Series 🇰🇭 Cambodia Today: Insights from Vietnam's Neighbor
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Vol.4: A Weekend Away — Siem Reap and Battambang Today
Starting March 5, 2026, KBC-LINK continues its series, 'Cambodia Today,' designed for our readers in Vietnam.
Written by the head of a Japanese Desk at a local bank with six years of residency, this series offers authentic, on-the-ground perspectives—from professional financial insights to the realities of daily life.
🔰 About This Series / Author Introduction
Hello, my name is Asami Iida, and I lead the Japanese Desk at ABA Bank in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I am delighted to continue sharing the evolving landscape of “Cambodia Today” with everyone living in Vietnam. This year marks my sixth year of living and working in this vibrant country. When people think of Cambodia, the majestic spires of Angkor Wat often come to mind. While that historical legacy remains a point of pride, Cambodia is now a nation in the midst of a rapid and profound transformation. Through this column, I hope to provide a more contemporary and realistic view of the country as seen through both my professional and personal experiences. |
Living in Cambodia, I sometimes take weekend trips to provincial cities. Night buses and long-distance buses have become quite comfortable lately, making it easier to leave Phnom Penh after work on Friday, arrive around 6 a.m., and start the day right away.
I often do this myself: leaving Friday night, spending all of Saturday sightseeing, and taking a leisurely "first class" bus back to Phnom Penh on Sunday afternoon. These buses have wide, reclining seats, massage-function seating, charging outlets, an onboard toilet, and even light meals. Having a toilet onboard means fewer rest stops, so arrival tends to be a bit faster. The fare is higher than a standard bus, but still more accessible than flying, and routes are gradually expanding—including between Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. Since I can get home by Sunday night, it doesn't affect my Monday work much, which makes "a weekend trip to the provinces" feel like a much more realistic option than before.
This time, I'd like to introduce two of my favorite places: Siem Reap and Battambang.
Siem Reap Today: More Than Just a Tourist Destination
When people hear "Siem Reap," most think of Angkor Wat. But these days, the number of cafés and restaurants has grown, and you'll often see long-term Western residents and remote workers around town. The pace of life here feels more relaxed overall, with a different atmosphere from Phnom Penh.
In fact, foreign residents who have lived in Cambodia for more than two years can apply for a special pass that allows free entry to the Angkor temple complex—a fun little perk of being a resident here.
Lately, I've enjoyed taking the Friday night bus and starting the day watching the sunrise. The area around Angkor Wat is relatively cool in the early morning, with a quiet atmosphere quite different from daytime.
Visitors on a tight schedule often head to the well-known sunset viewing spot facing Angkor Wat. But after visiting many times, I've found that watching the view and sunset from a slightly elevated spot—even without the temple itself in view—can leave just as strong an impression.
Having the resident pass means I can come and go freely, which makes exploring new spots part of the fun—gradually building my own way of enjoying the city. That's one of the things I find most interesting about Siem Reap.
Visitor numbers still haven't fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, but in a way, that's made it possible to enjoy the city at a slower pace. Siem Reap may be shifting, little by little, from a "tourist destination" to a "place to stay."
Battambang: Where Handcraft Traditions Still Live On
Battambang, on the other hand, has a different kind of charm.
What's stayed with me most is how naturally "making things by hand" is still part of everyday life here. In the area known for rice paper production, you can see families making rice paper by hand right in front of their homes and drying it in the sun. It's not a tourist facility—it's simply part of people's daily lives.
There's also an area where Prahok—a fermented paste made from salted freshwater fish, essential to Cambodian cuisine—is produced, and you can watch the process firsthand at market-like sites. The smell can be surprising at first, but it's part of what makes Cambodian food culture distinctive.
Another food that's stuck with me is Num, a fermented snack often found in supermarkets. It's made by hand-stuffing ground fish paste into small bags one by one before fermenting. The texture is similar to fish cake, and it's become one of my favorite local foods.
Watching how these foods are made, it's clear that handcraft methods are still widely used—and that this food culture remains a natural part of daily life. That's part of what makes Battambang so interesting to me.
Even though it's a provincial city, you can easily call a tuk-tuk through Grab these days, so getting around is rarely a problem. Being able to get around with just a smartphone is a big change compared to a few years ago.
Both Siem Reap and Battambang are about 5–6 hours from Phnom Penh, making them easy to enjoy even with just a weekend.
Beyond the well-known tourist sites, there's a different side of Cambodia's charm to discover in the everyday life and routines of the people who live here.
Iida-san's Local Cambodia Tips:
■ Can Cambodian Residents Enter Angkor Free of Charge?
Foreign residents who have lived in Cambodia for more than two years can apply for a special pass granting free entry to the Angkor temple complex. As a resident, it's less about "sightseeing" and more about enjoying the temples as part of daily life—stopping by to catch a sunset, for instance. It's one of the nice perks of living here.
KBC-LINK Featured News:
■ Siem Reap Searches for Its "Next Appeal" as a Tourist City
Siem Reap is currently navigating a slowdown in visitor recovery, prompting efforts to chart a new direction for its tourism industry.
Airline capacity shortages and rising airfares, combined with the impact of recent international media coverage on the city's image, have reportedly left some tourism businesses facing difficult conditions.
At the same time, new directions are emerging locally—including community-based tourism, long-stay tourism, regional development initiatives, and the introduction of digital ticketing—as the city shifts from being a "tourist destination" toward becoming a "place to stay."
As Iida-san's article also reflects, more people may be finding value in the relaxed atmosphere and everyday charm of the city, beyond its tourist attractions.
Author Profile
Asami Iida
Based in Cambodia for 6 years
Japanese Desk, ABA Bank
Supporting Japanese individuals and companies expanding into Cambodia. From financial operations to everyday life, she shares insights into Cambodia’s evolving landscape from both professional and personal perspectives.
Contact
ABA Bank Japanese Desk
Next Episode (Vol.5)
In the next article, Asami will introduce: "Mountains and Sea — Weekend Trips from Phnom Penh." Stay tuned.
Editor’s Note
This article is a contributed piece.
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