In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Cambodia
Doun Kaev
Day‑trip from Phnom Penh or Takeo: see Phnom Chisor and Phnom Da, then return; no overnight stay needed.
Doun Kaev is a small provincial capital in the Mekong Lowlands, best used as a base‑day for two historic temples. The sites are 40‑45 km south of Phnom Penh and require motorised transport; a single day is enough.
- Country
- Cambodia
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- US dollars for hotels, tours and restaurants; riel (KHR, about 4,000 to the dollar) for change and small street purchases.
- Daily spend
- Budget $15–20 excl. bed · Mid $25–35 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Smart, Cellcard and Metfone sell tourist SIMs at the airports with passport registration; a week of data costs a few dollars.
- Emergency
- Police 117 · Fire 118 · Ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C, G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US and round European pins; newer hotels have UK-style type G.
- Tipping
- Street food: Nothing.; Sit-down restaurant: Round up or leave US$1–2 where no service charge is added.; Tuk-tuk: Round up; US$2–5 extra for a full Angkor day.; Guide day: US$5–10 per person.; Massage: US$1–2 per hour.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Bottled water everywhere; many hotels have refill stations.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, restaurants and at the Angkor ticket office and main temples; squat toilets with a hose or scoop on the road. Paper goes in the bin in older places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street food (noodle, rice dish) | $1–2 |
| Bottled water (1 L) | $0.30–0.50 |
| Motorbike hire (full day) | $8–12 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PNH · Phnom Penh International Airport
- About 45 km (28 mi) north, 1 h drive via Hwy 2.About 28 mi (45 km) north, 1 h drive via Hwy 2.
Typical fares
- Phnom Penh → Doun Kaev (car hire, round‑trip)
- about $30–45 total, 1 h each way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Hire a car or motorbike for the day; public buses are infrequent. Roads are paved but can be busy near Phnom Penh.
See and do
Known for
- Phnom Chisor temple
- Phnom Da temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Phnom Chisor | Hire a car or motorbike from Doun Kaev, about 30 km (19 mi) (≈45 min) south via NR2.Hire a car or motorbike from Doun Kaev, about 19 mi (30 km) (≈45 min) south via NR2. | ≈1 h round‑trip |
| Phnom Da | From Phnom Chisor continue east 20 km (12 mi) on local road; about 1 h total from Doun Kaev.From Phnom Chisor continue east 12 mi (20 km) on local road; about 1 h total from Doun Kaev. | ≈2 h round‑trip |
Sleep
- Grand Dragon Resorts
- Casino resort in Chrey Thum, near the Vietnam border; suitable for a night if you extend the trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | សូមទោសsom tos |
| Thank you | អរគុណaw kohn |
| How much is it? | តើវាដាច់ប៉ុន្មាន?ta vea doch pon man? |
| Where is the toilet? | បន្ទប់ទឹកនៅឯណា?bantob tek nov aena? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Sampeah (palms together, slight bow); higher hands for elders and monks; avoid: Firm handshakes with older women
- Head and feet: Keep feet down and pointed away from people and Buddha images; avoid: Touching heads, even children's
- Temples: Shoes and hat off inside, shoulders and knees covered; avoid: Sitting with feet toward the Buddha; women touching monks
- Keeping face: Stay calm and smile when things go wrong; avoid: Shouting or public anger
- Giving and receiving: Use the right hand or both hands; avoid: Tossing money or objects
- Photos: Ask first, especially of monks and at memorials; avoid: Selfies at Tuol Sleng and Choeung Ek
Scams and watch-outs
- Hot and sticky weather; bring water and sun protection.
- Roads can be congested near the capital; allow extra travel time.
Generally safe for day visitors; keep valuables secure and watch traffic when crossing roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Doun Kaev yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Phnom Chisor temple
- Phnom Da temple
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Doun Kaev coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Doun Kaev, revision 4987753 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4987753
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/doun-kaev). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.