What should travellers know about cash, cards, SIMs and payments in Cambodia?
Cambodia is easier when money and connectivity are sorted early. Carry sensible backup cash, check card and ATM realities, and do not assume every tuk-tuk, ticket window or small town works like a capital-city café.
Answer
Cambodia is not a card-only destination, and the useful setup is redundancy rather than trying to guess one perfect payment method. Riel is the local currency; US dollars still circulate, but Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has encouraged visitors to use riel or digital payments because worn US notes can be refused. Cards and ATMs are useful, but keep some riel for markets, smaller businesses and places where card payment is not practical. QR payment is more useful than many first-timers expect: the Bakong Tourists app lets international visitors register, link a Visa or Mastercard and pay KHQR merchants. For mobile data, buy and register a local SIM from a major operator or official seller; current Smart and Cellcard rules require identity verification using a passport or national ID. The low-friction setup is one working bank card, some riel cash, a backup payment method and mobile data sorted before the first transfer. Cambodia is much easier when one failed terminal, damaged note or dead connection cannot derail the day.