Teams & Mission Builders
Batambang Welcome Guide
The following is helpful information for teams, mission builders, and special guests.
If you are coming to staff or join a training program like DTS, then some of this information will not be applicable to you.
e.g. food and housing prices since those will be included as a part of school costs.
Arrival
As you are purchasing plane tickets keep in mind that we have 2 options for your final destination. You can fly to Siem
Reap (REP) or Phnom Penh (PNP). Siem Reap, however, is the closest and best option if available.
If you are flying in late at night to REP or PNH expect to stay overnight at a hotel. You will need to book this online and send us your confirmed booking.
CAMBODIAN VISAS AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
VISA
Do not get a tourist visa.
In order to comply with local laws, please ensure that you (or everyone on your team if coming as a group) get an E-Business /Ordinary Visa- $35. This will allow you or your team to serve with us and is the only visa that is possible to extend here in Cambodia.
For some some nations it’s possible to get a visa on arrival but Cambodia has been moving towards getting a visa online prior to your arrival. You can apply for a visa to Cambodia online at https://www.evisa.gov.kh/
Don’t expect them to make changes for you. You MUST also have 2 passport-sized photos, one for the visa on arrival and one for the extension.
If you have any questions about getting
Invitation Letter Before Entering Cambodia
Depending on the country you are from you may also need an invitation letter from us printed with you prior to entering Cambodia. Please contact us to check if you need one so we can prepare one for you.
Travel out of Cambodia & re-entry
Sometimes it’s possible for people to leave Cambodia for a short time and return. However, in order to facilitate a smoother re-entry experience with Cambodian authorities you may need to have an official letter from our campus printed with you prior to re-entry.
Money
In Cambodia, you can use two types of currency: USD and Khmer Reil. The exchange rate is 1 USD = 4000 R (subject to change). Please be aware that most places in Battambang deal with cash only. Places outside the city such as the
villages deal only with cash.
Please use smaller denominations, especially when using USD, as many places may not have enough money to return change.
It is IMPORTANT you bring NEW bills. Bills with markings or torn or taped bills will not be accepted.
Please refrain from giving money until speaking with our staff. Well-meaning material handouts can hurt by creating dependency and destroying personal dignity.
FOOD AND HOUSING
It will cost $8.50 USD/per person (NO AC), or $10 USD/per person (AC) per day for food and housing on our base. This
includes water and 3 meals a day for the whole week. There are no meals on Saturday so teams will eat on their own.
Mattresses, pillow, pillowcase and fitted sheets are all provided for at the UofN Battambang campus. If you would like a light blanket, please bring it yourself.
Translators
Cost for Translators: In Battambang city the cost for a full day (8 hours) is $12.50.
TRANSPORTATION
Passapp
In Battambang we have an application you can download on your phone. Passapp is a rickshaw/taxi service that operates in a similar way to UBER and is useful for getting around in cities.
- From our campus to the city (6 people) = $2.5USD
Taxi
Taxis in Cambodia dont get you around inside cities. They’re used for getting from one city to another.
Here are some prices to give you an idea of what the costs are.
*Can be subject to change based on gas prices*
Phnom Penh → Battambang
- $80 USD Highlander (4 people)
- $180 USD (12 people)
Siem Reap → Battambang
- $40 USD Highlander (4 people)
- $120 USD (12 people)
VACCINATIONS
Please have updated Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid and Tetanus immunizations before coming to Cambodia. It is important to remember that initial Hepatitis vaccines take a few months to complete.
INTERNET/PHONES
WiFi is available at our UofN Battambang Campus, and there are also many cafes/places in town with free WiFi.
Most teams find that having a Cambodian SIM card is helpful to stay in contact and use services for getting rides. You will need to buy a A SIM card (a phone number) and put credit on your phone.
If you decide to get a SIM card, ‘SMART’ is popular for mobile services.
– Popular plan: SMART Laor! 6 = $6 USD/month
Clothing
We ask that you dress appropriately and nicely during your time in Cambodia. As a guest in this country we need to adjust our thinking as to what is appropriate dress in the Cambodian context. As a general rule of thumb make sure that your shoulders and knees are covered.
Proper clothing for MEN in ministry: When teaching, presenting in front of a group or attending church please wear long pants and a collared or polo shirt. Please do not wear any piercings of any kind. We ask that you take them out before you come to Cambodia.
Proper clothing for WOMEN in ministry: Wear clothes that fully cover both shoulders and knees. Skirts, capris or long pants are appropriate for ministry. If teaching or presenting in front of a group please wear a skirt. Please only ear piercings.
We ask that you take any other piercing out before you come to Cambodia. Tattoos: If you are teaching, preaching or in church we ask that you cover your tattoos with either long sleeve shirts and long pants/skirts.
Shoes: You won’t need the latest and greatest pair of hiking shoes in Cambodia. 1 pair of tennis/closed toe shoes and a
pair of sandals/flip flops – extremely useful for entering houses or using for showers. Day to day you will wear sandals/flip
flops.
MEDICAL KITS
Please bring with you a basic first aid kit and basic medicines. While you can purchase medicine in Cambodia pharmacies are
not open 24/7, and it’s always better to be prepared.
Things to include: Aspirin/pain reliever, allergy medicine, cold medicine, diarrhea medicine, laxative, motion sickness pills, Band-Aids, antibiotic cream, cream for bites and stings, cream for burns, anti itching ointment, tweezers, thermometer, packets of powdered electrolyte replacement for diarrhea.
If you do not use the medicine during your outreach please feel free to donate it to the Campus medical kit.
Recommendations
FOOD:
Cafe Eden, The Fringe, LA Pizza, Ristorante Italiano, Flavours of India, Masala House, Chinese Dumpling, Green Mango, Cafe HOC, Gecko, Battambang Resort, Kinyei (breakfast), Petra Library Cafe
If you want to order food, Food Panda is a food delivery application like UBER eats/SKIP the dishes.
COFFEE:
Cafe Eden, Starbucks, Forest Coffee, TUBE Coffee, Farm Coffee, Petit Cafe, Ktrey Ktrok
BUBBLE TEA:
An Cha, Koki, Mini Bear
GROCERY:
Lucky Supermarket, Heng Chhay Ly Mart, Fairplus
Emergency Contact
Please make sure you have your Point Person’s phone number BEFORE you arrive.
If you have any problems and you are unable to reach your point person, please email teams@uofnbattambang.com