Is prostitution legal in Cambodia?
Short answer: Illegal, informally tolerated. The details decide — what the law says, how it is enforced, and what that means in practice.
Illegal, informally tolerated
18+ only. Informational; legality varies by country.
What the law says
Illegal under the 2008 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, which closed the visible brothel sector; enforcement is unpredictable, with periodic raids on hostess bars and KTVs. De facto tolerance persists in Phnom Penh hostess bars, with bar fines styled as lady-drink arrangements.
Illegal under the 2008 anti-trafficking law; police raids occur and enforcement is unpredictable. De facto tolerance exists in some entertainment venues.
What it means in practice
Police raids on bars are the operational risk; foreign clients are rarely targeted directly. Never engage street-level or uncertain-age workers — anti-trafficking enforcement is severe. Established venues and discretion only.
Where it happens
Hostess bars and KTVs in a legally grey zone.
Cities we cover
City-level specifics — prices by district, safety, current enforcement — on each city page.
Questions
Is prostitution legal in Cambodia?
Short answer: Illegal, informally tolerated. Below: what the law says, how it is enforced in practice, and what that means for visitors.
Does “legal” mean safe?
No. Legality and safety are different questions: regulated markets still see scams and robberies, informally tolerated ones carry enforcement risk. Check what travelers report on each city page.
What about enforcement?
Written law and street-level enforcement are not the same thing: raids and local crackdowns come and go. For how the law is actually applied city by city right now, ask.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws and enforcement change — check what the law says where you are before acting on anything here.