Historical Background

          The word "Angkor" is derived from the Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language) "nagara" which means "city". Angkor Wat literally means "Temple City" and Angkor Thom "The Big City". The ancient Khmers were great masters of stone carving and we can see the evidence of this in the various Angkor temples centred in and around Siem Reap and extending to as far as the Dangrek mountain at the Thai-Cambodian border where Preah Vihear stands high, westwards to Phnom Rung and Phimai in northeastern Thailand and Wat Phou in Laos. These temples took centuries to construct and be covered with fine carvings done by thousands of Khmer artisans. This tremendous amount of energy expended to build the temples sapped the strength of the people and exhausted the resources of the kingdom.

          Much of its ancient history is found in its monuments and inscriptions. Most of the writings found after the excavation of Angkor were carved in stone. They are important evidence to understand what constituted Khmer society and its chronological development. They relate principally to religious rituals, the king's praise and literatue of the two most famous Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. There is not much on the subject of the ordinary life of the local people. What there is can be found in the wall carvings at Angkor Thom that tells of village life. Chou Ta Kuan, the Chinese ambassador to the Khmer court, wrote a very readable eye-witness account of Cambodian society of the mid-13th century. He lived with people and explored the kingdom during the one year he was in Angkor.

          Temple construction begun in the 8th century with the Roluos group of temples (Lo Lei, Preah Ko and Bakon) and in the Kulen mountains following the capital city sites of the ruling king. The greatest monument of the kingdom was Angkor Wat built by King Suryavarman II in 802 as his funerary. His great successor, Jayavarman VII, built Angkor Thom including the Bayon with its 214 enigmatic faces with half-closed eyes looking down at visitors, Ta Prohm, Neak Pean and Preah Khan. Throughout Khmer history, the kings had to defend the people and the kingdom from powerful invaders, among whom were the Chams from Champa. Angkor finally succumbed to the Siamese who attached it in 1431.

          In Khmer society, at the top of the hierarchy was the god-king created by Hindu tradition. He was surrounded by brahmins as tutors and as officials of the realm. The priests who lived in the temples to conduct religious affairs were powerful and contolled their own lands and padi-fields. They were supported by wealthy donors whose names and contributions were written in stone on the temple walls. Noblemen and high dignitaries vied with one another for the honour and privilege to be temple donors. All they all form the base of the god-king's power. Khmer economy was based principally on agriculture - the majority of the people were farmers growing rice. Many of them were bonded to large landowners or to the temples. The lowest hierarchy comprised the slaves serving in the capacity of temples servants, in homes and the royal palace. These slaves were mostly conquered people from neighbouring countries, with a minority being Khmers who fell into this lowest strata of society by indebtedness. Today the class of slaves is no more, but the god-king remains as a figure of reverence in Cambodian society.

          The Culture of Cambodia has had a rich and varied history dating back many centuries and has been heavily influenced by India. In turn, Cambodia greatly influenced Thaialand and Laos and vice versa. Throughout Cambodia's long history, a major source of inspiration was from religion. Throughout nearly two millenium, Cambodians developed a unique Khmer belief from the syncreticism of indigenous animistic beliefs and the Indian religions of Buddhism and Hindusim. Indian culture and civilization, including its language and arts reached mainland Southeast Asia around the 1st century A.D. There are evidence to show that seafaring merchants brought Indian customs and culture to ports along the gulf of Thailand and the Pacific while trading with China.

          The first state to benefit from this was Funan. At various times, Cambodian culture also absorbed elements from the Javanese, Malay and Thai cultures. The majority of Cambodians (nearly 90%) are of Khmer heritage. Cambodia is predominantly Buddhist with 95% of the population being Theravada Buddhist, and the majority of the remaining population follow Islam, and animism.
Customs Customary Cambodian teachings include: that if a person does not wake up before sunrise he is lazy; you have to tell your parents or elders where you are going and what time you are coming back home; close doors gently, otherwise you would acquire a bad temper; sit with your legs straight down and not crossed (crossing your legs shows that you are an impolite person); and always let other people talk more than you. Khmer culture is very hierarchical. The greater a person's age, the greater the level of respect that must be granted to him. Everyone in Khmer culture is given a hierarchical title before the name - in some cases names are shortened with the title added before the name is given - which varies in relation to the person. In some cases elders are referred to by a family title even though there is no relation, out of respect to their seniority in life. Referring to someone by the improper title is a sign of disrespect and would be assumed as improper breeding or a lack of respect for elders.

          Cambodians traditionally wear a checkered scarf called a krama. The piece of cloth is what distinctly separates the Khmer (Cambodians) from their neighbours the Thai, the Vietnamese, and the Laotian. The scarf is used for many purposes including for style, protection from the sun, an aid (for your feet) when climbing trees, a hammock for infants, a towel, or as a sarong. A krama can also be easily shaped into a small child's doll for play. Under the Khmer Rouge, all Khmer were forced to wear a red checkered krama. In Khmer culture a person's head is believed to contain the persons soul therefore making it taboo to the touch or point your feet at it. It is also considered to be extremely disrespectful to point or sleep with your feet pointing at a person, as the feet are the lowest part of the body and are considered to be impure. One traditional Khmer belief taught by monks is that there are three types of delusions or addictions which will lead to the self destruction of a man and these are women (srey) alcohol (srai) gambling (la-baing).

          Almost all Khmer men and women wear a Buddha pendant in a necklace fashion. There are different pendants for different uses; some are meant for protection from evil spirits, some are meant to bring good luck. When greeting people or to show respect in Cambodia people do the sampeah gesture, identical to the Thai wai and similar to the Indian namaste.
Wedding traditions
          The legend of Preah Thaong and Neang Neak explains much of Khmer wedding customs, in which the groom carries the bride's scarf, symbolizing he is from afar and is marrying into her family. In accordance with Khmer wedding ritual, a wedding is spread over three days. The bride and groom wear garments decorated with jewellery and are surrounded by family and guests. The bride and groom wear garments as a sign of respect to their parents and parents in law, both of which offer their blessing to the couples. They also pray to the monks for a happy life. Nowadays most Khmers in Cambodia celebrate with both traditional Khmer and western style weddings.

Music:  Especially in the60s and 70s, the 'big two' duet of Sinn Sisamouth and Ros Sereysothea had been a big hit in the country. After their deaths, new music stars have tried to bring back their music. Cambodian music has undergone heavy westernization. The Cambodian pinpeat ensemble is traditionally heard on feast days in the pagodas. It is also a court ensemble used to accompany classical dancing for ritual occasions or theatrical events. The pinpeat is primarily made up of percussion instruments: the roneat ek (high bamboo xylophone), roneat thung (low bamboo xylophone), kong vong touch and kong vong thom (small and large sets of tuned gongs), sampho (two-sided drum), skor thom (two large drums), and sralai (quadruple-reed instrument).

Cuisine:  Cambodian cuisine is similar to Thai cuisine but isn't as spicy. It also exhibits themes common to neighbouring regions including the use of curry dishes as in Indian cuisine, or the use of noodles popular in Chinese cuisine. Indeed, the cuisine of Cambodia has even incorporated elements from French cuisine as a consequence of being a French protectorate.

Dance of Cambodia:  Cambodian dances are in two main categories:
Classical dances: (Kh. Robam preah reachea trop) means 'dances of royal wealth' which was originally performed only for lroyalty.
Folk dances were performed for an audience. Khmer folk dances are fast-paced their movements and gestures are not as stylized as the classical dance.

          The advent of mobile phones has dramatically improved communications between the main towns. That said, many of the landlines destroyed during the Khmer Rouge era have yet to be replaced, and the lack of phone lines not only hinders ordinary business but also keeps Internet access costs high everywhere except Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. It's only been a few years since mail destined for Cambodia had to be collected in Bangkok, but the postal service is now reasonably reliable, although inbound letters and parcels that attract the attention of the postal staff often get pilfered.

Mail:  All Cambodia's mail is consolidated in Phnom Penh. Sending mail from provincial cities seems as reliable as posting from the capital, though it costs a little more as you'll be charged for your mail to go to Phnom Penh first. Within the capital itself, only the main post office is geared up to accept mail bound for abroad. Mail to Europe, Australasia and North America takes between five and ten days to arrive, leaving Phnom Penh for major international destinations around twice a week the specific days can be checked at the main Post Office. Stamps for postcards sent from the capital cost 1800 Riel to Europe and Australia, 2100 Riel to America (add 300 Riel if posting from the provinces). Parcels can only be posted in Phnom Penh, though at a high $17 for a one-kilogramme parcel going abroad - it's worth deferring the posting if you are subsequently heading to Thailand. You'll be charge 3000 Riel for the the customs form, detailing the contents and their value, to be completed, but it isn't necessary to leave the package open for checking. Post offices sell mailing boxes if you need them.

Phones: You can make domestic and international calls at post offices or telecom offices in most towns. The government telecommunications network; Camintel (W) (www.camintel.com) usually runs these services, which along with the Australian firm Telstra, also runs public call boxes in Phnom Penh. To use these, you'll need a phone card, available in denominations ranging from $2 to $50; look for shops displaying the phone cards sign. Not all cards can be used in each other's facilities, but with a Tele 2 phone card, you can make international calls from any call box by dialing the access code (T) 007 (instead of the usual (T) 001), then the country code and number as usual. With any of these options, making international calls is expensive at around $3 per minute. So it's worth looking out for deals offered by internet shops, guesthouses and travel agents, which can as much as halve the cost. For domestic calls only, use the cut-price glass-sided booths, payable to the attendant. The booths vary in their coverage of Cambodia's various networks: accessible numbers will be written on the side of the booths (usually (T) 012 MobiTel numbers - see below - plus the local area code and sometimes other mobile providers). Faxing is extortionate in Cambodia, at $3-$6 per page. If you really must send a fax, the hotel business central and internet shops are the most reliable place to do so.

Mobile Phones:  There are three mobile phone service providers in Cambodia: Samart code (T) 011, MobiTel (T) 012 and Shinawatra (T) 015&016. MobiTel is the most widely used network and has transmitters in all major towns, although reception is still limited to within the town boundaries. Mobile phones can be rented in the arrival hall at Pochentong International Airport for around $28 per week. Usage is by pre-paid phone card, available in values from $5 to $100; in most towns, you'll find outlets displaying the logos of the various providers. When you get your card, scratch off the panel on the back to reveal your PIN, then call up the top-up number which is given on the card, and enter the number to activate the card. Call rates are around $0.20 per minute within the same mobile network number or out to a local landline.

Internet access:  If you want to get online, do it in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap - here you're never far from an Internet shop or café and rates are under $1 per hour. Some 3-star hotels provide their guests with free Internet usage in the lobby area; some charge as high as US$2 per hour. In the provinces it's a different matter: even in Battambang and Sihanoukville access is limited, and expensive at around $3 per hour. One of the best ways to keep in touch while travelling is to sign up for a free email address that can be accessed from anywhere, for example Yahoo Mail or Hotmail.

          The visa-on-arrival valid for a thirty-day stay is issued to each tourist at the cost of US$20 and to each businessman at the cost of US$25 at the Pochentong International Airport, Siem Reap International Airport, and international border checkpoints. Visas can be obtained at Royal Cambodian Embassies or Consulates in foreign countries. Free visas (K) are issued to Cambodians who live overseas, Thais, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Filipinos and Vietnamese. The visa can be extended at the Immigration Department in Phnom Penh City.
          Most nationalities receive a one-month Tourist Visa on arrival at Pochentong and Siem Reap International Airports. The cost is US$ 20. Visas are also available at some land borders. Entering from Thailand, visas are available on arrival at Poipet (opposite Aranyaprathet) and Krong Koh Kong (opposite Hat Lek). Travellers planning a day trip to Prasat Preah Vihear from Thailand do not require a visa. Travellers arriving overland from Vietnam will have to obtain a visa before they reach the border, and this can be done either at the embassy in Hanoi or the consulate in Ho Chi Minh City . The land border with Laos opened in the late 2000 and a small number of travellers have crossed this way. It is necessary to arrange a Cambodian visa in advance and this can be done in Bangkok or Vientiane . Overstaying your visa currently costs a hefty fine of US$5 a day.

Visa Extension :   One passport photo is required. The Tourist Visa can be extended for another month, but only once. Submit one photograph with the visa extension form (for which you pay one US Dollar). The visa extension application costs USD30. Most people opt to extend their visa in the "unofficial" way. It costs more (USD45), but the hassle is much less. The cost of a one-week extension is USD20 (official, no unofficial means), 3-month is USD60, 6-month is USD100, and one-year is USD150. The unofficial rate is USD80 for a 3-month extension, USD150 for a 6-month, and USD250 for a one-year extension.

          Cambodia's economy is in very bad shape. The people are very poor (not counting the politicians and those in positions of privilege and power). The Khmer Rouge period of 1975-79, the regional economic crisis in 1997-98, the civil violence and political infighting from 1979-99, dearth of foreign investment and paucity of tourists brought hard times and circumstances to the country and people. Only from 1999 is the country struggling to pull itself from the quagmire and opening up tourism. Economic reforms are bCambodia's economy is in very bad shape. The people are very poor (not counting the politicians and those in positions of privilege and power). The Khmer Rouge period of 1975-79, the regional economic crisis in 1997-98, the civil violence and political infighting from 1979-99, dearth of foreign investment and paucity of tourists brought hard times and circumstances to the country and people. Only from 1999 is the country struggling to pull itself from the quagmire and opening up tourism. Economic reforms are being attempted and growth resumed at 4%. But in 2000 the worst flooding in 70 years severely damaged agricultural crops, and high oil prices harm industrial production. Tourism is Cambodia's fastest growing industry, with arrivals up 40% in 2004. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Farmers form 45% of the population engaging in agriculture; 35% are in the service sector including tourism; and 20% in industry (garments, textiles, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining). About 36% of the population lives below the poverty line. Fear of renewed political instability and massive corruption within the government discourages foreign investment and delay foreign aid. The government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors, but with corruption so rife among the political ranks the task is gargantuan.

          Cambodia, a country half the size of Vietnam (69,898 square miles or 181,036 square kilometers) is located in Southeast Asia, on the Indochinese peninsula. It is bordered in the north and west by Thailand, in the northwest by Laos, east and south by Vietnam, and in the southwest by the Gulf of Thailand. From north to south the land stretched 450km and from east to west about 580km. Its two greatest waterways are the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap. The Mekong Rivers rises in eastern Tibet and rolls along south through Yunnan, Laos, Thailand into Cambodia before meandering through the Mekong delta into the South China Sea. The Tonle Sap is the huge lake important as a source of fish protein to the people in ancient as well as in modern times. Thanks to the annual flooding of the Tonle Sap the land around it is very fertile for rice cultivation. In this central plain lived the majority of the people. It was here that the ancient Khmers established their great civilization. Spreading out from this plain in a gradual gradient are the surrounding highlands dominated by wild mountains and indigenous tribes. The plain and the mountain ranges are the two distinct geomorphologic regions of the country. To the southwest is the sea. Here beach resorts are opening up.

          Common with other countries in Southeast Asia, Cambodia is influnced by two monsoons: the northwest monsoon blowing from November to April brings lower temperatures and little rain; and the southeast monsoon blowing from May to October brings torrential rainfall in the afternoons and high temperatures all day and night in spite of the rain. The rhythm of rural life revolves around these two monsoon periods. The coolest month is January with temperatures hovering around 30 Celcius, and the hottest month is April with 40 Celcius daily. The nights are not much cooler.

Bonn Chaul Chhnam
          Chaul Chhnam, the Cambodian Lunar Year, is the most celebrated holiday. It takes place in 13-16 April, at around the same time that Buddhists celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. This traditional New Year is also celebrated on the same dates in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. The New Years Festival spans three days following the end of the harvest season. People clean and decorate their houses with fill altars with offerings. Then people play traditional games such as Bos Angkunh, Chaol Chhoung, Leak Kansaeng, and Tug-of-War.

Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal
          The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is the inauguration of the planting season. The ploughing is performed by a man (representing the King) who leads the yoke and plough, followed by a woman (representing the Queen) who sows the seeds. This will ensure a plentiful harvest.

Bonn Dak Ben & Bonn Phchom Ben
          The Spirits Commemoration Festival is held for the spirits of the dead. For Bonn Dak Ben, food is offered to monks for 15 days. On the 15th day of the ceremony, the full moon is called Bonn Phchom Ben, the collection of the Bens (offerings). During this celebration if departed souls do not find their family making offerings at a pagoda, it is believed that the soul will curse and bother the descendants throughout the year.

Bonn Kathen
          The 29-day religious festival is marked when town and country folks march in procession to the pagoda where the monks are waiting to change their old saffron robes for new ones during the festival. The ceremony brings spiritual merit to both lay people and the monks.

His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk's Birthday
His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, King of Cambodia, was born on 31 October 1922 in Phnom Penh.

Water Festival, Moon Festival
          In late October or early November, Cambodians celebrate the Festival of the Reversing Current, also known as the Water Festival. This three-day festival takes place when the Tonle Sap River reverses its flow towards the Mekong.
The Water festival, which ushers in the fishing season and marks the reversing of the current in the Tonle Sap River, is a spectacle to behold. At the height of the rainy season, the water in the Mekong River flows with such power that it backs up into the Tonle Sap River, forcing the Tonle Sap to reverse its current. When it subsides, the current reverses again. The festival draws thousands of people to the riverbanks to watch longboat races, fireworks and a lighted flotilla of boats under the full moon.

Independance Day
          The date which Cambodia achieved independence from France in 1953 is marked by a parade with floats and spectacles highlighting the nation's achievements.

By Air
          Due to the open-sky policy set out by the Royal Governmant of Cambodia, many international airline companies operate flights to and from Cambodia. Domestic flights are operated by three airline companies.The newly renovated Pochentong International Airport and Siem Reap Airport can provide all services for passengers from all flights.

Airlines:
   Bangkok Airways
   China Southern Airlines
  &nbspDragon Air
  &nbspEVA Air
  &nbspLao Airlines
  &nbspMalaysia Airlines
  &nbspMandarin Airlines
  &nbspMekong Airlines
  &nbspPresident Airlines
  &nbspRoyal Phnom Penh Airways
  &nbspShanghai Airlines
  &nbspSiem Reap Airways
  &nbspSilk Air
  &nbspThai Airways International
  &nbspVietnam Airline

By Land
          One can travel to Cambodia by land from neighbouring countries - Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.
Access from Vietnam : One can reach Cambodia from Vietnam via the international border checkpoint at Bavet (Cambodia side) and Moc Bai (Vietnam side). It is 230km between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh via National Road No.1. Many taxis are at the border between the two countries. The taxi fare to Phnom Penh city is US$10 per pax. On the journey visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscape of the eastern part of Cambodia in the Mekong area.

Access from Thailand : There are two international border checkpoints between Cambodia and Thailand at Poipet and Koh Kong.

Poi Pet (Cambodia) and Aranyaprathet (Thailand) : This point connects Bangkok and the northeastern part of Thailand with Siem Reap and Phnom Penh via the northwestern part of Cambodia, including Angkor. A visa on arrival is available at a cost of US$20. Taxis are also available there, especially to Siem Reap - Angkor, and cost around US$15 per person by National Road No.6, taking not more than 3 hours from the border to Siem Reap town.Cham Yeam (Cambodia) and Trat (Thailand) : Visitors can reach this point by road from Bangkok or the southeast of Thailand. Trat province in Thailand meets the international border checkpoint at Cham Yeam in Koh Kong province, Cambodia. A visa is available on arrival, or obtained at the Royal Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok or other countries. From Koh Kong, visitors can continue their trip to Sihanoukville by fast boat (around 4 hours) at a cost of US$15 (one way), and then connect to an air-conditioned bus (cost around US$5) to Phnom Penh.

By Waterway
         Cambodia can be reached by waterway from neighboring countries and the world. The international Sihanoukville seaport and the Mekong River port, Phnom Penh, are two main gateways of Cambodia. The international Sihanoukville seaport gateway has for years received cruise ships from around the world. Cruise ships travel along the Mekong River from Vietnam to Phnom Penh, and connect by local fast boats to the Upper Mekong close to Lao PDR or link with the Tonle Sap River and Lake to Siem Reap-Angkor. Visitors can enjoy views of the Mekong and discover a new area of Cambodia that combines nature, culture and lifestyle of the people.

          The offical language is Khmer. It is part of the Mon-Khmer language family. Before 1975, many educated, urban citizens spoke French. English has gained popularity. The older people speak French whereas the younger population speak English. Today, English is spreading among the young Cambodians and French is diminishing among the older Cambodians. City dwellers may speak English, Chinese, Vietnamese or French.

          The Cambodian language, Khmer, has its origins in Sanskrit and Pali. It is spoken all over the country except in some tribal areas Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri where local indigenous languages are used. In larger towns and cities English is spoken by an increasing number of educated people. Chinese is spoken by many of the business people. All facilities catering to tourists employ English-speaking staff who more often than not speak several other local and international languages including German, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and even Russian.

Related Sites on Khmer Language

Learn Khmer Learn how to read and write Khmer Language; views its characters and pronunciation.

Khmer Fonts (Khek Brothers) Designing of High Quality Khmer Fonts to be used in computers with Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, or Macintosh OS

Khmer Language and Literacy Development Provide bilingual educational program to promote language, literacy, and literature development in Cambodian language

          According to the 1998 population census, the ethnic Khmers make up 90% of the population, 5% is Vietnamese, 1% Chinese and a 4% mixture of Chams, Malays, Laotians, Indians and Caucasians forming the inhabitants. Minority groups include the Khmer Loeu (60,000-70,000 living in the northeast mountain region and remain outside the mainstream of Cambodian society), the Saoch, Pear, Baro, and Kuy, nearly all of whom live in the country's mountainous regions as well. Over 95% are Theravada Buddhists; the other faiths like Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism form the rest of the 5%.
The dark-skin Khmers have inhabited Cambodia since the 2nd century - many hundreds of years before the Vietnamese and the Thais came to inhabit the region. These early Khmers were influenced by the cultures of ancient India and Java, adopting many of their practices, religous rites and cultural traits. In later years they were mixed with the resident Javanese and Malay peoples among other races living in the country.
          The Vietnamese are the largest non-Khmer group in Cambodia, numbering about 100,000 officially and 500,000 unofficially. They are known as Khmer Krom, and are hardworking farmers and fishermen. Racial feelings between the Vietnamese-Cambodians and ethnic Cambodians are scathing, fraught with mutual contempt. Historically the Khmers mistrusted the Vietnamese more than they mistrusted the Thais.
The Chinese officially are numbered at 50,000, but unofficially they number ten times more, living mainly in urban areas. They have been born in the country for generations and have adopted Khmer culture, language and identity although retaining their own culture largely.
In the country are the Chams who practise Islam. There are about 200,000 to 300,000 of these Khmer Islam. They live in villages along the banks of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap, gravitating in the place called Kompong Cham, Kompong Chhnang and Kompong Speu. Like the Chinese, the Chams were cruelly persecuted during the Pol Pot regime from 1975-79. Many were killed by the Khmer Rouge, their mosques destroyed, and their culture suppressed.

Local Time: 7 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Currency: The Riel, denominations are Riel 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100. Foreign currencies can be easily changed at hotels, airports or markets. But the US Dollar and Thai Baht are the most accepted currencies throughout Cambodia

Telephone: Phone cards are available everywhere in Phnom Penh and can be purchased at many outlets. There are also several mobile phone systems.
Country Code : 855
Phnom Penh code (IDD) : 23
Siem Reap code (IDD) : 21

Domestic Transport : There are many kinds of transport in Phnom Penh. The favoured mode of transport is still by taxi, car rental, bus, motorbike or cyclo. The cyclo (maximum US$3 per hour) provides visitors with a way to view the city at a leisurely place. Rail transport is available. Travel by rail is only possible to reach Battambang province and Sihanoukville through Phnom Penh. There are eight provincal airports throughout the country. River travel is becoming popular, along the Tonle Sap, Tonle Bassac, and Mekong River. For travel to some remote parts of Cambodia, tourists are advised to contact the Ministry of Tourism, provincal tourism offices or at the information counters in Pochentong International and Siem Reap Airports - or contact Mekong Treks (e-mail: mekongtours@mekongtreks.com) to arrange for you.

Airport Tax: Both of Phnom Penh & Siem Reap international airport tax is US$ 25 for adult and US$13 for child under 12 years old.

Domestic airport tax are US$ 6 for adult and US$ 4 for child under 12 years old.

On Arrival: Visitors enter Cambodia through Pochentong International Airport and Siem Reap Airport or the land borders. If previous booking is made, arrangements will be made for an airport pick-up. If any traveller makes his own way to the city, the taxi will take 15 minutes to reach Phnom Penh city from Pochentong International Airport at a cost of US$7 and 10 minutes to reach Siem Reap city from Siem Reap Airport at a cost of US$5. However, taxis are few. And if flights are delayed and arrive late, you are left to your own devices as no taxi will be waiting.

Passport: Cambodian immigration requires your passport to have at least six months validity beyond the end of your trip, or entry into Cambodia will be denied. There is no requirement to show your onward air ticket.

Insurance: It is essential to take out travel insurance which includes emergency air evacuation from Cambodia to Bangkok . The risk of not doing so is too great to be niggardly about as the cost of an air-lift is astronomical in case of a serious medical problem.

Customs : Inspection is very lax. There seems to be no strict rules about bringing in goods except that narcotics and firearms are the banned items.

Money : The Riel is the official currency. About 4,000 Riel is to one US Dollar. Like the Laotian Kip, Burmese Kyat and Vietnamese Dong it is useless outside the country. Exchange only small amounts of Riel for small purchases or giving as tips. The US Dollar and Thai Baht are accepted everywhere and are much preferred by everyone. Have small denominations. Even so vendors will give change only in Riel, unless it is for big purchases and they have dollars to give as change. Make sure your dollar bills are in good condition - even the tiniest of tear will make it valueless to vendors. The Thai Baht is readily accepted in the western part of Cambodia, mainly in Siem Reap, Battambang, Sisophon, Poipet and Krong Koh Kong. Apart from banks money-exchange can be done at most markets. The US Dollar and Thai Baht fetch the best exchange rates. For other currencies the rate is poor from banks or money-changers in the markets.

Travellers Cheques/ Credit Cards : Only a few banks in the bigger cities will change your travellers cheques. And they charge a minimum of 2% commission. The Foreign Trade Bank in Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh, charges 1% for US Dollar cheques. Credit cards are accepted only in the very big hotels and at airline offices. Cash advances on credit cards are available in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Battambang at a charge. There is no ATM machine for withdrawing money in Cambodia.

Women Travellers : Women will generally find Cambodia a hassle-free place to travel. Foreign women are unlikely to be targeted by local men, but at the same time it pays to be careful. As is the case anywhere in the world, walking or riding a bike alone late at night is risky, and if you're planning a trip off the beaten trail it would be best to find a travel companion. Despite the prevalence of sex workers and women's employment as "beer girls", dancing companions and the like, foreign women will probably find Khmer men to be courteous and polite. It is best to keep things this way by being restrained in your dress. Khmer women dress fairly conservatively, and it is best to follow suit, particularly when visiting wats. In general, long-sleeved shirts and long trousers or skirts are preferred. It is also worth having trousers for heading out at night on motos, as short skirts are not too practical.

Gay Lesbian Travellers : While Cambodian culture is tolerant of homosexuality, the scene is certainly nothing like that of neighboring Thailand. Public displays of affection, whether heterosexual or homosexual, are frowned upon.

Disable Travellers : Uneven and broken pavements, potholes on most roads and steeply inclined stairs as at Angkor Wat are daunting to those with mobility impairments. Cambodia is not going to be an easy country in which to travel. Too few buildings in Cambodia are designed with the disabled in mind, although new projects, such as the international airports at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and the large hotels, include ramps for wheelchair access. Transport in the provinces is usually overcrowded; but taxis from point to point are at least an affordable option. Yet, the Cambodian people are usually very helpful towards all foreigners, and local labour is cheap if you need someone to accompany you at all times. Most guesthouses and small hotels have ground-floor rooms that are reasonably easy to access. The biggest headache is also the main attraction - the temples of Angkor. Causeways are uneven, obstacles common, staircases incline steeply - even for able-bodied people it is hard going. It is likely to be some years before things improve, although some ramping was introduced at the Bayon (Angkor Thom) in late 2000 for the visit of King Sihanouk and Chinese Premier Jiang Zemin.

Senior Travellers : Senior travellers are not eligible for discounts in Cambodia, neither should anyone, except local seniors, want this unfair advantage. Elderly visitors should be realistic about their health and fitness before plunging into an adventure in Cambodia. Cambodia is very hot and dehydration and exhaustion are real threats, especially for older visitors not used to exerting themselves in such conditions. If you are not that nimble on your feet, it is not recommended that you take adventurous options, such as the boats that travel between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap or trekking about in primeval Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri. It is also important to take great care around the temples of Angkor, as many of the staircases are extremely steep and can be slippery when wet. Khmer culture shows great respect for the elderly and this means many Cambodians will go out of their way to help older visitors. Anyone who is 50 years and above is considered old in Cambodia.

Travel with Children : Families with children even under 12 years old will have no problems travelling in Siem Reap and the temples of Angkor. However, it is worth remembering that young children would not be in wonder at the ruins that are restored and unrestored, nor appreciate their world heritage status. The main worry throughout Cambodia is preventing very small children from putting things in their mouths. In a country where dysentery, typhoid and hepatitis are commonplace the dangers to children are only too real. Feeding them with a lot of water and keeping the sun from them are also important.
Rural Cambodia is not a good travel destination for children because of the low standard of hygiene and there are many land mines littering the countryside . It is most wearying to have to keep constant vigil on children to keep them on the safe paths.

Shopping : There is some excellent shopping to be had in Cambodia, particularly in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. As well as the inevitable range of souvenirs, there are many high quality handicrafts made to support disadvantaged groups in Cambodia. It is important to bargain in the local markets as the stallholders are said to "shave your head" if you allow them by asking a high opening price. Beyond the tourist centres it is not necessary to haggle hard, as Khmers are very reasonable people.

Opening Hours : Government offices are opened from 07:30am to 11:30am and resume from 14:00pm to 17:00pm, Monday to Friday. Private offices are usually open for business from 7:00am to 20:00pm every day. Banks are open from 8:00am to 12:00 noon. It is closed on Sunday and public holidays. Markets are open daily from early morning to evening.

Accommodation: More than 100 supervised hotels handle the yearly influx of nearly half a million visitors from all continents. Accommodation price is moderate, but those seeking luxury will find five-star deluxe hotels in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap as highly priced as their counterparts in the Mekong region countries, except Yunnan.

Tour Guides: Government-licensed tourist guides are available to help visitors enjoy their sightseeing of Cambodia. These multi-lingual guides accompany organized bus tours, or a private car/van group. Transport can be hired on an individual basis with the driver by the guide or the visitor. There are more than 100 travel agencies offering tour.

          As a tropical country, Cambodia is bathed in almost all year sunshine and has a high average temperature. There are two distinct seasons, the dry and the monsoon. The monsoon lasts from May to October with southwesterly winds ushering in the clouds that bring seventy five to eighty percent of the annual rainfall often in spectacular intense bursts for an hour at a time with fantastic lightening displays. The dry season runs from November to April averaging temperatures from 27 to 40 degrees Celsius. The collest and most comfortable for those from cooler climates is from October to January.

Cambodian Embassy in Deakin, australia 
No. 5 Canterbury Crescent
Deakin, aCT 2600, australia Deakin
phone: 612 6273 1259
Fax: 61 2 6273 1053
Email:cambodia@embassy.net.au
WebSite:www.embassyofcambodia.org.nz

Cambodian Embassy in Tasek Meradun JLN Tutong, Brunei
8 Simpang 845 KG Tasek Meradun
JLN Tutong, B.S.B Brunei Darussalam Tasek Meradun JLN Tutong
phone: (673)-2654 046
Fax: (673)-2650 646
Email:cambodia@brunet.bn

Cambodian Embassy in Beijing, China
9 Dong Zhi Men Wai Dajie 100600, Beijing, China
Tel: (861) 65321889, 6532 3507
Fax: (861) 6532 3507
Email:cambassybeijing@sohu.com

General Consulate of Cambodia in Guang Zhou, China
Room 811, The Garden Hotel, Huan Shi Rd. E., Guangzhou, 5100064, China
phone: (8620)-8 387 9005,
Fax: (8620)-8 387 9006
Email:cambodia@public.guanzhou.gd.cn

General Consulate of Cambodia in Hong Kong, China
Room No 3606 Singga CC 144-151 Connaught Road West Hong Kong, China
Tel: (852) 2546 0718, 2362 3656
Fax: (852) 2803 0570
Email:cacghk@netvigator.com

General Consulate of Cambodia in Shanghai, China
Huasheng Commercial Bldg 9th floor, Hankou Road 400 Shanghai, China
Tel:(8621) 63 611 437/668
Fax: (8621) 63 600 949
Email:tangjx@online.sh.cn

Cambodian Embassy in Havana, CUBa, Cuba
No. 7001Sta aV. ESQ70 Miramar, Havana, CUBa Havana, CUBa
phone: 537 241 495 to 496
Fax: 537 246 400
Email: cambodia@ceniai.inf.cu

Cambodian Embassy in paris, France (paris)
4 Rue adolphe Yvon 75116 paris paris
phone: 331 45 034720
Fax: 331 45 034740
Email:ambcambodgeparis@mangoosta.fr

Cambodian Embassy in Berlin, Germany
Vogelsdorf Str.2 13187 Berlin, Germany Berlin
phone: 4930-4863 7901
Fax: 4930-4863 7972
Email:Rec-berlin@t-online.de

Cambodian Embassy in New Delhi, India
N-14 panscheel park, New Delhi 110017, India New Delhi
phone: (91-11) 649 5091/92
Fax: (91-11) 649 5093
Email:camboemb@ndb.vsnl.net.in

Cambodian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia
4th Floor, panin Bank plaza JL, 52 palmera Utara Jakarta 11480, Indonesia, Jakarta
phone: (6221) 919 2895
Fax: (6221) 520 2673
Email:recjkt@cani.net.id or chivorn@cani.net.id

Cambodian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan
8.6.9, akasaka, Minato - Ku, Tokyo 1070052, Japan Tokyo
phone: (81-3) 5412 8521/8522/8524
Fax: (81-3) 5412 8526
Email:aap33850@hkg.odn.ne.jp

Cambodiain Embassy in pyong Yang, North Korea
Rue de l'universite commune Mounsou arrondissement Daedongang
pyong Yang, Korea(North)
Tel: (850 ) 381 7283
Fax: (850 ) 381 7625

Cambodian Embassy in Seoul, Korea (South)
653-8 Hamarss Dong, Yongsan Gu, Seoul, Korea Seoul
phone: (822)-3785 1041
Fax: (822)-3785 1040
Email:camboemb@korea.com

Cambodian Embassy in Vientiane, Laos
Thadeua Road KM2, Vientiane
B.p.34 Lao, Vientianephone: (8562) 131 4950/4952
Fax: (8562) 131 4951
Email:recamlao@laotel.com

Cambodian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
83/JKR 2809 Lingkungan U -Thant, 55000 Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur
phone: (603) 4257 1150
Fax: (603) 4257 1157
Email:reckl@tm.net.my

Cambodian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar
No.34 Kada aye pagoda Road, Bahan Township,Yangon
phone: (951) 546 156
Fax: (951) 546 156
Email:RECYaNGON@mptmail.net.mm

Cambodian Embassy in Makati City, philippines
Unit 7a-B, Country Space 1 Building, Sen. Gil puyat avenue, 1200 Makati City,
MM, philippines Makati City
phone: (632)818 9981 or 810 1896
or 819 5928
Fax: (632) 818 9983
Email:cam.emb.ma@netasia.net

Cambodian Embassy in Moscow, Russian Federation
Starokopuchenny per 16 121002 Moscow, Russia
Tel: (7095) 202 7668/2115/3925/2234
Fax: (7503) 956 65 73

Cambodian Embassy in Gateway East Singapore , Singapore
152 Beach Road #11 - 05 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore
Gateway East Singapore
phone: (65) 299 3028/3828
Fax: (65) 299 3622
Email:cambodiaembassy@pacific.net.sg

Cambodian Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland, Switzerland
permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia. N° 3, chemin Taverney, p.O. Box 213,1218 Grand Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland
phone: + 41 22 788 77 73
Fax: + 41 22 788 77 74
Email:cambodge@bluewin.ch

Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand
No. 185 Rajddamri Road Lumpini patumwan, Bangkok 10330 Bangkok, Thailand
phone: (662) 2 546630
Fax: (662) 253 9859
Email:RECBKK@hotmail.com

General Consulate of Cambodia in Sa Kaew , Thailand
No. 666, Sovanasone Road ampheu Meung Sa Kaew 27000
Sa Kaew province, Thailand
phone: (037) 421 734/735
Fax: (037) 421 736
Email:consulsk@cscoms.com

Cambodian Embassy in Washington, United States
1818 Westlake avenue N., Suit #315, Seattle, Wa 98109, U.S.a
Washington
phone: (206) 217-0830
Fax: (206) 361-7888
Email:counsl_huoth@diplomats.com

Cambodian Embassy in Washington, United States
4500 16th Street NW Washington D.C.20011, U.S.a. Washington
phone: (202) 726 8042 or 726 8064
or 291 2745
Fax: (202) 7268381
Website:www.embassy.org/cambodia

Cambodian Embassy in New York, United States
866 UN plaza, Suite 420 New York, NY 10017, USa New York
phone: 212 223 0676
Fax: (212) 2230425
Email:Cambodia@un.int

Cambodian Embassy in California, United States
422 Ord Street, Suite G, Los angeles, Ca 90012, U.S.A California
phone: (213) 625 7777
Fax: (213) 625-7766
Email:cambodiaconsulate@usa.net

Cambodian Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam
No 71 a Tran Hung Dao Street Hanoi, S.R. Vietnam Hanoi
phone: (844) 942 4789
Fax: (844) 942 3225
Email:arch@fpt.vn

General Consulate of Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
No 41 phung Khac Khoan Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
phone: (848) 829 2751
Fax: (848) 829 2744
Email:cambocg@hcm.unn.vn