Why Siem Reap Is Underrated: 5 Reasons to Visit (or Even Live Here!)

Siem Reap, wow it's been about 10 years since my last visit (around 2016). That's when I came here to see Angkor Wat with a Japanese girl I was dating.

Back then the temple complex was the whole point of the trip. This time, I really enjoyed the town itself, It’s cute, quaint, livable and full of charm.

Five reasons I think Siem Reap is underrated.

Let's get into my breakdown.

1. The town is simply beautiful

Siem Reap is well maintained and simply beautiful. If you’ve spent time in Chiang Mai, Thailand, you’ll recognize the energy. It’s chill and laid-back, with cafes, shops, and plenty of places to rent a motorbike and zip around town.

There’s also a compact nightlife area called Pub Street that reminds me of the nightlife area in Chiang Mai. I spent an evening there with my girlfriend and had a great time bar hoping for a few hours. Perfect spot to have fun with a group of friends.

If you’re looking for a relaxed place to visit as a tourist, or you’re weighing a move to Cambodia, I’d put Siem Reap on the shortlist. Once you’re set up, with a group of friends or a partner, daily life here is lovely. It isn’t chaotic or crazy, just a nice, easygoing place to live.

2. It’s still low cost

Thailand has become much more expensive since I first arrived in 2011. Cambodia still delivers the kind of value that used to be easy to find in the region.

• Quality beer at a store runs about 75 cents (ABC Stout anyone - WHY Doesn't Thailand have a good dark beer after all these years).
• Beer at a bar or restaurant costs roughly $1 to $3.
• Cocktails are around $4 to $5.
• A night out for two at a cocktail bar cost us about $22.
• Food is cheap too. My favorite was Lak Lak with fries and an egg.

If you’re thinking about basing yourself in Cambodia, your budget goes a long way in Siem Reap. As there is not too much to do and not a whole lot of distractions, $1500 a month is comfortable here.

A question I get a lot is about how money works here.

Cambodia has been dollarized. Both the US dollars and the local currency are used here, and at the airport you can choose which you want when you exchange.

My girlfriend swapped a pile of Vietnamese dong for Riel. As an American, I already carry dollars from my yearly trips home, so both work fine.

Many places accept credit cards as well, so bring some cash in both currencies and a card.

Typically you'll pay in dollars and get dollars and Reil back.

3. There’s more here than just Angkor Wat

Look, Siem Reap is similar to Chiang Mai. It's remote, there is not a whole lot going on in Northern Cambodia. But you can find other activities to do here and enjoy living here beyond Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is the main reason people come, and rightly so. But within driving distance you’ll find national parks, waterfalls, outdoor activities, river villages, and cultural experiences.

A useful comparison is like I said in the video Agra in India. People go to Agra for the Taj Mahal, but if the Taj Mahal wasn't there, no one would go to Agra.

Siem Reap however is a lovely place and because of Angkor Wat,. It’s a genuinely nice town in its own right, which makes it worth a longer stay.

4. Great cafes and co-working spaces

I work remotely, so this one matters to me. Siem Reap has well-designed cafes with good coffee and strong Wi-Fi.

In particular, I really liked the Footprints Cafe, which has a great workspace upstairs, and we checked out a few other spots as well. If you don’t work remotely, this won’t affect your trip. Ido, you’ll have plenty of good places to set up a laptop.

Once again, it reminds me of Chiang Mai, with lots of spots to work from. I suspect it stays underrated partly because there aren’t many remote workers here yet.

5. The people are chill and laidback

I’ll say up front that this opinion comes from limited experience, and I don’t want to make a sweeping statement. Still, the Cambodian people I’ve met seem more laid-back, chill, and humble than the fun, boisterous, party-loving side you often get with Thai people.

Cambodia boarders Isan in Thailand, and you might expect the same vibe across the border. Maybe it exists to some extent? But from my time there not so much

A few honest notes

• Cambodia is so FUCKING HOT. Sorry for my language, but I need to emphasis this. I’d forgotten how hot and humid Cambodia is. It feels more intense than Thailand and definitely more than Saigon. You need to hydrate properly so you don't end up with a headache and low energy.
• English. For a tourist town, the English level is just okay. It was pretty hilarious watching my Viet girlfriend struggle a bit, but it was all good.
• Lak Lak. Their answer to Vietnamese Com Tam or Thai Pad Kra Pow. You can and should order it with fries and not rice.
• Grab app. Grab app works here, so get that setup. You can order both a Tuk Tuk or a motorbike. Both are similar in price.
• Wat Bo area. This is the area we stayed and it's centrally located. Pay attention to where your hotel is, you don't want to book something far away even if it's nice.

Where we stayed

We stayed in a private room at Lub d Siem Reap. 100000% recommend.

Yea yea, I'm in my 40's and my girl is in her 20's so we should stay in some bougie hotel, but I wanted a place with good energy so I booked this after reading the reviews on Google and Booking.

This hostel is in the perfect location. Walkable to a lot of places, the private rooms (and shared rooms) are cheap, lot's of young travelers here so it's a great way to meet people, the place puts on activities, comes with an awesome pool and great food.

Final thoughts

Cambodia has a reputation that puts some people off and it is overshadowed by Thailand and Vietnam.

But after a decade away I’m impressed. If you like Chiang Mai, you’ll like Siem Reap. Come for Angkor Wat and stay for the town. Plus longer term visas in Cambodia are easily obtained for Americans compared to Thailand.

I’ll be honest that Chiang Mai was never quite my scene when I lived there. That’s why I love Saigon so much. I’ve always described it as the best parts of Bangkok and the best parts of a small Thai town combined in one place.

Siem Reap gives you a version of that small-town side, but with a much better nightlife area. Once you're setup there, and you have a girlfriend and a friend group, Siem Reap is perfect if you're looking for a calm base to focus on work.

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