Phnom Penh at sunset

What is the Legal Drinking Age in Cambodia? [2024]

I had a bit of a whirlwind few weeks in Cambodia when I was living in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam and was required to make semi-regular visa trips to Phnom Penh (and sometimes just the Cambodian border) to apply for a new visa and re-enter. Sometimes, I’d make a several-week trip out of it and post up in the country’s capital, Phnom Penh, for relaxation, gluttony, and cultural exploration. 

What I found was a country with a surprisingly cosmopolitan alcohol and gastronomic landscape, boasting everything from countless live music and billiards bars blasting classic rock hits to throwback colonial lounges and bustling rooftop bars to Shanghainese speakeasies and international craft beer haunts. And that’s just the beginning. Cambodian casinos (well…they are actually owned by the Chinese), beach bars, and cigar bars are also at your fingertips.

As a popular destination for newly minted high school graduates on gap years, backpackers of all ages and creeds, university students from surrounding Asian countries, and other thrill seekers who enjoy a pint or two (or a bucket), a common question that pops up is “What is the legal drinking age in Cambodia?” 

Here’s everything you need to know about the legal drinking age in Cambodia, along with other important alcohol laws in Cambodia

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Phnom Penh Cambodia

Visa Run: Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh Bus Ride

For how much I travel, I still somehow really hate flying. To skirt having to fly in a metal tube, 35,000 feet in the air for a mere 45 minutes, I somehow convinced myself that doing my Vietnam visa run to Phnom Penh, Cambodia via the Moc Bai Border should be done by bus. This wasn’t my best idea. If you’re currently in Vietnam and considering your visa run options, I recommend running a pros and cons comparison when choosing between the bus and flight. 

For those who are looking to visa run within the day, meaning you are just going to the Moc Bai Border and then straight back to Ho Chi Minh, then the bus is probably your best option. I like to make a trip of things, so a short 45 minute flight will be my preferred method next time.

If you’re curious about why I’ll choose to fly the next time I need to visa run from Vietnam, continue on. 

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Lumiere Hotel Phnom Penh

Capri By Fraser: a 4-Star Boutique Business Hotel in Phnom Penh

If you’re looking for one of the best hotels in Phnom Penh to stay in for a short business trip, rooftop jacuzzis, and great view of the former ‘Pearl of Asia’, I recommend checking out the Capri By Fraser – formerly known as ‘Lumiere Hotel’. 

Located in the heart of bustling Phnom Penh, the Capri By Fraser is a boutique business hotel for travelers looking for all Western amenities and luxuries in Cambodia. I stayed at Capri By Fraser for 8 nights when making a visa run from Vietnam, and couldn’t have been happier with my stay. It was a quiet refuge no more than stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of it all along the riverside.

Below, I’m going to break down some of my favorite things about the Capri By Fraser, and why I think it’s not only one of the best bang-for-your-buck business hotels, but one of the best hotels in Phnom Penh period

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