Cambodia Travel Facts
Thank you for choosing Travel Indochina for your journey into Cambodia.
Cambodia’s tragic past has until recently made this intriguing destination off limits to foreigners. Now, safe to visit, Cambodia reveals itself as one of Southeast Asia’s most captivating countries, rich in culture and history, and home to the most remarkable temple complexes in all Asia. To assist with your travel arrangements we have prepared the following pre-departure information. Please read this carefully before your travel to Cambodia and be mindful of some of our suggestions while on the road.
WHAT TO EXPECT
For many the name Cambodia (or Kampuchea as it was formerly known) conjures images of war, famine, Pol Pot, the notorious ‘Killing Fields’ and political instability. True, these events have all been a part of this nation’s history, and a number of the places you will visit (particularly around Phnom Penh) are reminders of Cambodia’s tragic recent past. However, northwest of the capital near the town of Siem Reap, visitors will see one of mankind's greatest architectural achievements. The magnificent temples of Angkor - of which Angkor Wat is the most famous – are permanent reminders of the incredible skill and dedication of the Khmer civilisation as it existed from the ninth to the fourteenth centuries. Forgotten and buried under dense jungle for hundreds of years, restoration of this ‘lost city’ only began in 1908. Angkor Wat is truly one of the great achievements of human civilisation.
RESPONSIBILITY
Information herein was correct at the time of preparation, however the rapid development of tourism in Cambodia has the potential to make some of the information in this guide irrelevant. This information is intended as a guide only and Travel Indochina is not responsible for any inaccuracies. This document does not, in any way, alter the booking terms and conditions in our Small Group Journey brochure. Please contact us with your comments if you find during the course of your travels that the information in this guide is incorrect or out of date.
VISA REQUIREMENTS & DEPARTURE TAXES
Getting your Cambodian visa is a simple and efficient process.
• Tourist visas for most nationalities can be obtained on arrival at Phnom Penh or Siem Reap airports for $20USD cash. A visa form will be issued to you on the airplane or on arrival. You will also need one passport photo to accompany your visa application
• In mid-2006 the Cambodian ministry of tourism launched an on-line process for the issuance of tourist visas. By visiting www.mfaic.gov.kh and by paying $25USD by credit card, a 30-day tourist visa can be issued electronically within three business days (note that this visa is only valid for arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports).
• Travellers on the ‘Mekong and Temples’ and ‘Inside Vietnam and Cambodia’ Small Group Journeys can get their Cambodian visa on arrival at the Kamsamna border post on the Mekong river on the day of the boat crossing from Chau Doc (Vietnam) to Phnom Penh. This is a straight-forward process.
• Travellers on ‘Khmer Kingdoms Explorer’ (which crosses into from Laos into Cambodia further up the Mekong at Voeng Kham) should obtain their visa in advance on departing their home country.
It is your responsibility to ensure all visa and entry requirements are met prior to arrival in Cambodia. Please allow $25USD per person for international departure taxes, and $6USD per person for domestic departure taxes. International departure taxes can be paid by Visa card.
ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS
Arrival (and departure) transfers are included for all Small Group Journeys. On arrival in Cambodia you will find a representative from Travel Indochina waiting to meet you outside the airport. Please look carefully for a Travel Indochina sign with your name on it (not a hotel sign). If you cannot see a sign with your name please call our local office contact number (at the bottom of this document and on your detailed itinerary) and our duty officer will advise you what to do.
INSURANCE
You must be comprehensively insured as a condition of travelling with Travel Indochina. Insurance should include unlimited coverage for personal accident and medical expenses, full provision for evacuation and a minimum of $25,000USD cover for repatriation expenses, baggage loss, and cancellation or curtailment of your holiday.
We will ask you to confirm your insurance details as part of our travel registration process at the start of your journey. If you do not have appropriate insurance we will insist you obtain insurance. We reserve the right not to provide the services booked with us until insurance is purchased.
Note that travel insurance may be ‘attached’ to your credit card, although usually such cover is effective only if your travel arrangements have been purchased with the card. Insurance cover from credit cards often does not include payment of medical expenses or emergency repatriation. Please check your policy carefully.
Please note that government regulations in Asia do not always require or enforce the possession of hotel, transport supplier and other supplier public liability insurance. Even when this insurance is in place, it can be for very limited cover only. Travel Indochina does its best to work with suppliers who possess public liability insurance, however this is not always possible. Regardless of length of stay and type of service, you must have adequate insurance to cover you in the event you suffer a medical problem while travelling.
A RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL INDOCHINA
Travel Indochina practices a thorough, realistic Responsible Travel Policy. We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of Asia’s beautiful natural environments. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. It drives all that we strive to deliver to our travellers, and shapes the contact we have with our supplier colleagues in Asia. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people. We also recognise that we work in a developing part of the world. Political and social factors sometimes impede the short term implementation of our responsible travel initiatives, so we do not make blanket, unrealistic statements about the achievability of our goals – doing so would make us ‘irresponsible’. We aspire to short or medium term implementation of our policies where this is realistic and to incremental change where there are constraints of a governmental or cultural nature.
We strongly encourage you to refer to our website and read our Responsible Travel Policy, as well as the Travel Indochina Guide to Responsible Travel (full of pointers which we hope will make for a more informed, more ‘responsible’ holiday).
THE POLITICAL SITUTATION
Most scholars of Cambodian history would acknowledge that for many of the past several hundred years Cambodia has been plagued by poor, self-interested national leadership. In tragic recent times, a combination of this leadership ineptitude, geographic proximity to the heart of the American Indochina war, and international diplomatic machinations led to rise and terrible rule of Pol Pot and the maniac Killing Fields era of 1975 to 1979 (refer to ‘Sideshow: Nixon, Kissinger and the Destruction of Cambodia’ by William Shawcross for a revealing view of the years leading up to the Pol Pot reign). Khmer Rouge/ Vietnamese border conflicts from the late 1970s precipitated a Vietnamese invasion in late 1978, and a removal from power of the Khmer Rouge. For the next 10 years, Cambodia was occupied by Vietnam, a situation which aroused international angst at the United Nations and which contributed to United Nations auspicing of ‘free and fair’ national elections in 1993. (A thorough account of the occupying years, the massive Cambodian refugee problem during this time, and of the often misguided efforts of the international aid community is given in ‘The Quality of Mercy’ by William Shawcross). Since the staging of the 1993 elections until now, Cambodian politics has been dominated – either in coalition or unilaterally - by the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, a Khmer Rouge defector of the 1970s, and for the past 27 years a tough, political strongman.
There are presently two main opposition parties: the Funcinpec royalist party, led erratically by Prince Norodom Rannaridh, and the Sam Rainsy Party, headed by French-educated Sam Rainsy. Neither party has ever been able to organise itself sufficiently to counter a serious and lasting threat to the iron-grip hold of the CPP on the rural peasant communities (educated urban dwellers form much of the Sam Rainsy support base).
Cambodia in the early 21st century is developing rapidly in an ad-hoc fashion, and faces a number of key developmental/ political issues. These include:
• Corruption on a large scale within government and the public sector
• The absence of a well-educated leadership class and of educated public servants
• An large reliance on international donor monies at the expense of establishing a proper tax base
• Over-dependency on the efforts of the massive NGO (non-government-organisation) sector – there are more than 2.300 registered NGOs working in Cambodia, many of whom work in relative isolation
• Absence of a broad spread of industries, needed for economic growth and jobs creation (there are essentially two significant exports only from Cambodia: tourism and garments)
• A judiciary in which few people have confidence
• Land rights (and natural resource) abuses and misappropriations, leading to forced, often improper eviction of poor communities from homes and farms
• A high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and of other diseases arising from misunderstandings about nutrition, or from pure poverty
It needs to be recognised that modern Cambodia has an extremely short history (when the Khmer Rouge were usurped from power in 1979 there were no schools, essentially no hospitals, few usable roads, no telephone lines and tragically few educated people), so in some ways the country has made good developmental progress in the past two decades. Much about the people of Cambodia is inspiring and bodes well for the future. Young people are often passionate about studying, and about learning English in particular. Investment law encourages the launch of new foreign businesses, and there is a culture of ‘getting ahead’ in the cities which means that by the time of the next national elections (2008), for the first time in decades, a significant percentage of the voting class will be university educated. The future for Cambodia is good - if the enthusiasm of its youth can be harnessed and led competently.
MONEY
The official unit of currency in Cambodia is the riel. Current approximate exchange rates are:
• Riel 6,700 equals 1GBP
• Riel 4,000 equals 1USD
• Riel 2,500 equals 1AUD
• Riel 2,500 equals 1CAD
• Riel 2,000 equals 1NZD
United States dollar cash is accepted everywhere and can easily be used instead of riel. As you will accumulate riel as change from payments you make in $USD, we recommend you change either nothing or very little (eg. $10USD) into riel upon your arrival in Cambodia. We advise you to carry a mix of $USD cash and travellers cheques.
Please be aware that costs in Cambodia are significantly higher than in neighbouring Asian countries. The cost of meals, transport, and shopping often takes tourists by surprise. Credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) can be used in only a limited number of shops and restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. From late 2005 a number of ANZ Royal and Canadia bank ATMs were installed in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, allowing you to withdraw money (in either USD or riel) from your overseas account. Cash advances can also be obtained using Visa and Mastercards at exchange booths and banks in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. We suggest you allow approximately $7USD per person for a main course meal at a nice restaurant.
CLIMATE
There are two main seasons in Cambodia. From November to March temperatures are slightly cooler with little rain. From May to October, the rainy season, average temperatures in the day range from 24 to 35 degrees Celsius. During this period it rains for a short time in the afternoon, temple moats are full, the scenery is greener, and there are fewer people at the temples. Many people prefer to travel at this time of the year.
BAGGAGE & CLOTHING
Standard sized bags (preferably soft bags), backpacks or soft cases only are permitted on our journeys. Your baggage should be clearly labelled and kept to a reasonable minimum. Luggage limits on airlines are strictly enforced and space on vehicles and trains is limited. Any flights booked through Travel Indochina (domestic and international) have a luggage limit of 20 kilograms per person. You may be required to carry your own luggage at times where porters are not available – you should be capable of carrying your own bags on and off trains, and up and down stairs. If you are doing lots of shopping during your travels, it may be necessary for you to forward any excess to the city where your tour concludes, or ship purchases directly home. Keeping the amount of luggage you carry in check will ensure your safety and comfort, and the safety and comfort of your fellow travellers. Porterage is not included in the cost of your journey. Please ensure you pay porters around $1USD per person for carrying your luggage. Should you wish to avoid such payments, please carry and take responsibility for your luggage.
Comfortable casual clothes made of cotton are best in tropical and semi tropical climates – packing one set of smart casual clothes is advisable. Laundry services are available throughout the country, although hotel laundry costs can be expensive. We suggest you include:
• Flat walking shoes and sandals
• Hat & sunglasses
• Jumper/coat/thermals - if visiting in winter
• Bathers
• Money belt
• Raincoat or umbrella
• Basic first aid kit (see below)
• Insect repellent
• Alarm clock
• Small torch
• Swiss Army pocketknife
• Power adapter
• Women’s sanitary products
• Ear plugs and eye patches for the train
Please note that airlines insist all sharp items (knives, scissors, nail clippers etc.) are packed in your ‘check-in’ luggage.
ELECTRICITY
The electrical standard in Cambodia is 220 volts at 50Hz. Electrical plugs of the two rounded pin type are the most commonly required. You may want to bring a small hair dryer – not all hotels provide one.
HEALTH
Travellers to Cambodia should take precautions as they would elsewhere in Asia. Some of the diseases known to exist in Cambodia include malaria, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, diphtheria, tetanus, and HIV/ AIDS. We recommend you take adequate preventative measures to minimise your risk of exposure to these health risks. We are a travel company and we are not qualified to provide detailed medical information appropriate to your individual needs. We recommend you consult with your local doctor or a specialist travel medical centre for up to date health information on vaccinations and medicine for your trip, at least one month prior to departure. Medical facilities are limited throughout the country (even in the capital Phnom Penh) compared to western standards.
We suggest you bring a simple medical kit. Your doctor should advise you what to include, however as a minimum we suggest you bring:
• Aspirin or paracetamol (for pain or fever)
• Antihistamines (for allergies and itches)
• Cold and flu tablets
• Something to stop diarrhea
• Something appropriate for nausea and vomiting
• Rehydration mixture (to prevent dehydration)
• Insect repellant
• Antiseptic and bandages
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Antibiotics (discuss with your doctor)
As part of our travel registration process at the start of any journey with Travel Indochina, you will be asked to declare any serious pre-existing medical conditions or allergies.
SMALL GROUP JOURNEY GRADINGS
Each Small Group Journey in our brochure has a ‘grading’ to assist you in choosing a holiday best suited to your level of health and fitness. A guide to the gradings is as follows:
Easy
These tours avoid the more arduous road travel by flying between major cities. They are suitable for travellers of all ages and levels of fitness. However, an average level of mobility and agility is required as these tours still include some walking in often hot and humid conditions, as well as getting on/off boats and walking up/down flights of stairs. Accommodation is generally comfortable by international standards.
Moderate
These tours involve some long distance overland/overnight travel and can include one or two nights of basic accommodation in more remote areas. The tours are suitable for most travellers of average fitness and mobility with a spirit for ‘soft’ adventure. Clients will be expected on occasions to carry their own luggage for short distances.
Adventurous
These tours involve some long distance travel and at least 2 nights in very basic accommodation. On these tours there may be nights when clients will sleep out on boats, on trains, in a hilltribe village or in other basic accommodation. A client should be quite fit and be prepared for travelling in remote parts of developing Asia to get the most out of an ‘adventurous’ tour. Clients will be expected on occasions to carry their own luggage for short distances.
Minimum Fitness Levels
It is essential for good group dynamics on our Small Group Journeys that a less able client does not significantly impact on the enjoyment of the rest of the group during the touring days. We ask you please to consider the above tour gradings and think carefully about the Small Group Journeys most appropriate for your level of health and fitness. As a minimum requirement for our tours graded Easy, you should ask yourselves the following questions:
• Am I able to walk 2-3 kilometres comfortably in hot and humid conditions?
• Am I able to walk up 4 flights of stairs without losing breath?
• Am I able to walk along rough and unstable surfaces?
• Am I able to board small boats, trains etc?
• Am I able to carry my own luggage?
If, upon commencement of a Small Group Journey, our Tour Leader takes the view that a client’s physical capabilities are not to the standard set out in by the above criteria (also stipulated in the ‘Fitness Form’ which is required to be completed upon booking) then, in the interests of the client and fellow travellers, we reserve the right to prevent the client from participating in the tour. In such instances, we will assist with onward travel arrangements. Cancellation penalties will apply. You should therefore ensure that you are physically capable and prepared for undertaking our journeys.
FOOD/ WATER
Cambodian cuisine is closely related to the cuisines of neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. Until the 16th century Cambodian and central Thai food was quite similar, however the Portuguese introduction of chillie (from Brazil) to Ayuthaya lead to a divergence in national staples; the Thais developed a preference for spicier, chillie-based foods, while the Cambodians continued to use a spice paste (called ‘kroeung’), comprising of milder flavourings such as lemongrass, galangal, ginger and cardamom. Some distinctly Cambodian dishes include ‘samlor ma chou kroeung’ and ‘samlor kor ko’ soups, and the ‘chas kroeung’ stir-fry. The pungent ‘prahok’ fish stock is usually included in these dishes. Rice, of course, is eaten with most meals. In cities such as Phnom Penh there are large numbers of ethnic Chinese who have brought their own influences to the Cambodian diet.
Breakfast is included each day on our tours and is usually a buffet/ continental style mix. It is a little known fact that tap water in central Phnom Penh is safe for drinking (all pipes in central Phnom Penh have been replaced since the early 1990s), however we would always recommend you drink only bottled water, throughout Cambodia.
TIPPING POLICY
If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides, drivers and your tour leader, a tip is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, tipping inspires great service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across Travel Indochina destinations. As a general guide on Small Group or Special Group Journeys, please allow $2USD to $3USD per day per traveller for each of your local guide, driver and tour leader. If your tour is private, please allow $3USD to $5USD per day per traveller for each of your local guide and driver. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length of your trip. Should you be dissatisfied with the services provided by your local guide, driver or tour leader, please let us know.
SAFETY & SECURITY
Touristed areas in Cambodia are safe by world standards, but the usual commonsense safety precautions should be adhered to. Tourists should stick to set travel arrangements and avoid unknown areas. It is not safe to walk the streets of Phnom Penh at night where street lighting is poor. We recommend you keep jewellery to a minimum, and leave items of value in your hotel’s safety deposit box. Always keep a photocopy of your passport, airline tickets and credit card numbers, and a detailed record of your encashed travellers cheques.
POST & COMMUNICATION
International mail generally takes seven to ten days to reach its destination. Prices are equivalent to western postal charges. Reverse charge (collect) calls are not possible from Cambodia. International phone and fax fees on LAN lines are expensive (especially in hotels) and vary between $4USD and $6USD per minute. In both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap there are now numerous internet cafes providing email services and internet phone call services. Using these internet phone services is the cheapest way of calling overseas (or locally).
PHOTOGRAPHY
Print film, such as Kodak, Konika or Fuji is widely available and costs approximately $4USD per roll. Cambodia has good and fast processing facilities. A roll of 24 exposures can be developed for approximately $4USD. Slide film and Hi8/V8 video cassettes are not widely available in Cambodia. The x-ray machines at all airports are film-safe. There are now a number of photo shops in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap which can burn digital images on to a disk and which sell memory cards.
HOTELS
Our Standard hotels have private western-style bathrooms, hot water, air-conditioning, satellite television, IDD telephones, laundry, and other facilities. Generally they have swimming pools. Where possible we endeavour at passenger request to accommodate couples in double rooms. Please note however that on occasions during your journey, this may not be possible and a twin room will be provided.
Asia is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and historic hotels. With this in mind, we designed our range of Deluxe (Essence of Asia) journeys. The emphasis by day is unchanged – small groups and an authentic experience of Asia. At night however, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the ambience of these specially selected hotels. Please note that in some cases Deluxe accommodation is not available. In these places we use the best hotels available. This will be clearly marked in your itinerary.
Check-in and check-out times can vary but most hotels in Cambodia require guests to check out by 12 noon and do not allow check in until 2 pm. Many hotels may allow an earlier check in or later check out subject to availability on the day.
MASSAGE SERVICES
Many countries in Asia are deservedly renowned for their massage techniques and the quality and value for money of these services. Unfortunately, many massage parlours including some in otherwise 'reputable' hotels are also linked to the paid sex industry. We advise you to check carefully before using massage services in Asia.
TRANSPORT
When travelling by road we generally use Toyota Camry cars or air-conditioned minibuses. We always use the best vehicles available, however it is generally the case that vehicles in Cambodia are not as modern as those in neighbouring Thailand, Vietnam or Laos. Larger vehicles are used for bigger group sizes. Sedan cars are used when there are only one or two people in the group. Planes used on domestic routes are generally modern and well-maintained. Sometimes schedules change and this can result in alterations to your flight times and tour arrangements. There is only a limited railway network in Cambodia and use of the train is not recommended for safety and reliability reasons.
TOUR LEADERS/ GUIDES
Providing the group tour reaches a minimum of seven passengers a western tour leader will guide your entire journey through Cambodia. All our tour leaders have an in-depth knowledge of Cambodia and an enthusiasm for the country that is contagious. Your tour leader is your link with Cambodia and is there to ensure the smooth running of the trip. Your tour leader will also try – wherever practicable - to cater for your individual interests. Local English speaking guides also accompany you on your tour. They impart local information about history, customs and culture that can only come from living in the area. Generally we have a different local guide for each city or region we visit and so local guides are usually only with the group for one to two days.
LOCAL TIME
Cambodia is:
• 7hrs ahead of GMT
• 3hrs behind Australian Eastern Standard Time
• 5hrs behind New Zealand
• 12hrs ahead of Canada Eastern Time
• 15hrs ahead of Canada Pacific Time
• 12hrs ahead of US Eastern Time
• 15 hrs ahead of US Pacific Time
GROUP DYNAMICS
Our Small Group Journeys provide you with a good balance of group activity and personal discovery. Travellers need to be aware of certain personal responsibilities when travelling with a group. Simple things like being ready at agreed times and keeping to schedule will ensure the smooth running of the programme. Furthermore, the traditions and culture of the country you are visiting should be respected. Correct behaviour includes wearing the appropriate dress when visiting religious sites and refraining from making comments or acting in a manner that would be viewed as unacceptable by your fellow group members or by the local people in the country you are visiting. Please ask your tour leader for further clarification of the issues mentioned above.
LANGUAGE
The official Cambodian language is Khmer and most westerners will have a very difficult time trying to understand written or spoken Khmer. French is sometimes understood by the older generation but English is becoming more widely spoken throughout the country, especially in tourist areas. To help you get the most out of your contact with Cambodians, try learning how to say these key phrases:
IMPORTANT DATES AFFECTING TOURING, AND COMPULSORY MEALS
01 Jan 2007 - International New Year's Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. The Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace will likely be closed. Other touring will be unaffected.
07 Jan 2007 - Victory Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
Feb 2007 (date not announced yet) – Meak Bochea Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
08 Mar 2007 - International Women's Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
3 days in Apr 2006 (dates not yet announced) - Khmer New Year:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. All sites in Siem Reap will be open. Some sites in Phnom Penh will be open in the morning, and closed in the afternoon. Phnom Penh will be particularly crowded during the three days of the new year.
01 May 2007 - International Labor Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
May 2007 (date not announced yet) – Visak Bochea Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
May 2007 (date yet to be announced) - Royal Ploughing Ceremony:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
13 – 15 May 2007 King Sihamouni’s Birthday
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
01 June 2006 - International Children's Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
18 Jun 2007 - Queen's Birthday:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
24 Sep 2007 - Constitution Day:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
3 days in Oct 2007 (dates yet to be announced) - Pchum Ben's Day:
Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. There may be crowds of people in the afternoon in Phnom Penh, and this may affect traffic flow.
23 Oct 2007 - Paris Peace Accord:
Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
29 Oct 2007 – King Sihamouni’s Coronation Day:
Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
31 Oct 2007 - King's Birthday:
Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. There will most likely be crowds in Phnom Penh in the afternoon, and this could affect traffic flow.
09 Nov 2007 - Independence Day:
Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
3 days in Nov 2007 (dates yet to be announced) - Water Festival:
Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. There will be significant crowds during the day and night, in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Public holiday. Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses. The Silver Pagoda and Royal Palace will likely be closed. Other touring will be unaffected.
10 Dec 2007 - Human Rights Day:
Banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.
24 Dec 2007 - Christmas Eve:
Not a public holiday - no effect on touring.
31 Dec 2007 - International New Year's Eve:
Public holiday – banks and public offices will be closed, as will some businesses.