Cambodia is a small gorgeous country to be explored in Southeast Asia. There are many exciting things to do and beautiful sights to visit while indulgently soaking in Cambodia’s ancestral Angkor temples. From the magnificent Angkor complex to the largest freshwater lake in Asia, the coastal lines and beaches are exclusive destinations for relaxation, while fresh seafood is a must. Cambodia is a country looking forward to the future and is delighted to share its future with new visitors. It is the rising phoenix of Asia, and yet its people are some of the most friendly and hospitable you will find anywhere in the world. It is the people that help to make Cambodia such a joyful place to visit.
When to go & visit Cambodia?
Cambodia’s climate is monsoonal and has marked wet and dry seasons of relatively equal length. Both temperature and humidity generally are high throughout the year. Forest covers about two-thirds of the country, but it has been somewhat degraded in the more readily accessible areas by burning (a method called slash-and-burn agriculture) and shifting agriculture. The best time to visit Cambodia is from middle October to February when the weather is a bit cool and looks green.
History
The people who are living around the country today find their roots in the 5th millennium BC. The ancient Funan largely controlled this territory during that time. Funan culture was heavily influenced by Hinduism. Then, the Khmer Empire saw its golden age from the 9th to 13th century when marvellous temples were constructed, out of which Angkor Wat is the most remarkable.
Spanish and Portuguese missionaries visited this country in the 16th century, and the country became a French protectorate in the 19th century. It was managed as part of French Indochina. Cambodia became an independent kingdom in 1953 under the leadership of King Norodom Sihanouk.
Vietnam War spread into Cambodia and caused a recovery of the Khmer Rouge, which captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and continued with their atrocities. Following the Vietnamese invasion, the Khmer Rouge was overthrown, and the Republic was established. After several years of isolation from other nations broken by the war, a unified national reconstruction took place under the monarchy in 1993. It has recognized the increased economy rapidly and is when to rebuild the country from the civil war for many decades.
Geography
Cambodia is a country in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Its approximate geographical coordinates are 13°N 105°E / 13°N 105°E. Its 2,572 km border is split among Vietnam (1,228 km), Thailand (803 km) and Laos (541 km), as well as 443 km of coastline. Cambodia covers 181,040 square kilometres in the southwestern part of the Indochina peninsula.
The climate is monsoonal and has marked wet and dry seasons of relatively equal length. Both temperature and humidity generally are high throughout the year.
Forest covers about two-thirds of the country, but it has been somewhat degraded in the more readily accessible areas by burning (a method called slash-and-burn agriculture) and shifting agriculture. The Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake join. The Mekong river basically runs through Asia except for some countries. The Mekong is the 12th Longest river in the world.
Total area 181,035 square kilometres; country shares an 803-kilometre border with Thailand on north and west, 541-kilometer border with Laos on the northeast, the 1,228-kilometer border with Vietnam on east and southeast, for a total of 2,572 kilometres of land borders; coastline along Gulf of Thailand about 443 kilometres.
Fast Facts
Name: Cambodia (long form) the Kingdom of Cambodia
Capital City: Phnom Penh (2,234,566 pop.)
Cambodia Population: 15,474,460 (2014 est.)
Currency: Riel (KHR)
Ethnicity: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
GDP total: $39.64 billion (2013 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,600 (2013 est.)
Land Sizes: 181,035 square kilometres
Language: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Largest Cities: (by population) Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Battambang
Name: English Cambodia comes from the French word “Cambodge”, which is a contraction of the Sanskrit name Kambojadesa
National Day: November 9
Religion: Buddhist (official) 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2%
The Capital of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonization of Cambodia. It has grown to become the nation’s center of economic and industrial activities and the center of security, politics, cultural heritage, and diplomacy of Cambodia. Once known as the “Pearl of Asia”, it was considered one of the prettiest French-built cities in Indochina in the 1920s. This beautiful capital also features several attractions, a rich history and culture, and many opportunities to sample the local culture of Cambodia. Here, the colonial legacy endures with spired pagodas and markets.
The famous riverside is teeming with small pubs, bars and popular restaurants. Some stores offer products made from beautiful silk and chic galleries on either side of the road.
Siem Reap
The fascinating, attractive region of Cambodia, which literally means the “Defeat of Siam”, is the most prosperous region of contemporary Cambodia. Its proximity to the Angkor Wat temple complex has turned the city into one of the world’s premier travel destinations. The primary attraction for visitors to Siem Reap is the Angkor Wat and the Angkor Temple Region, which blankets more than 300km of northwestern Cambodia. Travellers should not leave Cambodia without a visit to Angkor War. Besides Angkor Wat, hundreds of interesting ancient temples and the largest freshwater lake, “Tonle Sap”, are ready to be explored.
Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is a province in southwest Cambodia known for its beautiful beaches, tropical islands, and Ream National Park's mangrove jungles. Set around a deep-water port on a peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Thailand, the provincial capital of Sihanoukville is lined with palm-fringed beaches, seafood restaurants, and late-night bars. Overlooking the capital is the hilltop Buddhist temple of Wat Leu.
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Saleom are the greatest, less touristy islands of the province, and tourists come around to relax, sunbathe, and savour the lip-smacking seafood.
Kep
The city was founded in 1908 during French colonial rule and was originally named Kep sur Mer. Many French-style villas are overgrown and run-down, but Kep is slowly being redeveloped as a tourist destination. The colonial influence is noticeable in the city’s Provencal-style architecture and French cuisine. Kep is also famous for Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), which is located 4.6 km south of Kep and can be reached by boat from the Kep port. Tourists are drawn to the beautiful white sand beach overlooking the sea. The sea here is shallow, and the seafloor has a long gradual slope, making Koh Thonsay excellent for swimming. Here you can spot various corals, fish and plants, which attract researchers and ecologists.
Battambang
The second-largest city of Cambodia and well known as “The Rice of Bowl”, Battambang is the most important region that supplies hundreds of sacks of qualified rice to the country and overseas. Battambang is an ideal destination to explore due to its beautiful rural glory. The rice pappies and traditional stilt houses stretching throughout the province are still visible. Historical and natural aspects ultimately bring visitors unique experiences, either homestay or adventure. Travellers should spend more than a day exploring its charming landscapes, especially the challenging Bamboo train.