The Best of Cambodia & Laos

92
PHNOM PENH
5
FAST FACTS: PHNOM PENH
good, inexpensive access in their offices at No. 17A St. 178 (& 023/218-452;
kids@camnet.com.kh). Many hotels and restaurants have free Wi-Fi. The best and
most practical is La Croisette on Sisowath Quay.
Maps There are plenty of free maps available from bars and restaurants all over
town. One of the best is the 3D Lets Go! Map.
Magazines & Newspapers Two English-language dailies are available. The Cambodia
Daily carries plenty of local and national news and contains good analysis,
and is the best of the two. The once internationally renowned paper of record,
the Phnom Penh Post, which for many years ran as a biweekly, has now been
relaunched as a daily. The Bangkok Post is also widely available. Locally produced
magazines come and go in Cambodia. The best of the bunch at present is the
Southeast Asia Globe. Bookshops stock a range of foreign and international
magazines.
Pharmacies There are pharmacies all over town, but many are unreliable with
outdated drugs that might do you more harm than good. The best pharmacy by
far is Pharmacie De La Gare (81Eo Monivong Blvd.; & 023/430-205). This is a
very professional outfit run to French standards.
Post Office The post office is in the north end of town on Street 13, east of Wat
Phnom. It’s open daily from 6:30am to 5pm and has standard delivery service
and an international phone. DHL has an office on No. 28 Monivong Rd. (& 023/
427-726), and FedEx is at No. 701D Monivong (& 023/216-712). There’s also a
post office at the airport in the outdoor archway between arrivals and departures
(across from the Dairy Queen).
Safety The main hazard is traffic. Wear a motorcycle helmet when on the back
of a moto. When walking around or crossing the road, stay watchful—since all
vehicles are unpredictable, anything can happen. Bag snatchings and robberies
do happen. Don’t leave bags dangling and don’t display expensive items that
might attract the wrong kind of attention.
Telephone The local code for Phnom Penh is 23. International direct dialing is
available in most hotels and at the post office. Storefront Internet cafes along
Sisowath do inexpensive Internet calls or direct dialing. Cellphones are very popular
in the city, and you’ll find street-side stalls on wheels where you can make local
and international calls for next to nothing, with a good cellular connection.
Tourism Information Look out for the excellent free Canby Visitors Guide to
Phnom Penh. It is available in most cafes, restaurants, and hotels, and provides
very comprehensive information. The Phnom Penh Pocket Guide, also freely
available around town, is up to date with information on bars and restaurants.