CAMBODIA – General Information

Geography

Cambodia borders Thailand to its west and northwest, Laos to its northeast, and Vietnam to its east and southeast. In the south it faces the Gulf of Thailand. The geography of Cambodia is dominated by the Mekong river and the Tonlé Sap, an important source of fish. It has a land area of 181,035 square kilometers in the southwestern part of the Indochina peninsula, about 20 percent of which is used for agriculture. The country capital city is Phnom Penh.

When to go?

The best time to visit Cambodia is between November-February as the weather is cool and dry. The average mid-day temperature is in the mid 20s, sometimes dipping below 20 at night. The monsoon rains trail off through October and November, and have usually stopped completely by mid November. These months - November through February - are generally considered to be the best time of the year to visit, with December and January offering the very best weather of the year across the country - comfortably warm days, clear skies, no rain, light breeze, cool evenings. Temperatures begin to creep up a bit through February and there are occasional, short 'mango showers' in the afternoon. 

People

The population of Cambodia today is about 10 million. About 90-95 percent of the people are Khmer ethnic. The remaining 5-10 percent includes Chinese-Khmers, Khmer Islam or Chams, ethnic hill-tribe people, known as the Khmer Loeu, and Vietnamese. About 10 percent of the population live in Phnom Penh, the capital, making Cambodia largely a country of rural dwellers, farmers and artisans.

Religion

Thearavada Buddhism is the official religion in Cambodia, which is practiced by 95 percent of the population-- just like that of Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka. However, Christianity and Cham Muslim are being active and popular among a large number of population as well in the capital and provinces, showing a sign of growth. Daoism and Confuism are also commonly practiced among the Chinese people. Theravada Buddhism was reinstated as the state religion in the late 1980s and today 90% of the population is Buddhist. Other practicing religions include Catholicism, Taoism/Confucianism, Islam and Animism.

Languages

The official language is Khmer, which is a non-tonal language of the Mon-Khmer family. The Khmer language is very unique and distinctive to the Western eye, the characters are very much like those of Thai, but a closer look reveals they are in fact quite different. French was widely spoken before 1975. Today English is more commonly taught in schools. Other spoken languages include Chinese, Vietnamese and Russian.

Festivals and Holidays

Most legal holidays fall on the same dates every year. Some holidays such as Khmer New Year, Visakhaboja, Royal Ploughing Ceremony, Prachum Ben and the Water Festival follow the lunar calendar and move a few days forward or back each year. There are some 30 public holidays celebrated each year in Cambodia. The most important of these is the Cambodian New Year.

Chaul Chhnam falls in mid-April, which coincides with the Lao and Thai New Year. The New Year enters at an hour designated by the lunar calendar. Beautiful offerings of food, drink and incense are set on palm-frawned tables in front of homes. The practice is discouraged in Phnom Penh; it is tradition to toss water on people. Try to take it in good spirit. Also in April is the Visak Bauchea, the most important Buddhist, commemorating the birthday and illumination of Buddha.

In late October or early November is the Festival of the Reversing Current (also known as the Water Festival) when the Tonle Sap reverses flow and begins to empty into the Mekong. Pirogue races are held in Phnom Penh.  National Day (January 7th) commemorates the Vietnamese overthrow of Pol Pot in 1979. Genocide Day on May 9th is a memorial day for those who suffered the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. Also of importance is King Sihanouk's birthday on 31st October.

Entertainment

Since the encouragement from the Ministry of Fine Arts and Culture and the Cambodian people strongly support to the Khmer films, most abandoned cinemas have been re-open.  Recently, the Khmer films are very popular for Cambodian people not only in city but also provinces. 

Theatre and dance are central to the Khmer culture. Most famous is the Royal Ballet, which is depicted numerously on the bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat. Representing the apsaras (celestial female dancers) the dances are symbolic, slow, graceful gestures, which conform to a strict and precise language of movement. Each dance is an act of worship and blessing. Most of the dancers are women.

Traditional Khmer dancing can be seen at the National Theatre. In addition, the theatre has produced a contemporary history called the Life of the Nation of Cambodia. Phnom Penh is the place for disco nightlife. There are several clubs that see a good mix of locals and foreigners. Nightlife in Phnom Penh tends to begin fairly late - 9 pm start is usual, after a leisurely meal and some drinks at a bar. Drink prices can be steep, but you can always pop outside and get a swift half from a street seller.

Passport and Visas

A tourist visa is required for entry into Cambodia. Visas can be obtained upon arrival at either Pochentong Airport or Siem Reap Airport.

Immigration formalities are quicker when travelers already posses their visa.  However, Cambodia has very liberal visa regulations.  For USD 20 all travelers can obtain a tourist visa valid for 30 days upon arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports or in Aranyaprathet, Thailand (Poipet border crossing).  A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the visit and one passport photo is needed. A departure tax is charged on all domestic and international flights. International Departure Tax is US$25 per person and domestic US$6 per person.

Visitors arriving overland from Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam at the Bavet border crossing, from Laos (Veun Kham border crossing) or from Thailand at Trat (Hat Lay border crossing) must obtain a visa which clearly indicates their entry point prior to reaching the Cambodian border. A passport-sized photo must be attached to the multiple day entrance passes to the Angkor complex (2-3 days pass and one-week pass). Visitors can have their picture taken at the entrance checkpoint (USD 1 per photo).  However, we recommend all visitors arriving in Siem Reap have a passport photo ready prior to arrival.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has launched e-Visa which enables you to apply for a Cambodia travel visa online. Instead of applying through Cambodian Embassy, all you need is to complete the online application form and pay with your credit card. You will get your visa approved within 3 business days.

Health Requirements: Although no vaccination is officially required for entry to Cambodia, they are highly encouraged. Visitors are advised to check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding protection against malaria, typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and B. Any essential medications should be brought with you, as there is no guarantee they will be available in Cambodia.

Currency and Banking

The official currency is the Riel. The rate of exchange is approximately USD 1 = 4 107 Riel at time of writing (as off august 2008). Riel notes come in 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000 and 100,000 denominations, but the distinctive red 500 Riel note is the most commonly used.

In Phnom Penh and most major tourist destinations, almost all goods and services are calculated and paid for in US dollars. Major currencies and traveler’s cheques can be exchanged at banks and foreign exchange bureaus although it is limited to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Credit cards are of limited use in Cambodia although larger hotels in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap will accept Visa and Master card. Traveler's cheques and currencies other than U.S Dollars are accepted only by major banks. It is best to carry US Dollars in small denominations.

In Phnom Penh, you can only change the Euro at the Cambodian Public Bank (other banks do not accept the Euro yet) and in Siem Reap at the Mekong Bank and the Cambodian Bank.

 General advice

Drink lots of water. Purified, bottled water is available everywhere. Never drink tap water. Use an insect repellent against mosquitoes. It is the only way to be sure of protection against mosquito-borne diseases. Since Cambodia has a hot and humid tropical climate, casual and lightweight clothing is best.  Clothing made from natural fibers is the best option. A jacket might be needed on cool winter evenings or in hotels and restaurants using excessive air-conditioning. A hat and high-factor sun block is advisable as protection against the hot sun when sightseeing outdoors. When visiting temples or pagodas, including those of Angkor Wat, shorts and T-shirts are acceptable. Shoes (as well as hats) are generally removed at the entrance to pagodas.  For visits to the Silver Pagoda, which is within the Royal Palace grounds in Phnom Penh, visitors are asked to dress more formally. Gentlemen are required to wear long trousers and ladies should wear long trousers or long skirts. Color standard film (such as Kodak, Konica or Fuji), slides film, video film and camera batteries are widely available. Photos are inexpensive to process in the country. Any specialized photo or video equipment should be brought with you. Photography and video in airports, railway stations and near any military installations is forbidden and discretion should be used when photographing people, particularly monks and those in hill tribes.

UPDATED September 2008

ALL INFORMATION ABOVE IS GIVEN FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.