Cambodia
Cambodia, located in Southeast Asia , occupies a
total area of 181 035 square kilometers. The capital is
Phnom Penh where about over two million people reside.
Cambodia borders to the north by Thailand and Laos, to
the east by Vietnam, to the south by Vietnam and the
Gulf of Thailand, to the west by the Gulf of Thailand
and Thailand. The total population is 13 363 421. The
majority are Khmer and the rest are Indian, Chinese,
Vietnamese, Thai, Phnorng, Kuoy, Stieng, and Tamil.
Approximately, ninety percent of the population embraces
in Theravada Buddhism, while the rest people practice
Islam, Hinduism and Christianity.
Languages
Khmer is the official language in Cambodia. English is
very popular with Khmer people for communicating with
foreigners in administrative, commercial, diplomatic,
economic, industrial, and tourist affairs.
Local Time
7 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
Currency
The Cambodia currency is Riel that can fluctuate a
little if it is compared with a dolor. Riel
denominations are 100,000; 50,000; 20,000;l10,000;
5,000; 2,000; 1,000; 500; 200; 100; 50.
Passports
All visitors Cambodia must possess valid passports. Your
All visitors Cambodia must possess valid passports. Your
passport has to be validated for at least six months
after the issued date.
Visas
The visas on arrival valid for a thirty-day stay is
specifically granted to each tourist at a cost of US$ 20
and to each businessman at a cost of US$ 25 at the Phnom
Penh International Airport, Siem Reap International
Airport, and International Border Checkpoints. Visas are
also granted at Royal Cambodia Embassies or Consulates
in foreign countries. The visa can be extended at the
Immigration Department in Phnom Penh City. Indeed, the
free visa (K) is expressly granted to the Cambodian
living overseas. And for the ASEAN nationals, entry
visas in some forms are not required.
Airport Tax
International flight : Each foreigner has to pay US$ 25,
and each Khmer Person has to pay US$ 18 at Phnom Penh
International Airport or Siem Reap International
Airport. Additional, the child below the age of 12 has
to pay US$ 13, and the child below the age of 2 does not
to pay tax on any airports.
Domestic Flight : Each foreigner has to pay US$ 6 and
each Khmer person has to pay US$ 5 at Phnom Penh
International Airport or Siem Reap International
Airport.
Duty free
The following goods can be taken into Cambodia without
incurring customs duty, but goods do not exceed twenty
kilograms.
- 200 cigarettes or an equivalent quantity of cigars or tabacco
- A bottle of sprit
- A reasonable amount of perfume
Accommodation
A lot of hotels can easily be found in Phnom Penh, Siem
Reap , and Sihanouk Ville. The Five-star deluxe hotels
are particularly concentrated in Phnom Penh Capital and
Siem Reap Province. Accommodation widely ranges from
guesthouses to hotels. In Siem Reap, there are several
hotels along the main road between the airport and the
town. They will charge you for your accommodation at
reasonable prices.
Safety and Security
The Cambodia safety and security are safe and well for
tourists and businessmen. Tourists can go around the
cities at day and at night. However, you had better care
for yourself all the time.
Highlights of Cambodia
Phnom Penh City
Phnom Penh was founded by a rich old lady named Penh,
whose house was not far from the riverbank, on a knoll
on the eastern side of a small hill. Until 1866, in the
region of King Norodom, the capital moved to Phnom Daun
Penh again and remains up to the present time, Phnom
Penh is the sixth capital after Nokor Phnom, Angkor Wat,
Longvek, Srie Santhor, and Udong. The Phnom Penh Capital
with over two million inhabitants covers an area of 290
square kilometers. It is seriously considered the major
center of administration commerce, communication,
culture, economy, education, industry, policy, and
tourism for home and world services. The city offers
tourists a lot of modern hotels and restaurants with
diversified services. Valuable tropical products that
can be found here include seafood, freshwater food,
fresh fruit, traditional handicrafts and artistic
articles.
Royal Palace
Firstly the Royal Palace (formerly known as Preah Barom
Reach Veang Chatomuk Mongkul) was erected in the reign
of King Ponhea Yat (1434) and secondly it was erected in
the reign of King Norodom (1866). Nowadays the Royal
Palace is only called “Preah Barom Reach Veang”. It is
402 meters by 435 meters, and its complex is surrounded
by a high pagoda-styled compound decorated with the
boundary strings. The Royal Palace including magnificent
temples built in the traditional style, is regarded as
the symbol of the whole nation, and all the pavilions
are adorned and painted with yellow and white colors.
The yellow represents Buddhism and the white represents
Brahmanism.
Silver Pagoda
The Silver Pagoda was erected in the reign of King
Norodom in 1892 and inaugurated in 1903. King Norodom’s
successor, King Sisowath, who was his younger brother,
kept reigning and decorating the inner wall. And then,
Prince Norodom Sihanouk restored it in 1962.
Wat Phnom
It is situated on the top of Phnom Daun Penh. It is
considered a secret monastery. The Vihara (sanctuary)
was rebuilt in 1434, 1806, 1894, and 1926. West of the
Vihara is an enormous stupa containing the ashes of King
Ponhea Yat reigning from 1405 to 1467.
National Museum
The Cambodia styled building was built in 1917 and
inaugurated in 1920. It is located to the north of the
Royal Palace. The National Museum can enable you to be
more aware of Khmer cultural and historical value and
literature through fresoces depicted on the theme of the
Ramayana story. Khmer art has been shown since ancient
times. It is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM everyday.
Independence Monument
Erected in 1955, the Independence Monument symbolizes
Cambodian Independence regained from French colonialism
in 1953. This monument is a copy of Bakong temple (the
group of Roluos in the 9th century). The one hundred Nagas and snake motif can be seen in historical,
cultural, archeological and business contexts.
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat, in its beauty and state of preservation, is
unrivaled. Angkor Wat is located six kilometers (four
miles) north of Seim Reap; south of Angkor Thom. It was
built in the first half of the 12th century (1113-50).
You can enter and leave Angkor Wat from the west. Its
mightiness and magnificence bespeak pomp and luxury
surpassing that of a Pharaoh or a Shah Jahan,
impressiveness greater than that of the Pyramids, and
artistic distinctiveness as fine as that of the Taj
Mahal.
Angkor Thom
Angkor Thom is undeniably an expression of the highest
genius. Angkor is located 1,700meters (1,554 yards)
north of Angkor Wat. You can enter and leave Angkor Thom
by the south, north or Victory gates. It was built in
the end of 12th century-beginning of the 13th century.
It is, in the three dimensions and on a scale worthy of
an entire nation, the materialization of Buddhist
cosmology, representing ideas that only great painters
would dare to portray.
Kohker
Built by King Jayavarman IV in the century, Kohker was
the third ancient capital fo Khmer Empire. It may have
been the capital for just 15 years. King Jayavarman IV
was determined to legitimize his rule through an
extensive building program, and left behind 30 major
temples and some gargantuan sculpture seen today in
Phnom Penh. It is located 80 km north of the Kulen
Mount.
Takeo Temple
Built by King Jayavarman V and Suryavarman I from the
late 10th century to the early 11th century and
dedicated to Hindusim.
Srah Srang (Royal Bath)
It was perhaps a chapel to Kama, God of Love. The spot
would suit the temper of the strange power, terribly
strong and yet terribly tender, of that passion which
carries away kingdoms, empires, whole words and inhabits
also the humblest dwellings.

Love could occupy this
quiet nest embedded in water, which gave the impression
that love had come one day and had left there, when he
went away, a part of his spirit.
Peah Khan Temple
Peah Khan, for the beguiler, the romancer and the
artist, is an entrancing mystery deep in the jungle,
sort and alluring in the twilight made by heavy verdure.
It had been accessible only to the ardent lover of past
days who was gifted with agility. They may have been
court-wards where high priests sleepy, but now they are
the trees extend to heaven’s drous mass of beauty
confusion.