CAMBODIA

LANGUAGE

* The official language spoken in Cambodia is Khmer. Many educated Cambodians over the age of 30 can converse in French. English is not widely understood.

BUSINESS ATTIRE

* Cambodia is a hot, tropical country which does not lend itself to formal western business attire.

* The country experiences two monsoonal periods each year, from November to March and then from May to early October. In formal situations, a lightweight tropical suit is appropriate for both men and women. For less formal occasions, smart casual shirts and blouses with collars are sufficient.

INTRODUCTIONS

* As in most Asian countries, the use of business cards is widespread.

* Always distribute and receive business cards with both hands as a sign of respect to the person you are dealing with and always take a few seconds to study a person's card after it has been handed to you. This is particularly important when dealing with Cambodia's ethnic Chinese minority, many of whom hold influential positions in the country's business community.

* Cambodian names can be confusing for foreigners. Surnames come first and given names come second. Hence, King Norodom Sihanouk's surname is Norodom, however he is referred to by his given name as King Sihanouk, in the same way that British people refer to their monarch as Queen Elizabeth.

* Cambodians with short names, such as the country's co-Prime Minister, Hun Sen, are habitually referred to by both names.

* When introduced to a Cambodian, refer to them by their surname prefixed by either "Mr", "Mrs" or "Madam" or simply use both their surname and given name until told otherwise.

BUSINESS HOURS

* Government offices are open from Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 4.30pm with a break in the middle of the day.

* Privately-run businesses, particularly shops and restaurants, often keep longer hours.

MONEY

* The official currency of Cambodia is the riel, which is divided into 100 sen.

* It is also advisable to carry a supply of US dollars when conducting business in Cambodia, as the country has a thriving black market.

* Travellers' cheques in US dollars can be cashed at banks in Phnom Penh. It is advisable to attend to all banking in the capital city before venturing out into regional Cambodia, as it is difficult to change anything other than cash in the countryside.

* Tipping is not widely practised in Cambodia but is naturally greatly appreciated.

SAFETY

* When travelling out of Phnom Penh, always check with your hotel or embassy on whether you are travelling into an area which is still under government control. In recent years, foreigners have been killed when travelling into areas occupied by the Khmer Rouge.

* Certain regions of Cambodia are still covered with land mines and it is inadvisable to leave defined paths when conducting business in rural areas.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

* The domestic telecommunications system is almost exclusively limited to government telephones.

* An Australian telecoms company has established Cambodia's international telephone network, which can be accessed with multi-denominational telephone cards at various IDD telephones set up around Phnom Penh.

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

* Cambodia's Pochentong International Airport is located seven kilometres to the west of Phnom Penh's downtown area.

* Taxi fares should be negotiated before leaving the terminal.

GIFTS

* Many people in Cambodia have started studying English over the last couple of years. Gifts of English books, language tapes and magazines will be greatly appreciated by business people seeking to improve their command of the English language, particularly if those books are about your country.

* As in most Buddhist cultures, the foot is the least sacred part of the body. Shoes and socks make inappropriate gifts in Cambodia.

* Green and red are the most suitable colours for wrapping paper in Cambodia. Avoid the colour white, which is considered unlucky.

GENERAL

* Cambodia is a devoutly Buddhist country and it is important to show respect for the country's religion when conducting business there.

* Never touch a person on the head as this is considered the most precious part of the body. In the same way, the feet are regarded as the least sacred part of the body and it is considered offensive to point with the feet or even show the sole of the shoe or foot to another person.

* When entering a wat (pagoda), always remove hats and shoes.

* Never point at a person or image of Buddha with your index finger or feet.

Return to Asia Pulse's Guide to Business Etiquette in Asia

Return to our Page Added July 8, 1998