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About Cambodia
Click here to see a map of CambodiaCambodia boasts a rich culture with its many ancient temples and impressive natural scenery, such as the empty beaches, mighty rivers and the remote forests. At the present, more of Cambodia is open to visitors than any other time in decades. As well as the famous temples at Angkor near Siem Reap, there are many other beautiful places to discover. The empty beaches in Sihanoukville on the South Coast of Cambodia, are a great place to relax and enjoy the sun. You may choose to visit here on the way back to Phnom Penh, stopping at Kampot and Kep on the way. Many of the provincial towns offer a combination of colonial architecture, sleepy riverside locations and some very friendly local people.The best of these to visit are Kompong Cham and Kompong Chhnang, and probably the most satisfactory is Battambang. Cambodia is situated in the southeast of the Indochina Peninsula. It shares its international borders with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Cambodia is administratively divided into 20 provinces, with two major cities; Phnom Penh, the capital, and Sihanoukville, a large sea-port in the south. Once over-run by war and poverty, today Cambodians, ranging from officials to common people, are eager to establish Cambodia as a stable, safe environment in which to live, work, and travel. Cambodia has now emerged from the decades of war and isolation that made it known for crime, refugees, poverty and political instability. Those magical Angkor temples are drawing gaping travellers by the busload once again, and Cambodia is well and truly back on the South-East Asian travel map.
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Culture
During the Khmer Rouge's 'clean slate' period millions of artefacts, statues and books were destroyed, but famous examples of Angkorian-era architecture like Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom remain intact. The National Museum in Phnom Penh is the perfect place to see examples of Khmer sculpture, in particular the beautifully portrayed Hindu deities.Theravada Buddhism is Cambodia's dominant religion. Khmer is the official language. English is fast becoming the dominant second language, overtaking French, which is still spoken by many people who grew up before the 1970s. In general, Khmer cuisine is similar to Thai, but with fewer spices. A Cambodian meal almost always includes a soup, and fish is the nation's most popular dish. The three flavours which find their way into many Cambodian dishes are coriander, mint and lemongrass. The French influence is best seen in the daily-baked bread. Sweet dishes include sticky rice cakes and jackfruit pudding. Tap water should be avoided, so stock up on mineral water.
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Local_Currency
Cambodia's currency is the riel, abbreviated by a lower-case 'r' written after the sum. Notes are in denominations of 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200 100.
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Transport
Internal flights operate between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Battambang, Koh Kong, Kompong Som and Stung Treng, with travel time being about 45 minutesGovernment-run ferries depart from the Psar Cha Ministry of Transport Ferry Landing and go to Kompong Cham, Kratie, Stung Treng, Kompong Chhnang and Phnom Krom. Traffic drives on the right. Most roads are in poor condition, although the highway to Vietnam is open.
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Visa_Information
Nearly all nationalities receive a one month visa on arrival at Pochentong airport, Phnom Penh. The cost is US$20 and a passport size photo is required. Easily extendable one month business visas are available for US$25.When coming to Cambodia from Thailand, visitors have to obtain a visa in Bangkok as they are not available at Poipet or Koh Kong. Travellers arriving overland from Ho Chi Minh City will have to obtain a visa before they arrive, though these are easy to get in Vietnam. To use this route you must have Moc Bai as an exit point on your Vietnamese visa.
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