Is Battambang safe?
Safe, friendly and quiet. Snatch theft and road accidents are the main risks; stay on marked paths in the countryside because of old landmines.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-07-24.
- Homicide rate in Cambodia: 1.8 per 100,000 people (2011, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Cambodia: 19.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 117 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 118.
Safety in Battambang at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Occasional bag snatching from motorbikes and theft from guesthouses; violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Quiet by 10 pm. Streets are poorly lit; use a tuk-tuk after dark. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women; the town is relaxed. Usual care on unlit riverside roads at night. |
| Other risks | Motorbike crashes on unlit roads; Heat Mar–May; Landmines off marked paths in rural areas |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Tuk-tuk drivers quoting double fares or adding paid stops
- Bamboo train operators adding fees at the end
- Fake charity or orphanage requests
Take care
- Rural paths off roads: possible unexploded ordnance
- Unlit roads at night
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Zero tolerance on drugs, including cannabis; police raid bars and run urine tests.
- Cover shoulders and knees at Angkor and other temples or you can be refused entry.
- Don't photograph military sites; ask before photographing monks.
How Battambang compares in Cambodia
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Siem Reap | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Rong | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kampot | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Koh Rong Samloem | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Battambang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kep | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Phnom Penh | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Sihanoukville | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Battambang safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women; the town is relaxed. Usual care on unlit riverside roads at night.
Is Battambang safe at night?
Quiet by 10 pm. Streets are poorly lit; use a tuk-tuk after dark.
What is the crime rate in Battambang?
Occasional bag snatching from motorbikes and theft from guesthouses; violent crime against visitors is rare. Nationally, Cambodia records 1.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2011).
What number do I call in an emergency in Battambang?
Police 117 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 118.
More about Battambang
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Cambodia Ministry of Tourism
- Phare Ponleu Selpak
- Giant Ibis Transport
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.