Here’s the latest Cambodia travel advisory update travelers should know about. On September 15, 2026, the US State Department updated its Cambodia travel advisory, keeping the country at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution, while adding a specific Do Not Travel warning for areas along the Cambodia-Thailand border. If you’re planning a trip to Cambodia, the important thing to understand is what this actually covers — and what it doesn’t.
What “Level 2” Actually Means
Level 2 is not a warning against visiting Cambodia. The US State Department uses a four-tier scale, and Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”) is the same level assigned to many popular destinations worldwide — it means travelers should be more alert than usual, not that the country is unsafe to visit. The advisory is specific about where the higher-level warnings apply, and most of the country, including the places most tourists actually go, is not covered by them.
Where the “Do Not Travel” Warning Actually Applies
The Do Not Travel language in the update is limited to the Cambodia-Thailand border area, not the whole country. Other governments have published more specific distances for the same border:
- Australia (Smartraveller) and Canada: do not travel within 50 km of the Cambodia-Thailand border, specifically in Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Battambang, Pailin, Pursat and Koh Kong provinces.
- UK (FCDO): advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the land border with Thailand, and lists specific closed sites: Preah Vihear/Khao Phra Wihan, Ta Krabey/Ta Kwai and Tamone Thom/Ta Muen Thom temple areas.
- Land border crossings: all official Cambodia-Thailand land crossings remain closed, confirmed by multiple governments. If you need to move between the two countries, you currently have to fly.
This follows a ceasefire signed in late December 2025 after armed clashes along the border in 2025, but the situation in the border zone remains tense, and unexploded ordnance and landmines are a real, ongoing hazard there — not just a legacy risk. We covered the border closure in more detail in Cambodia-Thailand Land Borders Remain Closed: What Travelers Need to Know, and the war damage at one of the affected sites in our report on the UNESCO damage assessment at Preah Vihear.
Phnom Penh: Increased Caution for Crime, Not a Border Issue
Separately from the border warning, the advisory flags Phnom Penh specifically for crime — this is a standard increased-caution note common to advisories for capital cities across the region, not a new or escalating threat. The practical advice is the same as always: be alert for scams and petty theft, use registered transport, and keep valuables secure. Our Cambodia Scams to Avoid guide and emergency hotline numbers page cover exactly this kind of situation.
Unexploded Ordnance: Provinces to Know
The advisory also flags unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk, primarily in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear provinces. This is a longstanding, well-documented risk in rural Cambodia and is not new to this update. The standard, effective precaution is simple and applies everywhere in the country: stick to marked paths and roads, and never touch or approach unusual metal objects in fields or forested areas. Popular tourist sites, including Angkor Wat and Siem Reap town itself, are not affected — the risk is specific to rural and forested areas away from the main visitor routes.
What This Means If You’re Visiting Siem Reap, Phnom Penh or the Coast
For the vast majority of Cambodia itineraries — Angkor Wat and Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Battambang, and the coast around Sihanoukville and Kampot — none of the specific warnings in this update apply. The changes are concentrated in the northern and northwestern border strip with Thailand, an area that wasn’t a typical tourist route even before the border tensions began.
Practical Takeaways
- Avoid the Thailand border strip — roughly 20–50 km depending on which government’s guidance you follow — including Preah Vihear temple and other named sites near the border.
- Don’t plan a land crossing between Cambodia and Thailand — all official crossings remain closed; fly instead.
- In Phnom Penh, use normal city precautions — registered transport, secured valuables, awareness of common scams.
- Stay on marked paths in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Pailin, Kampong Thom and rural Preah Vihear because of UXO risk — this doesn’t affect Angkor Wat or town centers.
- Check your own government’s advisory before you travel, since the exact distances and wording differ slightly between the US, UK, Australian and Canadian versions.
FAQ
Does this mean the US is telling tourists not to visit Cambodia?
No. Cambodia remains at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution, the same level given to many popular destinations. The Do Not Travel language applies specifically to the area along the Cambodia-Thailand border, not the country as a whole.
Is it safe to visit Angkor Wat and Siem Reap?
Yes, Angkor Wat and Siem Reap town are not part of any of the specific warnings in this update. The border-related warnings apply to the border strip with Thailand, well away from the main Angkor temple complex and town center.
Can I still cross overland between Cambodia and Thailand?
No. All official land border crossings between Cambodia and Thailand remain closed as of this update. Travelers moving between the two countries currently need to fly.
Is Phnom Penh dangerous right now?
The advisory’s note on Phnom Penh is about ordinary crime and scam risk, the kind found in most capital cities, not a new or acute threat. Standard precautions — registered transport, secured valuables, awareness of common scams — are sufficient for most visitors.
What This Cambodia Travel Advisory Means for Your Trip
The Do Not Travel zone is limited to the Thailand border area – Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, and the coast are unaffected.
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