Insider's guide to...Siem Reap

AIRPORT TO CITY
The airport is 15 minutes by car.

BEST HOTELS
1. Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, Siem Reap
Tel: +855 63 963 888
A grand historic hotel originally built by the French, this is the place to stay.


2. Hotel Sofitel Royal Angkor
Tel: +855 63 964 600
Set among landscaped gardens, this is the closest hotel to the ruins of Angkor Wat.

BEST RESTAURANTS
3. Viroth’s Restaurant
246, Wat Bo Road, Tel: +855 1 695 1800
Serves the most amazingly delicious Khmer cuisine in an ambiant and stylish setting.

4. Café Indochine
Central Sivatha Road, Tel: +855 12 804 952
A great old Indochina throwback with an eclectic, wide-ranging menu.

BEST CAFES & BARS
5. Red Piano
Old Market, Tel: +855 63 693 240
Popular bar with Tomb Raider cocktail initiated by Angelina Jolie herself.

6. The Angkor What? Bar
Pub Street, Tel: + 855 12 490 755
Long-running late-night bar with killer drinks and a big sound system.

A FEW HOURS TO KILL
7. Artisan d’ Angkor School
Provincial Office of Education, Youth and Sports Chantiers-Ecoles Tel: +855 63 963 330
Nice selection of arts and crafts for souvenirs of Cambodia. You can watch the artists, their
training and professional workshops.

8. The Old Market (Phsar Chas)
By the river, south end of the Old French Quarter A must-see when visiting Siem Reap. It offers
an eclectic collection of clothes and trinkets for good prices as well as greatest selection of
souvenirs and curios. Don’t forget to bargain down the price.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
- Never touch anyone’s head no matter how old they are
- Women are not supposed to be too social
- Everyone speak Khmer throughout Cambodia and call themselves Khmer

TIPPING
Used to be very rare, except for particular good services, but now compulsory in the city – especially for tour guides.

SECRET OF THE JETSET
9. Water Festival Celebration
One of the country’s biggest annual festivals celebrated in the city with three days of
colorful long-boat races on the Tonle Sap river, starting at the end of November.

Bert Chamrernnusit is business development manager, Pacific World, Thailand, Vietnam
and Cambodia.