1. Introduction to Cambodia's Postal Code System
Cambodia's postal code system revolutionizes mail delivery and business operations across all 25 provinces. Implemented to improve delivery accuracy and support the country's growing e-commerce sector, this standardized 6-digit system ensures your packages, documents, and mail reach their destination efficiently.
Unlike some countries that use letters and numbers, Cambodia's postal codes consist entirely of 6 digits, making them easy to remember and type. The system follows a logical hierarchy that reflects Cambodia's administrative divisions, from national level down to specific neighborhoods and areas.
Why Postal Codes Matter in Cambodia
- • Delivery Accuracy: Reduces misdelivered mail by up to 85%
- • Business Efficiency: Streamlines logistics and shipping operations
- • E-commerce Growth: Enables reliable online shopping and delivery
- • International Trade: Facilitates smooth international shipping
- • Tourism Support: Helps visitors receive mail at hotels and accommodations
The postal code system covers all of Cambodia's territory, including urban centers like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, as well as rural communes and remote villages. This comprehensive coverage ensures that whether you're shipping to a bustling market in the capital or a rural rice farming community, the correct postal code will guide your mail to its destination.
2. Province Codes (First 2 Digits)
The first two digits of every Cambodia postal code identify the province. These codes follow Cambodia's official administrative numbering system and remain consistent across all locations within each province. Understanding province codes is essential for anyone doing business or traveling in Cambodia.
Major Province Codes
Province codes are strategically assigned based on historical importance and administrative order. Phnom Penh (12) receives one of the most memorable codes as the capital and largest city. Siem Reap (17) and Preah Sihanouk (18) also have easily remembered codes due to their importance for tourism and international trade respectively.
When shipping to Cambodia, always verify the province code first. This ensures your package enters the correct regional distribution center and follows the most efficient delivery route. Incorrect province codes can delay delivery by several days or even result in returned packages.
3. District Codes (Middle 2 Digits)
The middle two digits specify the district within each province. Cambodia has 243 districts across all provinces, and each receives a unique code within its provincial boundary. District codes start from 01 and increase sequentially, typically following geographical or administrative importance.
District Code Examples
District codes are particularly important for businesses operating across multiple locations within the same province. For example, a company with offices in different Phnom Penh districts needs to use the correct district code for each location to ensure accurate delivery of business mail, legal documents, and customer shipments.
Urban districts typically receive lower numbers (01, 02, 03) due to higher population density and mail volume. Rural districts may have higher numbers but are equally important for agricultural exports, rural development projects, and connecting remote communities with urban centers.
4. Area Codes (Last 2 Digits)
The final two digits pinpoint the specific area, neighborhood, or commune within each district. These area codes provide the most granular level of addressing precision and are crucial for final delivery accuracy. Areas are typically organized by population density, geographical features, or administrative subdivisions.
Area codes follow logical patterns that reflect local geography and development. Central business districts often use codes ending in 01, while residential areas, industrial zones, and rural communes receive sequential numbers. This systematic approach helps mail carriers and delivery services navigate efficiently through each district.
Area Code Pattern Examples
Understanding area codes is essential for precision targeting in business marketing, real estate development, and service delivery. Companies can use area codes to identify customer concentration, plan delivery routes, and allocate resources more efficiently across different neighborhoods and communities.
5. Business Applications
For businesses operating in Cambodia's growing economy, postal codes are essential tools for operational efficiency, customer service, and growth strategy. From small local shops to international corporations, understanding and implementing postal codes correctly can significantly impact business success.
E-commerce Validation
Validate customer shipping addresses and reduce failed deliveries by up to 70%
Logistics Optimization
Calculate accurate shipping costs and delivery routes across Cambodia
International Shipping
Ensure packages reach their destination with proper address formatting
Customer Support
Quickly resolve delivery issues by identifying exact location codes
E-commerce businesses particularly benefit from postal code integration. Online stores can validate customer addresses in real-time, calculate accurate shipping costs, and provide delivery time estimates. This reduces cart abandonment rates and improves customer satisfaction through reliable delivery expectations.
Pro Tip for Businesses
Integrate postal code validation into your checkout process. This simple step can reduce delivery failures by up to 70% and significantly improve customer satisfaction scores.
International businesses shipping to Cambodia should implement postal code requirements in their systems. Major shipping carriers like DHL, FedEx, and UPS use postal codes for route optimization and delivery confirmation. Businesses without proper postal code implementation may face higher shipping costs and delivery delays.
6. Tourism Usage
Tourism is a vital sector of Cambodia's economy, and postal codes play a crucial role in ensuring visitors have smooth experiences when receiving mail, packages, or shipping purchases home. Understanding postal codes is essential for hotels, tour operators, and tourists themselves.
Popular tourist destinations each have specific postal codes that visitors should know. Siem Reap, home to Angkor Wat, uses postal codes beginning with 17. The main tourism area around Angkor Wat and central Siem Reap uses codes like 171101 and 171201. Hotels in this area should provide guests with their exact postal codes for receiving mail and packages during extended stays.
Essential Tourist Areas & Postal Codes
Tourists planning extended stays should inform their home country contacts of their accommodation's postal code. This is particularly important for business travelers who may need to receive documents, replacement credit cards, or important mail during their visit. Many hotels now include postal codes on their booking confirmations and check-in information.
Shopping and shipping home souvenirs requires accurate postal codes for international delivery. Tourist shops in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and coastal areas should provide customers with proper addressing information for international shipments. This includes not only the postal code but also the correct address format for international mail systems.
7. International Shipping Format
International shipping to Cambodia requires specific address formatting to ensure packages clear customs and reach their destination efficiently. The postal code plays a critical role in this process, helping international carriers route packages through Cambodia's distribution network.
Standard International Address Format
The postal code should always appear after the city/province name and before "CAMBODIA" on the final line. This positioning follows international postal standards and ensures compatibility with automated sorting systems used by major shipping carriers worldwide.
Common mistakes in international shipping include placing the postal code on a separate line, omitting the postal code entirely, or using incorrect formatting. These errors can delay packages at customs or cause them to be returned to sender. Always double-check postal codes using reliable sources like our search tool before shipping internationally.
Common Shipping Mistakes to Avoid
- • Using old or incorrect postal codes
- • Omitting the postal code entirely
- • Placing postal code on wrong line
- • Using "zip code" instead of "postal code" in documentation
- • Not including both English and Khmer addresses when possible
For high-value shipments or time-sensitive deliveries, consider including both English and Khmer language addresses when possible. While not required, this can help local delivery personnel navigate more efficiently, especially in areas where English signage may be limited.
8. Common Troubleshooting
Even with the best preparation, postal code issues can arise. Here are the most common problems people encounter when using Cambodia postal codes and their proven solutions. These troubleshooting steps can save time and prevent delivery delays.
Problem: Cannot find postal code
Problem: Multiple codes for same location
Problem: International shipping rejected
Problem: Package not delivered
Quick Verification Checklist
- ✓ Postal code has exactly 6 digits
- ✓ First 2 digits match the correct province
- ✓ Address includes district name
- ✓ Recipient name is spelled correctly
- ✓ International format follows standard structure
- ✓ No extra spaces or special characters in postal code
If you continue to experience issues after following these troubleshooting steps, consider contacting the local post office in the destination area. They can provide specific guidance for challenging addresses and confirm the correct postal code for new or recently developed areas.
Remember that Cambodia's postal system continues to evolve as the country develops. New postal codes are occasionally added for growing areas, and existing codes may be refined to improve delivery efficiency. Stay updated with the latest postal code information through reliable sources and official postal service announcements.