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The U.S. Department of State has issued a newly updated travel advisory warning Americans to factor in heightened risks tied to crime, civil unrest and unexploded ordnance, with guidance that ranges from everyday urban safety to avoiding sensitive border zones altogether.
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What Changed in the Latest Advisory
Publicly available advisory updates show the State Department refreshed its guidance for Cambodia on September 15, 2026, placing the country at Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution,” and citing three risk drivers: crime, unrest and unexploded ordnance.
The update adds location-specific direction that matters for itinerary planning. It highlights Phnom Penh for elevated street-crime risk, identifies multiple provinces where explosive remnants remain a concern, and separately designates areas along the Cambodia Thailand border as “Do Not Travel” due to unrest linked to ongoing tensions between military forces.
For travelers, the practical shift is that a single country rating now contains a patchwork of risk advice. A trip that stays within central Phnom Penh, for example, is framed differently than one that includes remote countryside visits or overland border transits.
Border Tensions and the “Do Not Travel” Zone
The advisory’s most restrictive language applies to the Cambodia Thailand border region. The State Department guidance describes an area of elevated risk tied to ongoing tensions, referencing collateral risk of violence and noting limited capacity for emergency support in that region.
Separate published coverage in recent days has pointed to Cambodia Thailand disputes being discussed through international mechanisms, underscoring that the issue is not only local but also diplomatic. Even when fighting is not continuous, advisories often treat border areas as volatile because conditions can change quickly and because movement near checkpoints or military positions can add risk.
Travelers who were considering overland routes between Thailand and Cambodia should recheck routing, including whether their plan passes near the border even if the primary destination is elsewhere. Tour operators and independent travelers alike may need to adjust transport plans, lodging choices and day trips that approach frontier areas.
Unexploded Ordnance: Where It Still Matters for Tourists
In the updated Cambodia guidance, unexploded ordnance and landmines are flagged as a risk in remote areas, with particular mention of several provinces, including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear. For many Americans, Siem Reap is the gateway to Angkor and one of the country’s top tourist hubs, making this portion of the advisory especially relevant.
The warning does not mean major tourist sites are universally unsafe. Instead, it signals that risks rise when travelers leave well-traveled corridors, venture off marked paths, or explore rural terrain without local guidance. The advisory emphasizes avoiding unknown metal objects and using local guides when walking in forests or dry rice paddies in affected areas.
For travelers looking for concrete help, Cambodia’s mine-action infrastructure is active, and published information includes contact channels for reporting suspected ordnance. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre publicly lists phone numbers in Phnom Penh for its operations, and the U.S. advisory itself points travelers toward mine-action resources for reporting and safety awareness.
Crime and Unrest: What Travelers Should Watch in Cities
Within Phnom Penh, the updated U.S. advisory highlights street crime, including phone and bag snatchings in areas where foreigners gather, and encourages travelers not to resist robbery attempts due to injury risk. This guidance mirrors a common pattern in travel advisories where routine tourism risks are concentrated in nightlife areas, transit hubs and crowded districts.
For visitors, small behavioral changes can reduce exposure: keeping phones secured rather than in-hand on sidewalks, using ride-hailing or pre-arranged transport at night, and avoiding predictable routines when moving between hotels, markets and entertainment areas.
The advisory also points to unrest as a factor, which can include demonstrations and rapidly shifting local conditions. Even when protests are not aimed at tourists, crowd dynamics and sudden security measures can disrupt movement, close roads and complicate access to airports or intercity routes.
How to Use Travel Advisories Before You Go
State Department advisories are designed to be read at two levels: the overall country level and the subnational guidance embedded in the “Risks in specific areas” section. For Cambodia, the key planning takeaway is to map your route against the specific cautions, especially if your trip includes rural excursions, motorbike travel, hiking or border-area stops.
Travelers can also use the advisory’s built-in planning cues: enrollment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for updates, reviewing insurance coverage for medical evacuation, and keeping contingency options if transportation or local conditions change. The advisory language also underscores that official assistance may be limited in higher-risk regions, which is a reminder to plan conservatively when traveling outside major cities.
For Americans watching this update as part of a broader trend, Cambodia is not the only destination where U.S. guidance mentions explosive remnants of war alongside other safety risks. Similar language appears in other State Department advisories worldwide, reinforcing that unexploded ordnance is a recurring travel hazard in places shaped by past conflicts, and it can surface in areas that otherwise feel far removed from current events.