How to write a Cambodian address
A Cambodian address runs from the smallest unit to the largest, ending with the province and its postal code. Knowing the two administrative layers and how streets are numbered makes an address far easier to deliver, whether you are filling a form, labelling a parcel, or giving directions to a courier.
Sangkat and khan, khum and srok
Cambodia has two administrative layers below the province. Urban areas use a Sangkat (an urban commune) inside a Khan (an urban district); rural areas use a Khum (a commune) inside a Srok (a district). Phnom Penh and other cities are made of khans and sangkats, while most provinces are made of sroks and khums. Your address should name the sangkat or khum first, then the khan or srok, so the two layers are never mixed up.
Line order
The last line, CAMBODIA, is only needed for mail coming from abroad. For domestic mail you can leave it out and end with the province and postal code.
Example
Street numbering in Phnom Penh
In central Phnom Penh, many streets are simply numbered, such as Street 13 or Street 51, while major roads carry names like Norodom, Monivong, or Sihanouk Boulevard. Numbered streets are a defining feature of the city, so writing the number clearly is important. A house is usually written as the number followed by the street, for example 15 Street 13, and the number sign is often placed before the house number.
House numbers do not always run in a simple sequence, and two buildings some distance apart can share similar numbers, so pairing the house number with the correct sangkat is what keeps the address unambiguous. When in doubt, add a nearby landmark after the street to help the courier.
Rural addresses and villages
Outside the cities, an address may include a village, known as a phum, before the commune. A rural address then reads from the village up through the khum and srok to the province. House numbering is often looser in villages, so a landmark such as a pagoda, school, or market is commonly added to help a courier find the place. Even without a street number, an address that names the village, commune, and district clearly, together with the postal code, is usually enough to deliver.
Khmer script and roman spelling
Place names exist in both Khmer script and roman spelling, and a single name can be spelled more than one way in roman letters. On this site each district page shows the roman name alongside the Khmer, so you can copy a consistent spelling. For international mail, roman spelling is safer because it is read in the sending country.
The postal code
The six-digit postal code sits on the same line as the province. Each sangkat has its own code, and every code within one district shares the same first four digits. Writing the code helps sorting even where street data is thin. If a Cambodian address you receive has no code, you can look it up rather than leave it blank.
Common mistakes
- Mixing the two layers, for example naming a khan where a srok belongs.
- Leaving out the sangkat or khum, which makes the house number hard to place.
- Using an inconsistent roman spelling that does not match official records.
- Omitting the postal code when it is easy to look up.
Finding the right code
Each district page lists its sangkats, each with a postal code and a ready-to-paste address format. Find your district at the Cambodia page, then copy the code and the format for your sangkat. If you find wrong data, please report it.