eSIM for Cambodia

eSIM, roaming or a local SIM in Cambodia

Mobile data in Cambodia is central to getting around, because many visitors book tuk-tuks and cars through apps. Here is how the options compare.

How much data to plan for

These figures are approximate, but they give a sense of what uses the most:

• Maps and navigation: a few megabytes per hour; useful for finding temples, guesthouses and restaurants.
• Ride-hailing: small amounts per booking, used several times a day in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
• Messaging: light; guesthouses, tuk-tuk drivers and tour operators commonly use WhatsApp or Telegram.
• Social media and photo sharing: moderate to heavy, especially sunrise videos at Angkor Wat.
• Video calls: typically several hundred megabytes per hour.
• Streaming: heavy, often more than a gigabyte per hour in high definition.

Before you go

Installing an eSIM needs an internet connection, so do it at home over Wi-Fi. First check your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.

Then follow the install guide for iPhone, Samsung or Pixel. Label the line "Travel", keep your home SIM as default for calls and texts, and set the Spidot line for mobile data.

• Install the eSIM a day or two before departure.
• Download and sign in to the ride-hailing apps you plan to use.
• Download offline maps of Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and the areas you will visit.
• Add Khmer to your translation app for offline use.
• Turn off data roaming on your home SIM.

Arriving in Cambodia

International flights arrive at Phnom Penh's international airport and at Siem Reap's international airport, which is some distance outside the town, so plan your transfer before you land. Many travellers also arrive overland from Thailand via Poipet, from Vietnam via Bavet or the Mekong river crossing, or from Laos in the north.

When you land, choose the Spidot line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Our data roaming guide shows where to find the setting. If it does not connect within a minute or two, switch flight mode on and off once.

Coverage in cities, temples, countryside and islands

In Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot, Sihanoukville and other towns, mobile data generally works well for everyday use. The main highways between them are usually covered too.

Coverage becomes less predictable in a few areas:

• Outer Angkor temples: the central temples near Siem Reap are generally covered, but more remote sites such as Beng Mealea, Koh Ker or Preah Vihear are further out, with weaker signal in places.
• The islands: Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem have coverage around the main beaches and villages, but quieter beaches and jungle trails can be patchy.
• Tonlé Sap floating villages: on the lake itself, signal can be weaker than on land.
• Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri: the towns are covered, but forested hills and remote villages can have gaps.
• The Cardamom Mountains: this forested region in the south-west is sparsely populated, with limited coverage away from settlements.

Data on buses, boats and tuk-tuks

Buses and minivans connect Phnom Penh with Siem Reap, Battambang, Kampot, Sihanoukville and the borders. Coverage along the main highways is usually reasonable, though it can dip between towns. Many companies sell tickets online, and data lets you check departures and pick-up points.

Ferries run from the mainland near Sihanoukville to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem. Signal fades in places on the crossing, so arrange your accommodation pick-up before you leave.

Sharing data with a hotspot

Guesthouse and café Wi-Fi in Cambodia is common, but it can slow down at busy times. Your phone's personal hotspot is a good backup for a laptop or tablet. It uses the line set for mobile data, so make sure that is the Spidot line.

Tethering adds up. Pause cloud backups and automatic updates on connected devices, and watch your remaining data.

Using public Wi-Fi safely

Free Wi-Fi is easy to find in cafés, restaurants and hotels. It is useful, but open networks can be insecure.

• Use your eSIM data for banking, card payments and logins.
• Check the network name with staff before connecting.
• Turn off automatic joining of open networks.
• Keep your phone and apps updated.

Practical tips for Cambodia

A few local details that make data especially useful:

• Two currencies: US dollars and Cambodian riel are both widely used. Prices are often quoted in dollars, with small change given in riel. Cash is common, though cards are accepted in many hotels and restaurants in the cities.
• Angkor passes: temple passes are checked at the main sites. Keep your pass safe and follow the dress code for temples, covering shoulders and knees.
• Messaging apps: WhatsApp and Telegram are both common for arranging drivers and tours.
• Heat: phones can overheat in direct sun at the temples. Keep yours in the shade and carry a power bank.
• Phone security: bag and phone snatching from passing motorbikes is a known risk in cities. Hold your phone securely and avoid using it at the roadside.
• Language: Khmer is the national language. English is widely spoken in tourist areas; a translation app helps elsewhere.

Cambodia on a multi-country trip

Cambodia is usually part of a wider South-East Asia trip. Popular routes cross from Thailand to Siem Reap, continue from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, or head north along the Mekong into Laos.

Spidot does not currently sell an Asia regional plan, so for multi-country trips the simplest approach is one eSIM per country. Most eSIM phones can store several eSIMs, so install the plans for your route before you travel and switch mobile data to the right line when you cross a border.