Our expert Ed Salvato from Man About World gives us the lowdown on how LGBTQ travelers can stay safe while enjoying beautiful Cambodia.
Photo © GettyImages/ValentinWolf
Compared to many other Asian countries, Cambodia is surprisingly gay-friendly for visitors. There are no major gay pride events here and legal recognition of gay unions or even anti-discrimination laws are still far off. Still, LGBTQ travelers will feel welcome and safe everywhere they travel. There is a relatively large gay scene in the capital, Phnom Penh.
LGBTQ Legal Status
The country is known for its abysmal human rights record and gender inequality. Though there are no anti-LGBTQ laws, local authorities and police have reportedly used various laws to infringe on the local community's rights. However, while homosexuality is not celebrated culturally, LGBTQ locals enjoy a degree of visibility and acceptance in society (especially in larger cities) not seen in many other more conservative countries.
There is a small gay pride celebration that has taken place annually in Phnom Penh since 2003 and the country got its first LGBTQ magazine called Q Cambodia in June 2017. The Cambodian government also announced it will introduce a new gay course in schools called "Life Skills" to teach students about LGBTQ issues, sexuality and gender.
LGBTQ-Friendly Areas
You will see fellow LGBTQ travelers and locals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, especially in higher-end accommodation, and locals are used to seeing gay couples and groups. In remote areas, locals will not react with any hostility to LGBTQ travelers, though they may watch you with curiosity. If you request a single bed, your wishes will be respected without question. Tour guides will most certainly have seen many other gay visitors, and the gay tour operators mentioned below hire gay qualified guides when possible, vetting all their guides to ensure they are comfortable with LGBTQ guests.
The only caveats about traveling in southeast Asia as a LGBTQ traveler is to respect the local norms and customs. Open displays of affection (whether same-sex or opposite-sex) are very uncommon.
If you want to be meet other LGBTQ travelers, consider joining a tour. Check with your government travel advisory prior to travel for LGBTQ safety information.
Trip Planning
- Utopia is a good source for LGBTQ information in
southeast Asia especially forbar , sauna, and sexually-focused information. - Purple Dragon is a budget-oriented resource for the LGBTQ scene in southeast Asia, especially for bars and saunas.
- Travel Gay Asia offers information on bars, clubs, saunas, beaches, and hotels. You can book hotels here which are fulfilled by a gay-owned and gay-managed travel agency, OutOfOffice.com.
- NomadicBoys is the blog published by Stefan and Sebastian, a gay couple writing about their global adventures.
Legal Services
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) publishes an annual survey of sexual orientation laws.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) conducts top-notch reporting and advocacy including for LGBTQ people around the world.
LGBTQ Tour Operators
While the following highly recommended tour companies cater primarily to gay men, most welcome lesbian travelers.
LGBTQ Friendly Mainstream Tour Operators
The following mainstream river cruise companies extend a warm welcome to LGBTQ guests.
- Pandaw offers luxury small ship river cruises in Asia. The manager is openly gay and the staff is gay-friendly.
- Aqua Expeditions offers luxury cruises on the Mekong River and is known for excellent food, service and a focus on sustainability.
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