Currencies of SE Asian Countries (a quick lowdown)

After getting cash from an ATM, go inside the bank and break your bills – exchange the cash for smaller bills.  ATMs will give larger denominations, and you’ll have to continually be concerned about getting change.

Small bills are best for taxi rides (use a ride-hailing app, btw), local food, and general purchases.  Basically, all things that are in the local price range.

Always count your cash after withdrawing from and ATM.  Sometimes the ATM miscounts.  If so you want to be counting it in front of the camera so that the bank will oblige in assisting you with the mistake.

Inspect your cash carefully, if you are withdrawing USD in Cambodia (the country has 2 official currencies – the USD and Khmer Reil). Worn-out and/or damaged USD bills are known to not be accepted by local merchants. The bank will own-up to the mistake and replace them for you.

Cambodia has two official currencies, KHR and USD, which are used interchangeably. If you want, you can pay in both, mix-matching KHR and USD cash together at the same time.

This appears confusing, but it is simple – 1,000 Riel is colloquially equated to $0.25 USD (1 US quarter coin) — 4,000 Riel is therefore worth $1.00 USD.  There is some nuance – the nicer the place the more often they will go by the official exchange rate of the day, set by the government.  This rate is not exactly 4,000 to $1.

At the ATM you can takeout Riel (KHR) or US Dollars (USD).  GemsOfTravel recommends just to use Riel, and you’ll have less problems.  This is because the locals are strict about the condition of the US Dollar bills, and there are some fakes going around.

Riel is mostly used for smaller cost purchases, and USD used for large purchases of $50 or higher.  However, you can express interest in using Cambodia Riel over USD for higher purchases and people will accept Riel.

Use up all of your Cambodian Riel (same as for Lao Kip) or exchange it before leaving the country.  For free, the bank will exchange Riel to USD cash. Do this before you leave Cambodia, since Riel won’t be easily exchanged outside of the country – it is not a preferred currency.

For daily purchase, use Cambodian Riel – they are always accepted in Cambodia regardless of their condition.  Do not bother with USD for anything above $5 or $10 bills.

*For simplicity sake, use the Riel as the USD can be denied for any reason and there are schemers who try to give you unusable USD bills as change.  There are fake USD bills, and the larger bills are held to high scrutiny – any wear or bend on a large USD bill and the merchant will reject it.

Use up all of your Lao Kip (same as for Cambodian Reil) or exchange it before leaving the country.  Exchange booths will not accept it outside of Laos as it is not a preferred currency.

The currency has “.” (Americans use a “,”) to clearly show the difference in thousands.  This makes it easier to distinguish the bills.  Thank-you Vietnam!