Summer travel in Cambodia 2025: Discover 5 great experiences not to be missed

Cambodia has long been an attractive destination for Vietnamese and international tourists because of its perfect combination of rich cultural heritage, beautiful nature and unique cuisine.

I. Overview of summer tourism in Cambodia 2025

Cambodia - the kingdom of pagodas is fast becoming a top tourist destination in Southeast Asia with a harmonious combination of long-standing cultural heritage and unspoiled natural beauty. The year 2025 marks a remarkable development of Cambodia's tourism industry with many improvements in infrastructure and services, especially in the summer.

The ideal time to travel to Cambodia is in the summerNovember to February is when the weather is dry, cool and most pleasant. This is a good time to visit historical sites and explore the natural beauty.

If you want to experience the traditional Khmer New Year festival, plan to attend the Chol Chnam Thmay festival in April.

With thevisa exemption for Vietnamese citizensWith stays under 30 days and reasonable prices, Cambodia becomes a great choice for summer vacation 2025. Let's explore the 5 most unique experiences in this country.

II. Experience 1: Explore Angkor Wat complex - World cultural heritage

There is no more famous destination in CambodiaAngkor Wat temple complex- one of the seven wonders of the world and the pride of the Khmer people. In 2025, this complex was upgraded and better preserved, providing a perfect sightseeing experience for visitors.

Angkor Watis the largest and best preserved Hindu temple in the complex. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, but later converted to Buddhism. Its massive architecture with long corridors, elaborate reliefs and five lotus-shaped towers symbolize Mount Meru - the center of the universe in Hindu mythology.

Not far from Angkor Wat isAngkor Thom- the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. The center of Angkor Thom isBayon Templewith 216 giant stone faces smiling mysteriously, believed to be portraits of King Jayavarman VII. This is one of the masterpieces of stone sculpture of Khmer civilization.

Ta Prohm Templeis another must-see destination in the Angkor complex. Famous for its ancient trees embracing the architectural works, creating a mysterious beauty, Ta Prohm was once the setting for the movie "Tomb Raider". This is also a favorite photo spot for many tourists.

Experience visiting Angkor Wat 2025:

• Buy a 1-day pass for around $37 or a 3-day pass for $62 (valid for 10 days).
• Get up early to watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat, this is a wonderful experience not to be missed.
• Rent a tuk-tuk to travel between temples, costing about $15-20 for a day tour.
• Should go3 temple tourThe most popular include Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm.
• Bring drinking water, sunscreen and dress modestly when visiting temples.

III. Experience 2: The island paradise of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem

After days of exploring historical sites,Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem islandsis an ideal destination to relax and enjoy the pristine beauty of Cambodia's islands. By 2025, the tourism infrastructure on these two islands has been significantly improved, providing a wonderful resort experience for visitors.

Koh Rongis the second largest island in Cambodia with an area of ​​over 78 km² and a coastline of 43 km. The island is famous for its fine white sand beaches, clear blue water and warm tropical climate.Long BeachStretching 7km west of the island is a must-see destination with fine white sand and crystal clear water. Meanwhile, the villageKoh Touchis also famous for its vibrant atmosphere and nightly beach parties.

Koh Rong Samloemhas a quieter space, is an ideal place for those looking for peace.Saracen Bayvast island with many luxury resorts.Lazy Beachon the west side of the island is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a cocktail during a romantic sunset. Travelers on a lower budget can chooseM'Pai Bayto experience local life with the friendly fishermen of the fishing village.

Exciting activities on Koh Rong Island in 2025:

• Snorkeling: Koh Rong has many beautiful diving spots, especially offshore. Visitors can rent kayaks or join a snorkeling tour.
• Watch plankton glow: This amazing natural phenomenon can be experienced in the evening at most beaches in Koh Rong. Wait from 10 pm onwards when the resorts turn off their lights, go to a dark place to swim at night and wave your hands in the water to see the plankton glow.
• Trekking through the forest: There are two popular trekking routes: Long Beach and Long Set beach. Note that the Long Beach route is quite difficult, taking about 45 minutes from Koh Touch village.
• Zipline through the forest: A fresh and exciting experience to explore the island's rich ecosystem from above.

Experience of traveling to Koh Rong:

• From Sihanoukville to Koh Rong you can go by speed ferry for about 22$. You should book tickets with speed ferry (yellow) or Buva Sea.
• You can also choose the slow boat Happy boat with many fun activities on board, suitable for day tours.
• There are ATMs on the island for withdrawals, but it is advisable to bring extra cash.
• You should not bring a suitcase but use a backpack because the roads on the island are mainly sand or trails.

IV. Experience 3: Explore Tonle Sap Lake and floating village life

Tonle Sap Lake- "the heart of Cambodia" is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the richest freshwater ecosystems in the world. In 2025, visiting Tonle Sap Lake offers visitors a unique opportunity to learn more about the lives of local people and explore the diverse ecosystem.

Tonle Sap has the unusual characteristic of changing its size with the seasons. In the dry season (November to May), the lake has an area of ​​about 2,700 km² and a depth of only about 1m. But in the rainy season, the Tonle Sap River reverses its flow, bringing water from the Mekong River, increasing the lake's area to 16,000 km² and its depth can reach 9m.

Kompong Phluk Floating Villageis one of the most prominent attractions on Tonle Sap Lake. This floating village consists of stilt houses up to 9 meters high, built on stilts to adapt to seasonal changes in water levels. Visitors will admire the daily life of the people: from vast rice fields, floating markets, to wooden houses on the river, all providing a general view of the gentle and poetic Cambodian countryside.

Interesting experiences at Tonle Sap Lake in 2025:

• Take a boat trip around the lake: Sitting on simple boats, visitors will enjoy the fresh air, cool breezes and watch the peaceful life of local people.
• Explore Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary: This is the largest bird sanctuary in Southeast Asia with more than 150 species of waterfowl, many of which are rare.
• Visit the mangrove forest: The mangrove ecosystem around Tonle Sap Lake is home to many unique species of flora and fauna. Visitors can row a boat through the tall mangrove forests to explore this wild beauty.
• Watching the sunset on the lake: This is a beautiful experience not to be missed when coming to Tonle Sap Lake. The sunset reflected on the water creates a picturesque scene.
• Homestay with locals: By 2025, homestay services in floating villages have been greatly improved, giving visitors a great opportunity to experience life on floating houses and integrate into the lives of the local fishing communities.

Experience visiting Tonle Sap Lake:

• You should book a tour from Siem Reap, the distance from the city center to the lake is only about 25km, it takes about 30 minutes by car.
• The best time to visit is during high water levels during the rainy season (June to October), when the floating villages are flooded and the mangrove forests can be visited.
• Don't forget to enjoy the lake's fish specialties, especially the famous dried snakehead fish.

V. Experience 4: Enjoying Cambodia's unique cuisine

Cambodian cuisineis the perfect combination of Indian, Chinese and Southeast Asian culinary cultures. By 2025, culinary tourism in Cambodia will be increasingly developed with many unique culinary tours and opportunities to experience cooking with local people.

Cambodian specialties not to be missed in 2025:

1. Steamed Fish Amok: This is the most famous traditional dish of Cambodia. The main ingredients are fresh snakehead fish from the lake or catfish, snakehead fish cooked with coconut milk and kroeung - a special Khmer spice including turmeric, lime, shallots and herbs. The fish is steamed in banana leaves, creating a unique and unforgettable flavor.
2. Khmer Red Curry (Kari Sach Moan): This rich curry is typically made with chicken, potatoes, carrots, and lemongrass, onions, garlic, and coconut milk. Cambodian curry is milder than Thai curry and is often served during festivals or weddings.
3. Curry Noodle Soup (Nom Banh Chok): Dubbed the "national dish" of the land of pagodas, curry noodles consist of rice noodles in coconut curry broth, served with many fresh vegetables such as banana flowers, lotus root, papaya, celery, mint. Visitors can enjoy this dish at restaurants or street vendors.
4. Fried Crab with Green Pepper (Kdam Chaa): A specialty of Kep town, fried crab with Kampot green pepper has a special and unforgettable flavor. Fresh crab is fried with Kampot pepper - a world-famous pepper, creating a unique flavor that can only be found in Cambodia.
5. Khmer Beef Salad (Lap Khmer)This salad has a harmonious sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavor, made from rare beef cut into small pieces, mixed with shallots, minced garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, and herbs.

Cambodian culinary experience 2025:

• Joinstreet food tourin Siem Reap or Phnom Penh to explore the diverse local cuisine.
• VisitOld Marketin Siem Reap to enjoy street food and buy specialties.
• Experiencecooking classto learn how to prepare traditional Cambodian dishes like Amok or curry noodles.
• EnjoyDinner buffet with Apsara dance showTraditional - a unique cultural and culinary experience.
• Famous restaurants to visit: Khmer Kitchen, Temple in Siem Reap's Pub Street area specializing in Khmer cuisine, and Malis - a famous Cambodian fine-dining restaurant in Phnom Penh.

VI. Experience 5: Explore Bokor Plateau and the coastal city of Sihanoukville

Bokor PlateauandSihanoukville beach cityare two other exciting destinations in Cambodia, offering diverse travel experiences for visitors in the summer of 2025.

Bokor PlateauLocated at an altitude of 1,075m in Kampot province, about 10km from Xa Xia border gate (Ha Tien). Vietnamese people often call Bokor Ta Lon mountain, in Khmer, Bokor means "cow's hump" due to the shape of the mountain. With a cool climate, Bokor is considered "Da Lat of Cambodia".

By 2025, Bokor Plateau has been developed into Cambodia's leading eco-tourism area with many outstanding attractions:

• Statue of Saint Yeay Mao: An important spiritual symbol of local people.
• Stone Field: Where visitors can admire rocks with strange shapes.
• Abandoned villa:An ancient French architectural work bearing a strong historical mark.
• Bokor Lake: Great place for sightseeing and relaxation.
• Ancient church: Religious building from the French colonial period with unique architecture.

Sihanoukville Cityis an important port city of Cambodia, famous for its beautiful beaches and neighboring islands. In recent years, Sihanoukville has developed strongly with many high-class resorts and modern entertainment facilities.

The best beaches in Sihanoukville in 2025 include:

• Otres Beach: Famous for its fine white sand, clear blue water and quiet space.
• Ochheuteal Beach: Sihanoukville's busiest beach with plenty of restaurants, bars and water sports activities.
• Independence Beach: Near the city center, convenient for tourists who want to combine city sightseeing and beach swimming.

Experience of traveling to Bokor Plateau and Sihanoukville:

• From Phnom Penh you can take a bus to Sihanoukville or Kampot (to go to Bokor), ticket price is about 7-9$.
• You should spend at least 2 days to explore Bokor Plateau and 2-3 days for Sihanoukville.
• In Sihanoukville, you can rent a motorbike or tuk-tuk to travel between beaches.
• If time permits, combine a visit to Koh Rong Island from Sihanoukville.

VII. Experience of traveling to Cambodia in summer 2025

Prepare documents and money

• Passport: Passport valid for at least 6 months is required. Vietnamese citizens are exempt from visa when entering Cambodia for stays of less than 30 days.
• Money: The currency of Cambodia is Riel (KHR), but USD is more widely used and popular. Exchange rate: 1 USD ≈ 4,000 Riel. You should bring small denomination USD when traveling to Cambodia.

Transportation and accommodation

• Moving to Cambodia:
  • Road: From Vietnam, there are many bus companies going to Cambodia such as Mai Linh, Sapaco, Kumho, Mekong Express. Ticket price from Saigon to Phnom Penh is about 550,000-650,000 VND/person.
  • Air route: There are direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, Phnom Penh with prices from 80-150$ round trip.
• Getting around Cambodia:
  • Tuk-tuk: Popular means of transportation within the city, cost from 2-5$ for a short trip.
  • Motorbike: Can be rented for about 120,000 VND/day.
  • Bus: Economical means of travelling between major cities.
• Accommodation:
  • Hotel/MotelPrice from 15-50$/night depending on area and star rating.
  • Homestay: Experience living with locals, price around 10-20$/night.
  • Resort: High-end resorts in Siem Reap, Sihanoukville cost from 50-200$/night.

Tips to save money when traveling to Cambodia

• Travel during low season (May-October) for better prices.
• Use public transport instead of taxis or rent a private car.
• Eat at local eateries or street vendors to save money and experience authentic cuisine.
• Buying tickets in a package (combo) will be cheaper than buying them individually.
• Haggle when shopping in markets or stores that do not display prices.

Notes on culture and customs when traveling

• Skin: Wear modest clothing when visiting temples. Wear shirts with sleeves and pants/skirts that are above the knee.
• Gesture: Do not touch children's heads because Cambodians believe the head is a sacred place.
• Communicate: Use your right hand when giving or receiving objects, the left hand is considered "unclean".
• Take a photo: Always ask permission before taking photos of local people, especially monks.
• Shoes: Take off your shoes when entering temples or homes.

Summer travel in Cambodia2025 offers diverse and unique experiences. From exploring the majestic Angkor Wat complex, enjoying the wild beauty of Koh Rong Island, learning about the lives of people on Tonle Sap Lake, to enjoying unique cuisine.