Packing List
What to pack for a Phnom Penh dental trip
By SmileJet Editorial Team · Published May 2026
A practical list. Pack light — supermarkets in BKK1 stock most things you might forget, including the items most patients underestimate.
Documents and money
- Passport (6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages)
- Printed e-Visa PDF, 2 copies (one in carry-on, one in checked bag)
- Travel insurance certificate, printed
- Treatment plan and quote, printed (reference for arrival)
- Existing dental records (X-rays, CBCT scans if available digitally on phone)
- List of current medications, generic names
- Emergency contact card (next of kin name, phone, email)
- USD cash, US$300 to US$500 per trip in clean undamaged notes (US$50 and US$20 denominations are most useful)
- One Visa or Mastercard with no foreign transaction fees
- Backup credit card stored separately
USD bills must be in good condition: no tears, no marks, no folded corners. Cambodia\'s informal money-changers and some smaller vendors refuse damaged notes. Withdraw fresh notes from a major bank ATM at home shortly before travel.
Clothing for the climate
Phnom Penh runs warm year-round. Pack for 28 to 35°C with high humidity in wet season. Air conditioning is fierce indoors, so layers help.
- 5 to 6 light cotton or linen shirts, mix of short and long sleeve
- 2 to 3 pairs light long pants for clinic visits and Royal Palace (long pants required)
- 1 lightweight skirt or dress (women, knee-length or longer for temples)
- 1 light cardigan or shawl for over-air-conditioned restaurants and the flight
- 1 set comfortable walking shoes (not new — break them in at home)
- 1 set sandals (slip-on for temples and your hotel pool)
- Underwear and socks for all days plus 2 spare
- 1 swimsuit (most hotels have pools)
- Soft hat and lightweight rain jacket for wet-season trips
Modest dress is required at the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng, and Choeung Ek. If in doubt, cover shoulders and knees. Phnom Penh markets sell scarves cheaply (US$3 to US$5) if you need to top up modesty wear on arrival.
Recovery essentials
- Soft-bristled toothbrush (compact-head, your dentist will likely give you one too)
- Travel-size toothpaste (sensitive-teeth formulation if you use one)
- Soft floss, the waxed kind
- Reusable water bottle (Phnom Penh tap water is not for drinking; supermarkets sell bottled water cheaply)
- Over-the-counter ibuprofen and paracetamol (most patients only need ibuprofen for the first 48 hours)
- Saline solution sachets or recipe (warm water + salt) for post-op rinses
- Lip balm (the climate dries lips, especially in dry season)
- 2 to 3 reusable straws (recovery days when you cannot bite normally)
- Soft eye mask and earplugs for the long-haul flight
- Compression socks for the flight (if you are over 60 or have any DVT history)
- Phone charger with the right adapter (Cambodia uses Type A, C, and G plugs; US-style flat-pin is most common)
Do not pack: large bottles of mouthwash (your clinic provides post-op rinse), prescription-only painkillers (US opioid laws differ from Cambodian), or any form of cosmetic dental kit (your treatment supersedes home regimens for the first month).
The things first-time visitors usually forget
- A small notebook or notes app for clinic conversations. The medical history review takes 30 to 45 minutes and you will discuss things you want to remember.
- Smiling photos of yourself from the last 5 years. Veneer cases especially benefit from "previous smile" reference photos for digital smile design.
- A clear soft case for retainers. If you wear a retainer at home, bring it. Some treatments require nightguard adjustment after.
- Multiple cards. Have at least two cards with separate banks. ATM card-skimming is uncommon in BKK1 but having a backup is sensible for any international trip.
- A digital copy of your CBCT scan and X-rays. Even if your home dentist sent them via SmileJet, having them on your phone speeds up arrival consultation.
- A short list of pharmacy items. Smaller patient-specific needs (specific antacid brand, specific eye drops, contact lens solution) — Cambodia stocks plenty but the brands you know may not be there.
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Plan trip dates first, then start packing. Most patients pack lighter than they expected.
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