On the ground in Cambodia with Geraldine

Geraldine is Relocation Vietnam’s Cambodia correspondent. Based in Cambodia for many years, she combines first-hand experience with a practical, on-the-ground view of what it takes to settle, adapt, and build a life here. In this interview, she looks back on her own journey—what she expected, what proved challenging, and what ultimately made Cambodia feel like a place where long-term plans can take root.

When you arrived in Cambodia, did you think you would stay this long?

Yes. From the start, our move was linked to a clear plan: buying a boat, the Kanika. In our minds, it was meant to be a life chapter of around eight years, with the possibility of moving to another Asian country afterwards. In reality, things didn’t go exactly “as planned”: the project grew, our daily life became structured here, and we are still in Cambodia today.

What made you decide to build your life and your business here?

It was first and foremost a couple’s project, driven by the desire to create something in Cambodia — a country I already knew well, as I had been coming here on holiday for five years before moving.The real trigger, however, was very practical: my partner no longer had a job in France. That became the turning point that accelerated our decision. Cambodia then became not only our destination, but also the place where we started building both our business and our personal life.

You’ve been here for years — how would you describe the expatriate community today?

I would say it feels slightly younger than it used to, and overall smaller since Covid. You meet many people who are “just passing through”, here for the length of a contract or assignment. But there are also expatriates who, over time, choose to stay longer, put down roots, and sometimes settle for good.Overall, it’s a community I experience as quite supportive, where people do connect and help each other — especially when you’re going through the adjustment phase that comes with moving abroad.

Do you feel it has changed over time?

Yes, a little — but that change is also linked to the fact that we evolve too. With age and experience, your priorities shift, and your perspective on expat life changes. So it’s not only “the community” evolving; it’s also the way you see it and the way you live it.

What kinds of conversations do you often have with other entrepreneurs or professionals here?

A lot of our conversations revolve around everyday life in Cambodia, family, and of course our businesses. We also talk about things to do in Cambodia, what’s happening locally, and news from France or elsewhere. These are very grounded discussions: how you organise your life, what surprises you, what works, and how you keep projects moving in a different cultural environment.

What do people not expect before coming here?

It’s very personal, because it depends on where you come from and why you are coming to Cambodia. For me, one thing that really stood out was a very concrete social habit: people don’t really host at home. Social life happens mostly outside — in cafés, restaurants, and public places. It’s a small detail, but it changes how you build relationships and share moments, and it can surprise people who expect to keep the same social routines as back home.

What turned out to be harder than expected?

The hardest part was learning how to work with Cambodians — not only in terms of language, but especially in terms of cultural codes: communication style, how disagreement is expressed, how hierarchy is handled, the pace of work, and what is left unsaid but expected.You don’t operate with the same reference points, and it takes time to decode things without automatically interpreting them through a French or European lens. It’s a gradual learning process, built through observation, trial and error, and constant adjustment.

And what turned out to be much better than you expected?

A peaceful lifestyle, and a sense that very little feels impossible. Once you find your rhythm, there’s a kind of flexibility and simplicity in daily life that can feel unexpectedly light. It also creates space for possibility: you try more, you build more, and you feel that projects can take shape more easily than you might have imagined.