Cambodia

Country or Region Description

Cambodia is recovering from its past and becoming a top destination on the South East Asian travel map.

The magnificent temples of the 'Lost City' of Angkor are an irresistible attraction and are a must-see for any visitor to Cambodia.

The Cambodian people are incredibly friendly, providing a welcoming embrace for travellers. This fact in itself is amazing given the suffering that Cambodians had to endure during the three-and-a-half year reign of Pol Pot, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated two million people. Travellers to Cambodia can now enjoy many wonderful aspects of this country. Pleasurable moments can be had in the snatches of friendly conversations, in the tranquillity ushered in by Buddhist prayer or in the sounds of workers in the rice paddies. One can also search for the charms of the French-era capital city Phnom Penh, visit the tragic horrors of the Killing Fields or drift past sleepy riverside locations on a boat.

The scenery is beautiful and abundant, shaped by landscapes of lush green forests and jungles, banana plantations, agricultural fields and mighty rivers. People here live modest and simple lifestyles and the populace are largely rural.

Infrastructure is basic (much of it having been destroyed) and travelling between destinations can be quite an experience - fun for some and frustrating for others. The country's world-class attractions and less-explored reaches, golden beaches and islands beckon the enterprising traveller, and make this unique destination the equivalent of a pearl in an unopened oyster.

Country Facts

Location: South-eastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.

Population: 13,363,421 (July 2004 est.)

Capital: Phnom Penh

Time: GMT +7

Language: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English.

Ethnic Groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%.

Religion: Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%.

Currency: Riel

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50 Hz

Business Hours:

Shops: Early morning to late evening.

Business: 0730-1130 and 1400-1700 Monday-Friday

Country Code: 855 - Phnom Penh 23

Credit Cards: Some hotels and restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap accept Visa and MasterCard.

Photography: There are restrictions at airports, ports, and harbours. It is courteous to ask permission first before taking photographs of people.

Things to know about Cambodia before you go

Passports and Visas

All visitors to Cambodia must have a valid passport and visa irrespective of nationality. A visa is valid for a 30 day stay is issued at Pochentong International airport, Siem Reap airport and Poi Pet, Cambodia Thailand International border checkpoint.

Visa cost is US$20 for tourism and US$25 for business with two photos. Visas are also issued at Royal Cambodia Embassies or Consulates in foreign countries. Visas can be extended at the Immigration Department in Phnom Penh city.

Health

All visitors should have inoculations for the following diseases: Cholera, Typhoid, Hepatitis A/B, Malaria, and Tuberculosis. It is advised to drink boiled or bottled water.

Customs

Religious artefacts and precious stones that you have bought in Cambodia will require an export permit. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency taken into The Country, but it should be declared upon arrival.

Currency

The Riel. Denominations are 100,000; 50,000; 20,000; 10,000; 5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200; 100. Foreign currencies can easily be changed at most hotels, airports or at markets. (4000 Riel = CAD$1.50 / US$1.00)

Departure Tax

For International US$25, and US$6 for domestic flights.

Language

Cambodian is the national and official language but English and French are spoken in hotel and business circles.

Telephones

There are no coin-operated phones (there are no coins) in Cambodia. In Phnom Penh, however, phone cards are available throughout the city, and the cards may be purchased at many outlets. There are also several mobile phone systems. Country code is 855 Phnom Penh 23.

Travellers' Cheques

Travellers cheques can be cashed at certain banks. VISA and MasterCard are accepted at the bigger hotels and restaurants.

Working Hours

Government Office Hours: 7:30 am to 11:30 am and resume from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday.

General Offices: privately run concerns are usually open for business from 7:30 am to 8:00 pm everyday.

Banks: open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday to Friday. Saturday from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Markets: open from early morning to late evening and do not close on Sundays or public holidays.

Arrival Guide

The Kingdom of Cambodia is an independent country and has a distinct geographical personality: it is a wide basin surrounded by highlands. In this basin the farmer has created a simple life - an original civilization and philosophy of mildness.

After many years of war, people rediscovered the meaning of "PEACE." They started to rebuild and reconstruct in all fields. Cambodia is divided into 20 provinces and rich in resources, forests, rubber, gems, fish, and has a big potential in tourism.

PHNOM PENH

The Country's capital Phnom Penh is renowned for its beauty, particularly the area surrounding the Royal Palace where magnificent Khmer towers share a boulevard with colourful French villas overlooking the banks of the Tonle Sap river.

The city offers several cultural and historical attractions including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. There are also a wide variety of services including five star hotels and budget guest houses, fine international dining, sidewalk noodle shops, neighbourhood pubs international discos and more.

Phnom Penh, like other Asian-City tourist destinations, is in the midst of rapid change. Over the past few years the number of restaurants and hotels have grown considerably and in the last year there had been a huge increase in the number of visitors.

SIEM REAP

Siem Reap is the gateway to the temples of Angkor, Cambodia's spiritual and cultural heartbeat. A sleepy backwater town until a few years ago, it is fast reinventing itself as a sophisticated centre for the new wave of visitors passing through each year, with restaurant and bar prices climbing weekly.

If Cambodia is hot right now, then Siem Reap is boiling over. It's the one place everyone hits during their visit, mainly due to its proximity to Angkor Wat. Pleasing remnants of the past like French shop-houses, tree-lined boulevards and a gentle winding river nestle up to pointers to the future.

ANGKOR WAT

The glorious and world-famous Angkor Wat situated in Siem Reap Province just a few kilometres from the town. One can reach Siem Reap by taking daily direct flights from Phnom Penh.

The Temples of Angkor were built between 7th and 11th century when the Khmer civilization was at its height. Angkor Wat is the cultural home of the Khmer people and one of the ancient wonders of the world. Its magnificent architecture was the evidence of the Khmer's strong belief in religions - Hinduism and Buddhism.

First discovered by Western archaeologists in the late 19th century, the lost city of Angkor has just re-opened for exploration. The fortified city of Angkor Thom, some 10 km² in area, was built in its present form by Angkor's greatest builder, Jayavarman 7 (reigned 1181 to 1201), who came to power just after the disastrous ransacking by the Chams of the previous Khmer capital, is enclosed by a square wall eight metres high and 12 km in length and encircled by a moat 100 meters wide, said to have been inhabited by fierce crocodiles.

The city has five monumental gates, one in the north, west and south walls and two in the east wall. The gates, which are 20 metres in height, are decorated on either side of the passageway with stone elephant trunks and crowned by four gargantuan faces.