Cambodia · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Phnom Penh scores 57/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Yes — Phnom Penh is generally safe for visitors who stay alert and avoid high‑risk areas. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Cambodia · Assessed 28 July 2026
57
/ 100
Safer than ~51% of countries
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel FCDO advises against all but essential travel to within 20km from the land border with Thailand.”
Updated 2026-04-22T11:07:26Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Cambodia: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging and armed robbery are uncommon but can occur in poorly lit neighborhoods after dark; stay in well‑lit, busy districts.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag‑snatching are frequent in markets, riverfront promenades and popular tourist sites.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
67/100
Recent traveller reports on forums and review sites indicate visitors generally feel comfortable during daylight hours but remain cautious after dark, especially in crowded areas.
Yes — Phnom Penh is generally safe for visitors who stay alert and avoid high‑risk areas.
The composite safety index of 58 reflects a moderate overall risk, driven by low‑to‑moderate crime rates and occasional petty theft, while health, environment and institutional scores are strong; recent data show no major violent incidents targeting tourists but a noticeable rise in bag‑snatching and scam activity in tourist hotspots.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Phnom Penh’s safety picture for a traveler in July 2026 is one of moderate risk, primarily driven by petty crime rather than violent conflict. The city’s composite index of 58 places it ahead of just over half of all countries, and while health, air quality and environmental hazards score very high, institutional factors such as rule of law (39/100) and corruption (23/100) are weaker, reflecting occasional bureaucratic opacity that can affect visitor confidence.
Recent dossier items confirm that the most salient threats are opportunistic scams and bag‑snatching. In June 2026, police intercepted a 5 kg drug shipment tied to transnational trafficking, and the municipality imposed a 132 million‑riel penalty on landlords as part of a broader crime‑suppression drive (Phnom Penh Post, Jun 2026). Also in June, two Chinese Huione Pay customers were detained after a protest linked to national bank concerns (CamboJA News, Jun 2026). These incidents are not directly aimed at tourists but illustrate a climate where illegal activity can intersect with public spaces frequented by visitors.
Scam tactics targeting travelers remain prevalent around the riverfront, Hun Sen Park and Sorya Mall. A common scheme involves strangers striking up friendly conversation, claiming a relative will move to the visitor’s home country, and then inviting them to dinner where a rigged card game is used to extract money, followed by pleas for “sick relatives” (Wego Travel Blog, Jul 2026; Khmer Times, Mar 2026). Fake monks also appear in tourist zones, attempting to solicit donations; real monks do not beg, and travelers are advised to ignore them or contact tourist police (012 942 4840) if harassed (Wikivoyage “Stay safe” background, though dated, aligns with recent reports).
Overall, visitors report feeling comfortable during daylight hours, especially in well‑populated districts such as Daun Khan, Chamkarmon and the Central Business District, but they are more cautious after dark and in poorly lit side streets. The U.S., UK and Canadian advisories all counsel “Exercise increased caution” or “high degree of caution,” reflecting the moderate crime environment rather than an acute danger.
Practical safety guidance: - Keep phones, wallets and bags in front of you on tuk‑tuks, motorbike taxis and in crowded markets; never wear a bag on your back. - Decline unsolicited invitations to dinner or private gatherings from strangers, especially near the riverfront or popular malls; verify any offers through official tourism channels. - Stick to well‑lit, busy neighborhoods after sunset and use reputable ride‑hailing or hotel‑arranged transport. - Carry a copy of your passport and emergency contacts, and register with your embassy if possible. - Stay informed of weather alerts — heavy rain in July can cause flash flooding in low‑lying areas, so avoid flooded streets and follow local advisories.
By remaining vigilant, avoiding isolated areas at night, and treating unsolicited social overtures with healthy skepticism, travelers can enjoy Phnom Penh’s cultural riches while minimizing personal‑safety risks.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 5 Phnom Penh districts for visitors: 2 safer, 2 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Phnom Penh safety map.
Prampi MakaraavoidReports of drug‑related activity and occasional violent clashes; high risk after dark
RussiancautionNighttime pickpocketing and bag snatching reported; stay alert after dark
ChamkarmoncautionBusy commercial zone; daytime petty theft possible, avoid poorly lit streets at night
Boeung KaksaferWell‑patrolled area with regular police presence; low incident rate
Daun PenhsaferCentral district with strong tourist police visibility; generally safe
07 · After Dark
Mugging and armed robbery are uncommon but can occur in poorly lit neighborhoods after dark; stay in well‑lit, busy districts.
After dark, be most careful around Prampi Makara, Russian, Chamkarmon. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Yes — Phnom Penh is generally safe for visitors who stay alert and avoid high‑risk areas. The composite safety index of 58 reflects a moderate overall risk, driven by low‑to‑moderate crime rates and occasional petty theft, while health, environment and institutional scores are strong; recent data show no major violent incidents targeting tourists but a noticeable rise in bag‑snatching and scam activity in tourist hotspots. (Assessed 28 July 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Phnom Penh report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Field research flags Prampi Makara as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Phnom Penh ranks #3 of 5 Cambodia destinations we've assessed, scoring 57/100. See the Cambodia safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
Browse the Cambodia safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: phnom-penh.json (CC BY 4.0).
