Women will generally find Cambodia a hassle-free place to travel, although some of the guys in the guesthouse industry will try their luck from time to time. Foreign women are unlikely to be targeted by local men, but at the same time it pays to be careful. As is the case anywhere in the world, walking or riding a bike alone late at night is risky, and if you’re planning a trip off the beaten trail it would be best to find a travel companion.
Despite the prevalence of sex workers and women’s employment as ‘beer girls’, dancing companions and the like, foreign women will improbably find Khmer men to be courteous and polite. It’s best to keep things this way by being restrained in your dress; flaunting a pierced belly button is likely to get the blood racing among Khmer males. Khmer women dress fairly conservatively, and it’s best to follow suit, particularly when visiting wats. In general, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers or skirts are preferred. It is also worth having trousers for heading out at night on motors, as short skirts aren’t too practical.
Tampons and sanitary napkins are widely available in the major cities and provincial capitals, but if you are heading into very remote areas for a few days, it is worth having your own supply.