Cambodia is awe inspiring temples, with much else to offer besides from tropical beaches, colonial buildings, monuments and an abundance of natural attractions including floating villages, pepper and rice fields. Cambodia is a country steeped in history. In spite of years of struggle, the country has emerged today from the shadow fo the Khmer Rouge’s reign of terror. Cambodia, an animal enthusiast’s dream, is home to an abundance of rare and exotic birds, mammals, and marine life.

Come to meet the smiling Khmer people, who will make your trip most memorable.

How vegan friendly is Cambodia?

From the reports we have had back, the experience of eating vegan in Cambodia has always been far easier than expected. Of course the main cities are always going to have a good amount of establishments catering to tourists. That's for both buying products and finding vegan restaurants, there's great choice. The even better news, is that when you get further afield it's easy to find vegan food, though the choice may be more limited. When warning ahead you will find that vegan fare can be provided, without any problem.

Of course asking for no meat, no eggs, and no dairy is the easy part. What you have to watch out for are fish sauce, oyster sauce and chicken powder which are frequently used for flavoring, even in many vegetable dishes. Sometimes this is indicated on the menu, but more often, you will need to ask. Be prepared for the occasions when your waiter does not speak english, with a vocabulary card.

Vegan Restaurants

Due to the large number of NGOs working in Cambodia there are many restaurants aimed at expats, or run as non-profit restaurants supporting good causes in Cambodia. They are more expensive and will maybe be less of an authentic Cambodia experience. Phnom Penh and Siem Reap both have the best selection of fully vegan restaurants, though Phnom Penh has more vegetarian restaurants which will also have vegan options.

Vegan Shopping

When buying snacks in shops you need to be equally vigilant. Prawns are another ingredient to watch out for. They appear in many packaged snacks, such as rice crackers. Sometimes there is a list of allergens, and this may lists prawns, when they are not mentioned as an ingredient.

When buying non-dairy milks you have to be sure to read the ingredients carefully. The Lactasoy milk brand, which is popular in Cambodia, has multiple varieties of soy milk, most of which contain milk or milk powder. It is possible to find rice milk, coconut milk, and other non-dairy milks, though they are not as common. Grocery stores that cater to Westerners are best. Good places are Le Marché near Russian Market, La Vie Claire on Street 13 and Angkor Market in Siem Reap. There are also ice cream shops selling ice cream made with coconut cream, but here again you have to ask to be sure there is no dairy added.