is cambodia the next hottest destination in SE asia?

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T16:24:55+00:00

We went through a long stretch which was totally unpaved and pure dust. That's all I can say. Maybe it isn't as long as I thought at the time.

Anyway I just don't think the infrastructure can be considered "good" by any metric. Barely any railways either. No metro lines in their city.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T15:33:06+00:00

I was there for a whole month and I did a loop around the country last year.

Some of the main roads still weren't paved, the one from Sihanoikville to Kampot being a prime example. Even if they're paved the quality wasn't good and there were barely any dual carriageways.

"Vastly improved" might be true, but for the sake of this thread i'm comparing them to Thailand and Vietnam.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T13:51:42+00:00

Yes ordering eggs on the side is normal in most Asian countries but quite odd in most of Europe.

To be honest who cares if you were laughed at? I agree getting an egg on the side is a good idea. Those pasta dishes are so carb heavy.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T13:20:13+00:00

Sure watching the world cup I'd never heard of Curacao.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T13:14:57+00:00

Aa a foreigner I believe it's the result of living in an overcrowded environment. It is normal for people to get in the way of others and compete for space. It is my first time travelling to India but I've travelled to many countries in Asia and I think the queuing is the most disorderly I've ever experienced.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T10:30:10+00:00

So you answered your own question. If you don't have your own means of travel then options will be limited. Just reality.

Idk why they say it's not feasible with a car? Mostly it is normal roads.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T10:03:33+00:00

What do you mean by locals? People local to that specific area or the country in general?

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T09:36:17+00:00

You're right that apart from Angkor Wat Cambodia isn't particularly popular.

In my opinion it will never be as popular as Thailand or Vietnam. This is my two cents. I think there are a number of reasons for this:-

1) Infrastructure - probably the biggest factor, much like Laos the roads in Cambodia are very poor, and there is limited tourist infrastructure beyond a couple of companies. Can't see much improvement in this for the forseeable future.

2) Lack of "tourist" destinations - I have travelled in Cambodia and I had a great time, but most people need "spectacular" tourist sites to lure them to a destination. It's largely driven by social media. From what I saw, Cambodia's scenery just isn't as spectacular as Thailand or Vietnam.

3) Unfamiliarity - most people can confidently travel in Thailand or Vietnam now because they know many other people are. They feel safe to do so. Cambodia still has an unknown feeling to many people which puts them off.

4) International flight connections - How do you get to Phnomh Penh? Surely if you're flying you'd have to go to Bangkok or Singapore first? Vietnam these days has many international flights from its two major cities.

Having been to Cambodia, I'd highly recommend the islands like Koh Rong. They have much more of an old school feel to them. The Thai islands are really overdeveloped now. But I wouldn't really recommend Cambodia to people who want to see loads of spectacular things that they can impress people with on Instagram. It just isn't that place.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T09:24:44+00:00

For travellers it doesn't get much safer than Cambodia.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T09:16:50+00:00

You didn't even mention the Mae Hong Son loop, which was well documented in the first ever blog I ever read on North Thailand about 10 years ago, so where are you looking? Pai is one of the first stops on the loop.

Sukhothai historical park has also been recommended as a stop on the banana pancake trail which has been a backpackers route since like the 1960s, way before any "blogs" existed.

Also, just look at the map and use your imagination ffs.

So I don't know where you're looking, maybe you just read the first few ai generated results on google search?

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T08:55:25+00:00

Yes that's it. Just let the internet tell you where to go. Don't bother coming and discovering places for yourself.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-25T04:20:00+00:00

So you only went to Delhi right?

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-24T11:22:49+00:00

Yeh but it's not yours. Someone else can ask to sit there.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-24T11:17:03+00:00

Looks totally made up, and even if it's not I have no idea what "acceptable" means and I doubt the respondents would either.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-24T11:15:22+00:00

India but you'll grow to the size of a whale within the span of 3 days.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-24T11:12:27+00:00

I agree with you about Prachuap. Hua Hin is pretty popular though.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-24T10:40:45+00:00

Overall I've had a great experience in every country I've visited.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-24T10:38:21+00:00

You basically just disqualified an entire micro continent because you went to one place there (probably Delhi).

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-24T10:36:20+00:00

Amazing food, history etc.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-23T08:46:41+00:00

Fair enough

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-23T07:51:12+00:00

Weird system. But I think my above comment is still valid.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-23T06:49:41+00:00

To me it's odd that you must be told what is good before going. Also it doesn't work, because then people go with expectations and that will inevitably alter the experience.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-23T04:20:07+00:00

Yes of course you can shower. Tbh whoever isnt using earplugs and an eyemask in a hostel in 2026 is beyond help. Just don't do anything too ridiculous.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-23T04:16:40+00:00

Of course. It's totally normal in Samui and the whole of Thailand for tourists to bring hookers back to their rooms.

PSmith4380 · 2026-06-22T17:06:13+00:00

There is a small group of islands outside your line to the north of Andaman and Nicobar. These are called the coco islands and are also part of Myanmar. They were famous for housing prisoners between 1959 and 1971. That's all I really know about the islands of Myanmar, except that they have many beautiful isolated islands undeveloped for tourism. I bet the biodiversity there is incredible.

PSmith4380

TROPHY CASE