 going to the border control to 'supplement' their incomes. If this is not paid by foreigners, your passport will be placed at the back of the queue along with the locals. Fortunately, this type of shenanigans does not happen at the international airport...

Having paid for my visa, i set off for Passport Control. I must admit, i was served by one of the most friendly immigration officers i'd ever come across. Usually, they look at you with a cold, expressionless face while you smile back politely and then after checking it, almost throw your passport back across the desk without a word. However, the Cambodian lady officer there made small talk while she was checking, asking where i'd been and where id be visiting in her country and so on...it was a very pleasant first experience in a country with a very troubled past....

The currency used in Cambodia is both the local 'Riel' and the US dollar. You can use the US dollar everywhere and i expect the reason for this is that the Riel must have undergone some serious devaluation at some point...

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