US Warns Travelers of Robbery Risk and Border Unrest in Cambodia

The U.S. State Department has updated its travel guidance for Cambodia with a pointed warning for Americans about street crime, including robbery and bag snatchings in Phnom Penh, and heightened risk near the Thailand border amid ongoing tensions and conflict concerns.

What the updated U.S. travel advisory says

Publicly available information on the State Department’s Cambodia travel advisory shows Cambodia is currently listed at Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution,” with the update dated September 15, 2026. The advisory highlights three main issues for travelers: crime, unrest, and unexploded ordnance.

The most attention-grabbing language for many travelers is the robbery guidance. The advisory specifically urges travelers not to physically resist during a robbery attempt, a warning often included when snatch-and-grab thefts can quickly escalate into injury. The same advisory notes street crime such as phone and bag snatchings occurs frequently in areas where foreigners gather in Phnom Penh.

In addition, the State Department’s current guidance places a higher-risk designation on border areas, advising Americans not to travel within 50 kilometers of the Cambodia–Thailand border due to ongoing tensions between Cambodian and Thai military forces. The advisory also notes limits on the U.S. government’s ability to provide emergency services in that border region because of the security environment.

Why Phnom Penh is a focal point for robbery concerns

Phnom Penh is singled out for “exercise increased caution” language tied to crime, including opportunistic street theft in tourist-frequented areas. The core risk described in the advisory is rapid theft of phones, purses, and bags, often occurring in crowded public places and near locations popular with visitors.

Travelers who rely on a phone for maps, ride-hailing, banking, boarding passes, and two-factor authentication can be particularly vulnerable to disruption if a device is stolen. Losing access to critical accounts while abroad can turn a quick snatch theft into a multi-day logistical problem, especially when travelers also store passport photos, itineraries, or emergency contacts on the same device.

Separate from street theft, the advisory also flags that violent crime does occur, including sexual assault and homicide, and notes that some incidents have involved foreigners. For travelers, that combination of common petty crime plus the possibility of more serious violence is part of why the guidance emphasizes de-escalation and avoiding resistance during a robbery.

Border unrest: the 50-kilometer no-go zone near Thailand

The updated U.S. advisory instructs travelers to avoid areas within 50 kilometers of the Cambodia–Thailand border, describing ongoing tensions between the two countries’ military forces and citing risks that include reports of civilian casualties and collateral violence. The guidance is notable for the size of the buffer zone, which can encompass major overland routes and some popular border-region stops depending on a traveler’s itinerary.

Other governments’ publicly available travel guidance mirrors similar concerns about the Thailand–Cambodia border area, reflecting a broader assessment that the security environment can shift with limited notice. For travelers, that matters because border areas can experience sudden checkpoints, temporary restrictions, or disruptions that are not always predictable far in advance.

In parallel, State Department travel information for Thailand also highlights elevated risk near the Thai-Cambodian border region, advising increased caution there due to the risk of armed conflict and warning that security exclusion zones may be established with little notice. The combined effect is that travelers planning cross-border itineraries should treat the land border region as a dynamic situation rather than a routine day-trip corridor.

Unexploded ordnance risks in multiple Cambodian provinces

Beyond crime and border unrest, the State Department advisory includes a significant safety note that many short-term visitors may overlook: unexploded ordnance and landmine hazards in remote areas. The advisory calls for increased caution in several provinces due to unexploded ordnance, including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, Kampong Thom, and Preah Vihear.

This does not mean mainstream sightseeing in Cambodia is uniformly unsafe, but it does mean travelers should be careful when leaving well-traveled routes, especially for rural excursions, off-road motorbike trips, or independent hikes in less developed areas. The advisory’s guidance emphasizes avoiding unknown metal objects and using local guides when walking in forests or dry rice paddies in affected areas.

For travelers building an itinerary, the practical takeaway is to plan excursions with reputable operators, stick to established paths, and avoid spontaneous detours in remote terrain, particularly in provinces highlighted for ordnance concerns.

Practical trip-planning steps for Americans heading to Cambodia

Publicly available U.S. travel guidance indicates Americans need a visa to enter Cambodia, and the advisory notes options that can include obtaining an e-visa in advance or arranging a visa on arrival, depending on current Cambodian entry processes. The same guidance indicates passports should have at least six months’ validity beyond the arrival date and at least one blank page for an entry stamp.

Given the advisory’s crime focus in Phnom Penh, travelers may want to adjust how they carry valuables: keep phones secured, avoid using devices near curbside traffic where snatch thefts can occur quickly, and back up key documents and account recovery methods before departure. Travelers who bring only one phone should also consider how they would regain access to email, banking, and travel accounts if the device is stolen.

For anyone whose plans include overland travel near the Thailand border, the advisory’s 50-kilometer no-go guidance suggests re-routing to avoid border districts, confirming transportation plans in advance, and building flexibility into schedules. Enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is also highlighted in U.S. travel information as a way to receive alerts and help the U.S. embassy reach travelers in an emergency.