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Review: Giant Ibis mini-bus Phnom Penh-Kampot

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Lina Goldberg

Giant Ibis has wasted no time in becoming the foreigner favorite of all of the Cambodia bus companies. They’ve expanded their network by adding Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh to Kampot by mini-bus.

These new mini-buses are what Giant Ibis uses for Phnom Penh to Kampot.

Giant Ibis is known for their safe vehicles and experienced drivers, and this is true of their mini-buses as well as their larger buses. We tried out the Phnom Penh to Kampot Giant Ibis mini-bus recently and found that it was up to the usual Giant Ibis standards.

Giant Ibis mini-bus seating chart: jump seats are in red.

The Phnom Penh to Kampot route goes in a 21-seat mini-bus. There are 17 regular seats and when the bus is fully booked, they pull out the additional four jump seats (seats 2C, 3C, 4C and 5C, as shown in the seating chart below). These seats are not ideal, as they are smaller and less comfortable, but for a short trip it’s not really a problem.

The jumpseats are smaller, without a full back.

The jump seats cannot be booked online and can only be booked by the Giant Ibis office or a travel agent if the other seats are already filled. This means if you are a group booking online and take seats in rows 2, 3, 4 or 5, be aware that you may end up with another passenger sitting between you.

The last row, seats 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D do not recline. When the buses are not fully booked, seats 3D, 4D and 5D are ideal for solo passengers because they are single seats (unless a jump seat comes into play). Move to Cambodia reader Sara reports the seat 1B has leg room than other seats because there is a raised area that means that the passenger in that seat needs to sit with their feet slightly elevated, so it’s not good for tall passengers. Is that complicated enough for you? Suffice to say, some seats are better than others but it’s a relatively short bus ride so it really doesn’t matter.

Giant Ibis bus interior Phnom Penh to Kampot

The interior of the Giant Ibis bus used for the Phnom Penh to Kampot route.

The trip from Phnom Penh to Kampot takes about three hours. As per usual Giant Ibis rules the drivers don’t go more than 95 kph/60 mph for safety reasons, but as the trip is only 150km/90 miles, it’s still a short journey. There is one quick bathroom break along the way. These days, they don’t usually play movies, but there’s usually WiFi. My experience is that the WiFi is not always reliable, so bring another form of entertainment.

Tickets on Giant Ibis between Phnom Penh and Kampot cost $9. Unlike every other company that operates on this route, Giant Ibis charges the same price to Cambodians and foreigners, and as such, are my preferred means of transport (check out the other options for how to get from Phnom Penh to Kampot here). You can book at any travel agent or guesthouse in Phnom Penh or Kampot, or you can also book on the Giant Ibis website for an extra $1 and select your own seat.

Giant Ibis schedule:
Phnom Penh – Kampot: 8:00 a.m, 2:45 p.m.
Kampot – Phnom Penh: 8:30 a.m., 2:45 p.m.

Giant Ibis

3Eo Street 106, next to the night market, Phnom Penh
T: 023 987 808
37, Street 7 Makara, Behind Sokimex Gas Station, Kampot
T: 095 666 809
giantibis.com

Review: New Sea View Villa, Sihanoukville

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Lina Goldberg

The New Sea View Villa is now closed, but their restaurant is still open, now called So Restaurant.

The New Sea View Villa is located a few doors down from the shore of Ochheuteal Beach. They’ve been there for ages and ages, and while the entire beach road is constantly in flux, New Sea View Villa is the anchor that holds the area together, and offers great value for money, particularly during the low season.

It’s not new, but it’s still the New Sea View Villa and we still like it.

We’ve stayed at the New Sea View Villa for years, and while it’s not the flashiest place on Serendipity Beach Road, we keep coming back to it because of the friendly staff and management, reliable accommodation and good security. They’ve got a lovely roof garden terrace with seating and sun loungers and a rec room with a foosball table, cable TV, pool table and ping pong table as well as assorted books and games for guests to enjoy.

New Sea View Villa Sihanoukville garden terrace

The perfect place to get some sun during the day or enjoy a quiet drink in the evening.

Rooms range from single, double, twin or triple fan rooms (no TV, hot water shower) to deluxe rooms with flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, a fridge and bath. The downsides: the WiFi isn’t very stable (also true for much of Sihanoukville) and there always seems to be a serious overload of air-freshener or cleaning products that can make some rooms smell suspiciously like a heavily deodorized toilet. That said, we still end up booking rooms here again and again, so it can’t be too bad. The restaurant has an early-bird special “2+2=10” from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. with two starters and two mains for $10. The restaurant used to be known as one of the best places to eat in the area, and while it may not be as amazing as you’ve been led to believe, it certainly is excellent value for money if you come early. On weekends, they often have live music, and the outside patio is a reliable place to enjoy a beer or cocktail.

New Sea View Villa Sihanoukville double fan room

One of New Sea View Villa’s cheapo rooms, the deluxe rooms are decidedly more swish.

Single fan rooms are $10 in high season, $6 in low season. Double fan rooms are $15 in high season and $10 in low season. Air-conditioned rooms are $25/20 in high season and $15/$20 in low season. They’ve also got A/C deluxe rooms with LCD TV, fridge, etc. for $25 or $35 depending on the season. Prices are often a bit lower on Agoda, so it’s worth checking there. Overall, this Sihanoukville stalwart is worth a visit. Book a room at New Sea View Villa on Agoda now. Browse other Sihanoukville hotels.

New Sea View Villa

Serendipity Beach Road, Ochheuteal Beach, Sihanoukville T: 017 918 966 http://www.sihanoukville-hotel.com

How to get a visa for Laos in Cambodia

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Lina Goldberg

It’s easy to get to Laos from either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. Vietnam Airlines offers direct flights from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang, and from Phnom Penh to Vientiane. Most visitors can get a visa on arrival, but if you’re arriving via a land border, you may want to get a visa for Laos in advance.

Heading to Laos?

To get a visa for Laos in Phnom Penh, you can head to the Embassy of the Lao PDR, where you’ll need a passport with 6 months availability left on it, two application forms–they’re available at the embassy–and 2 passport-sized photos. (Here’s where to get passport photos in Phnom Penh).

Laos visas cost between $30 and $50 depending on your nationality. For Americans, a Laos visa costs $50, for Brits the cost is $40 and Australians it’s $30. Normal processing takes 48 hours. For an extra $10 you can get urgent processing that will be ready in 12 hours. Tourist visas are valid for 2 months, and offer a single-entry 30-day stay.

Be warned: you cannot pay with $100 bills. The office hours at the Lao Embassy in Phnom Penh are Monday to Friday, 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

We did a price check with expat favorite for visa and license issues, Lucky! Lucky! Motorcycle Shop in Phnom Penh. The price was $3 higher to use Lucky! Lucky! and has the same processing times, but considering the fact that on our recent visit the one grumpy embassy employee seemed to speak either English or Khmer, using an agent is probably the easiest way to go.

Embassy of the Lao PDR

15-17 Mao Tse Tung Blvd, Phnom Penh
T: 023 982 632; 023 426 441
F: 023 720 907; 023 427 454

Lucky! Lucky! Motorcycle Shop

413Eo Monivong Blvd, Phnom Penh
T: 099 808 788; 012 279 990
E: luckymotorcyclerental@yahoo.com

Friends of Koh Rong

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Lina Goldberg

Koh Rong has been experiencing a massive influx of tourists lately, and while the increased tourism has benefited locals, there have been many negative effects as well. Despite the massive amounts of development on the island, local villagers have found it difficult to translate the tourism boom into income, in part because of their lack of English-language skills which left them unable to find employment at the newly-opened restaurants and accommodation on Koh Rong.

Friends of Koh Rong offers English lessons and community support to the villagers of Koh Rong.

Canadian Kelly Beker and Australian Fran Antoniou first came to the island as tourists-cum-English teachers and ended up staying on and starting Friends of Koh Rong, an organization that provides English education and support to the local community as well as promoting conservation and sustainable development. We got in touch with Kelly and Fran to learn more about what the Friends of Koh Rong are up to.

How has Koh Rong changed lately?

KB: “Koh Rong has experienced massive growth in the past year. Accommodation has tripled, which means more rubbish and less water. More Khmers are moving here and it is much more popular on the Southeast Asia trip circuit. From only two incoming boats a day, now there are five daily boats from Sihanoukville. More locals are studying English and many families have quickly erected guesthouses and other businesses. What was once a village is now the ‘downtown’ of Koh Toch.”

The empty beaches of Koh Rong are no longer with five boats a day heading to the island.

FA: “With the increase of people coming (whether tourists or businesses) there is less and less community spirit. Only a few businesses now work together to accomplish things, and it’s commendable for those that do.”

Why did you start Friends of Koh Rong?

KB: ” When I got to the island in January 2013, tourists frolicked the beach alongside children who were not studying. Upon realizing how little was being done to prepare the locals for the tourism boom to come, myself and a few other travelers decided to unpack our bags and make sure some form of help began. We saw a great need for English education, so the local people could join in on the great job opportunities to come.”

What sort of problems does Friends of Koh Rong address?

FA: “We work alongside the local community, empowering them to benefit from the tourism that is changing their lives forever. Our core values are to educate and empower the locals and youth of Koh Rong and help them to work better as a community and in a sustainable way. We offer free English lessons five times a day as well as running weekly beach clean-ups, dance, music, and art classes. We have smaller projects in waste management and water conservation.

Tourist awareness has become a big part of what we do in attempting to help the island develop in the most sustainable way possible. As we are the only NGO working in this village, there are many issues that we are sometimes forced to deal with. For example, after three fires on Koh Rong during high season we ran fire safety classes. We are currently in talks about building a water reservoir for locals to use. With the help of M’lop Tapang we completed a child safety workshop with all children in Koh Toch and plan to do this in all other villages of Koh Rong.”

Empowering the local community in Koh Toch village.

KB: “Not only is it of extreme importance for the locals here to learn English, sustainable development has become a huge focus of our work. If all we can do at this point is educate, that is the key to change, in hopes this island isn’t further destroyed by rushed development.”

What obstacles have you encountered?

FA: ” The circumstances of the island are unique. It has been very difficult to implement many programs we would like to as money and fear often supersedes the community interest. ”

KB: “To get registered as an independent NGO is no easy task in this country. We are also in search of a Khmer CEO to pay a full time salary, and translate classes and run administrative tasks, like getting registered.”

The Friends of Koh Rong team, with Fran and Kelly on the right.

How can Koh Rong lovers help?

KB: “Expats and tourists can help by spreading the word. Since we are not currently registered, it means we can’t apply for grants–we are still standing today from our overseas donors and the generous backpackers passing through. If people want to give their time rather than money, we are always open to new fundraising events both on Koh Rong and abroad. Volunteering as an adult tutor in the evening is also an option, as well as joining in on weekly beach cleans. The more travelers know about us the more conscious they are about their footprint here on the island. The more people abroad learn about us (from kind expats and tourists spreading the good word) the more likely our projects will continue to be funded.”

FA: “The development of Koh Rong is dictated by tourists. If you have conscious travelers then the island will have a better chance of developing sustainably, Song Saa island being a great example. Travelers and expats can help by supporting local businesses, respecting culture and empowering individuals.”

If you want to learn more about the Friends of Koh Rong or find out how you can help, check out this video or visit their website or Facebook.

Moving between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Steven Halcrow

It is a widely accepted fact that the experience of moving house can be as stressful and upsetting as being pushed out of a plane or undergoing triple bypass surgery. The very thought of ripping your entire life out of one place, compacting it into a dark container on the back of a truck and dumping it down in another place to be unloaded whenever you can get around to it is enough to make even the most steadfast interior designer recoil in fear.

Moving day in Cambodia doesn’t have to be a nightmare.

If you’re just moving across town, you may require little more than a tuk tuk, depending on how much stuff you have. This is by far the cheapest option, and usually the tuk tuk driver will be more than happy to help you with the more physically demanding aspects of the move for an extra couple of dollars. A massive truck like the one shown above can be had for under $50, including labor. Taxis are more expensive to hire but offer more safety and comfort and are also suitable for moving small loads between cities (Phnom Penh to Siem Reap will set you back $70-80).

If you’re moving between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and have more stuff that will fit into a taxi, you can hire a minivan. Don’t be put off by the fact that these minivans are often owned by tour companies and are not primarily used for removals, for $30 extra they will remove the seats to allow more space for your boxes.

You can hire men to help with the move through them, but again your local tuk tuk drivers and motodops will appreciate one more chance to make some money off of you. What you should pay them can be measured against how many flights of stairs they have to negotiate, how long it takes, and how sweaty and out of breath they are by the time they have finished. The going rate is usually between $5 and $20 per person.

We recently moved between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and were lucky enough to be introduced to a fixer, an English-speaking local who can help to arrange everything in exchange for a fee. If need be he can also accompany you to the place in Phnom Penh where truck drivers wait for jobs, at Street 63 between Street 154 and Street 174. Your fixer will barter with the driver on your behalf and if you are moving from one city to another, he will agree to ride in the truck for an additional fee and a bus ticket home. He will act as overseer to make sure that your possessions arrive in one piece.

Our fixer put us onto the minivan company that we ended up using but the fact that they did not want to come round and assess the job made us worry that they weren’t credible movers. Because of these doubts, we shopped around and got quotes from a couple of the bigger moving/transporting companies.

TWD sent round a man who spoke very good English and he assessed the job. We found this comforting although we felt as though he was very keen to drag everything out and use as many guys as he thought he could get away with. After assuring us that our ‘priceless’ possessions would definitely not fit in a 15-seat van (which we later ended up using), he quoted us $450 for 10 cubic meters loaded onto a 2.5 tonne truck, five laborers in Phnom Penh and two in Siem Reap and a total of around 12 hours to finish the job.

We also talked to World Angkor who specialize in international cargo but who also deal with household moves. He quoted us $650 for the same job only with his estimate that we only had 6 cubic meters. Both companies presented a legitimate face but accidents and breakages can occur during any move. A friend with more experience of moving in Cambodia advised us that problems were just as likely with the more expensive companies than the cheap ones, and the extra money seemed to be getting spent on nothing more than a guy with long fingernails on the other end of the line apologizing if something was to go horribly wrong.

We could not have been happier with the man and the minivan that we hired through Sopheap Bung (012 894 155; 098 894 155). Our driver Chantha was punctual and friendly and only cost $180. Our possessions, which both moving companies assured us needed a 2.5 ton truck, fit in the 15-seat minivan (but just barely). TWD wanted to send two additional men to help us unload the truck, yet we managed to do it ourselves in less than 20 minutes with minimal help from the driver. All in all, the price quotes we got from the moving companies were grossly inflated.

We ended up paying $260 in total ($60 in labor for tuk tuk drivers, plus a $20 tip for our driver). All in all, despite the weeks of anguish beforehand, it was a relatively painless move.

Five reasons to visit Battambang now

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Allison Jane Smith

Five hours from Phnom Penh, Battambang often loses to Kep and Kampot for those who want a relaxed getaway, and to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville for those who want a more exciting vacation. While it’s true that Battambang doesn’t have the buzz of Siem Reap’s nightlife or the beauty of Kep’s ocean views, Cambodia’s second-largest city is still worth a visit, sooner rather than later.

Here are five reasons why:

Colonial architecture, bats, dessert: Battambang’s got it all.

1. There are many random things to do

Let’s start with the obvious. These are the things that make it into the guidebooks – and rightfully so, because they are worth doing.

Every evening as the sun goes down at Phnom Sampeu, about 11 km outside the city, thousands of bats take flight, leaving their cave to hunt for the night. It’s a very impressive, David Attenborough-type thing to see.

Yep, after years of closure threats, Battambang’s bamboo train is still running and still worth checking out.

The bamboo train takes you through the countryside on tracks originally built by French colonial settlers, although fair warning that “train” may be a bit of an overstatement for the slight steel frame that is propelled along by the engine of a motorbike or tractor.

The bamboo train isn’t the only way to see the countryside; bike tour companies such as Soksabike offer half- and full-day tours, and Green Orange Kayak rents kayaks to take everything in from the river.

No list of Battambang sights is complete without the circus. The Phare Ponleu Selpak circus troupe is good enough to tour internationally, and is a delight to watch in Battambang.

Battambang’s Lotus Gallery is at the forefront of the city’s burgeoning art scene.

2. There’s a growing art scene

Battambang has a long artistic tradition. Historically, many of Cambodia’s best artists and performers come from the region. Today, the arts are thriving in Battambang, with many enthusiastic local artists taking the initiative to put Battambang in the forefront of Cambodia’s arts scene.

And good news for those tired of Angkor Wat tableaus – there’s nary a temple in sight as the young artists in Battambang explore both personal and political themes in their work.

Poke around Lotus Gallery, Sammaki, Make Maek, and Sangker Gallery to see the best of Cambodian art, or read more about Battambang’s art galleries.

Don’t miss a meal (or three) at Jaan Bai in Battambang.

3. There is food and drink

If you’re hungry or thirsty, Battambang offers opportunities to indulge.

At Kinyei, try the country’s best coffee, served by 2013 Cambodian barista champion Sakana Long. Ask for her signature drink, the Cambodian cappuccino, or have the street latte, which was Untac Nem’s signature drink when he won the competition in 2012.

Go to Choco l’Art Café for dessert. Soline’s delicious chocolate mousse and chocolate hazelnut cake is always available, with a rotating menu of other desserts, none of which ever disappoint.

For drinks, head to Jaan Bai Restaurant, where the cocktail menu includes favourites like an espresso martini, an Earl Grey tea martini served with flair, and Jaan Bai’s own creation, “the crocodile tail.”

Battambang statue of the legend of “the girl who let down her hair” at sunset.

4. There is something that makes you want to stick around

There’s a Khmer saying about Battambang being a sticky place, sticky because many people visit for what they think will be a short time, but end up staying a lot longer than originally planned. Others leave only to find their path leads them back again.

So be warned when you visit: you may find it hard to leave.

Battambang: it’s not going to be quiet forever.

5. All these things may change soon

While it’s the city’s slow pace and quiet charm that appeal to many that visit, Battambang may not be slow and quiet for long. More tourists are passing through, and the local government is moving forward on plans to make Battambang more attractive as a nightlife destination. This will include the establishment of a “Pub Street” a la Siem Reap, so it’s likely the city will change quite a bit in the next five years. Visit now to experience Battambang’s sleepy charms, while they still exist.

Soksabike

Street 1.5, Battambang
T: 012 542 019
soksabike.com

Green Orange Kayak

Ksach Poy (8 km south of Battambang)
T: 017 736 166
www.fedacambodia.org/GreenOrangeKayak (PDF)

Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus

Street 542, Battambang
T: 077 554 413
phareps.org

Lotus Bar and Gallery

Closed Mondays
#53, Street 2.5, Battambang
T: 092 260 158
facebook.com/lotusbattambang

Sammaki

87, Street 2.5, Battambang
facebook.com/sammakibtb

Make Maek

66, Street 2.5, Battambang
T: 017 946 108
makemaek.com

Sangker Gallery

47-10 Street 1.5, Battambang
T: 012 309 829
facebook.com/sangker

Kinyei

Street 1.5, Battambang
T: 017 860 003
kinyei.org

Choco l’Art Café

Street 117, Battambang
T: 010 661 617

Jaan Bai

Street 2, Battambang
T: 086 505 954
cambodianchildrenstrust.org/jaan-bai

Last-minute hotel deals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Lina Goldberg

I know that I’m not the only expat that frequently travels between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and doesn’t bother to book in advance for hotels. Despite what you may hear on various travel forums, even during high season there are more hotels than there are guests and you’ll always be able to find a room, even at the last minute.

We booked the City River Hotel in Siem Reap $28 at 2 p.m. on the same day.

Usually, I take advantage of the WiFi on Giant Ibis buses and try and book a room on Agoda as I’m on my way to Siem Reap. They have decent last-minute deals that are worth looking at. But last month a friend showed me a new app that has deeply discounted rates for both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh that blow the other hotel sites out of the water. The catch is: you must book same-day and each booking is only for one night. For expats like me, who often don’t begin thinking about a hotel until I’m halfway across the country, it’s a perfect choice.

The HotelQuickly app gives expats the chance to stay in some of the nicest hotels in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for one night at a hugely discounted rate, with a guarantee that it’s the lowest price available. If you use a signup code as explained below, you’ll get an additional $15 your first room.

I’ve tried the app a few times and stayed at several Siem Reap hotels and despite some initial difficulties, found it to be easy to use. The phone support leaves a lot to be desired (it’s an offshore call center) but it only took 15 minutes to get a response via email. I booked a hotel and when I walked up to the desk ten minutes later, they greeted me by name and had a print-out of the booking. Hotels use HotelQuickly to sell rooms for the night that would be empty otherwise, which is why the rooms are so cheap, and also why they’ll only let you book a day at a time.

The Siem Reap offerings are especially impressive, and include many of the city’s most well-known 4- and 5-star hotels. What’s available changes every day, of course, but I’ve seen the Victoria Angkor Resort, Heritage Suites, Shinta Mani, Grand Hotel d’Angkor, and various Frangipani properties. There are cheaper hotels, too, in the $15-30 range, but these usually disappear earlier in the day. If you’re looking for something budget, book in before lunchtime.

Phnom Penh seems to have more budget options, with rooms as low as $15 (which is free if you use the MTCAM code, explained below) well until evening-time. They also have fancy-shmancy offerings, including the Raffles Hotel Le Royal when I checked today.

Properties vary day to day, and even hour by hour, so even if you don’t find what you want once, it’s worth checking again later.

To use HotelQuickly, download the HotelQuickly app to your smartphone or tablet. Here’s the link to the Apple store and the Android marketplace.

If you use the code MTCAM to book a hotel room, you’ll get $15 off your first booking (and I’ll get $15 off my next hotel booking). Win-win.

Read: Working in Cambodia by Jenny Pearson and Leng Chhay

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Lina Goldberg

Working in Cambodia: Perspectives on the Complexities of Cambodians and Expatriates Working Together by Leng Chhay and Jenny Pearson is a deceptively slim volume released by VBNK, an NGO that works to promote capacity development in Cambodia’s social development sector. At just 42 pages long, the book is packed with information that is invaluable to any expat in Cambodia.

Working in Cambodia: Packed with useful information for expats.

The book was written to help encourage cross-cultural understanding within development organizations in Cambodia, and while the information within may be most useful to those in the development sector, the advice given is just as applicable to expats who run a business or employ someone to clean their house or care for their children.

Written by Jenny Pearson, a 19-year expat in Cambodia and her Khmer colleague, Leng Chhay, who helpfully articulates the Cambodian response to the foreign perspective, the book manages to demystify the behaviors of Cambodians that are so often at the heart of expat complaints. For example: Why do Cambodians want to sit around chatting about lunch for twenty minutes before getting started on the meeting agenda? or Why do Cambodians always tell me what I want to hear, even if it’s not true? or Why do my staff get angry when I make large purchases on certain days of the week?

Jenny’s deep knowledge about Cambodia and its culture is very clear in this book, and she has written a book that is both practical and generous. She explains what motivates behaviors that can seem strange or even dishonest to foreigners in a way that is sympathetic and easy to understand. Suddenly, when one realizes that foreigners and Cambodians have a different way of viewing the nature of time, human nature, activity and even reality, it is easier to understand how easily wires can be crossed and how misunderstandings occur.

“Maintaining harmony is a strongly held value in Cambodian culture, and is therefore also strong within organizations and affects how they function. This can lead to a range of behaviors that foreigners who do not share this value do not understand.”

The book is full of practical, actionable advice, that will make any long-term expat shake their head with recognition (and more than a little of that ‘Oops, I should have handled that differently’ feeling). About giving constructive criticism she writes, “If feedback is not given properly, often Cambodians will see it as blame and instead of accepting it and changing, they will look for ways to get revenge. Expatriates should make sure that when they give feedback to their Cambodian colleagues that they do it in a way which the Cambodians will not feel as blame.” And while the authors admit there are no easy answers to many of the issues that plague the Cambodian-expatriate relationship, the book gives the expat much to consider when reflecting on these issues.

Working in Cambodia was published in 2006, and undeniably much has changed since then. The book talks about the Khmer Rouge era and how the trauma that Cambodians went through influence their workplace behaviors and willingness to take risks. These days, though, in many organizations a large percentage of the staff were born after the fall of the Khmer Rouge. Young people are often “freer in their thinking and in their ideas and creativity” but can have this independence crushed by older members of their workplace (or family, for that matter). Despite this, the book still offers the expat reader a valuable insight into Cambodian work culture, and is highly recommended.

If you’d like to purchase a copy of Working in Cambodia: Perspectives on the Complexities of Cambodians and Expatriates Working Together, visit VBNK.

Move to Cambodia