The US Dollar is the currency of Cambodia

> I would have said the Riel was quite stable against the US$. In the
> last 5 years its remained at very close to 4,000 Riel to the $.

OK, you proably know Cambodia better than I who just biked through a couple
of weeks last year. But am I not right in that there has been a
dollarization, that dollars are really common in all sorts of transactions
between khmers too? We only used riels for change.

Per

> When I first went to Cambodia almost 10 years ago, the US$ was needed
> for almost everything. Today, my experience is that the local currency
> is much more acceptable for everyday spending. Prices are still often
> quoted in US$, but I sometimes think that is done as much for the
> convenience of tourists than because of lack of confidence in the
> Riel. When prices are quoted in US$ people are usually happy to accept
> the equivalent amount in Riel if asked.
>
> Chris

Please remember that it is better to use the local currency when you
are in any country, esp. one that is relatively poor. Find out what
are reasonable local prices and don't overpay. If you overpay, it just
creates an inflationary spirl in the local economy which makes the
cost of necessary services such as transport too expensive for local
people who are competing with you. In Pnomh Penh, for instance, a lot
of tourists will hand out a US dollar for just about any motorbike
ride. This is often 4 to 5 times what is reasonable...and the drivers
then concentrate their services on tourists and scorn local customers.
Eventually, poorer people will suffer, not benefit, from misplaced
generosity.....