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BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CAMBODIA
ACCOMODATION
TRANSPORTATION
COST & MONEY
VISA
ETIQUETTE
SIGHT SEEING GUIDELINE
SAFETY TIPS
PACKING TIPS
1. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CAMBODIA
Kampuchea (Cambodia) got its name by the Khmer Empire,
who ruled Cambodia from year 802 to 1431, the biggest
legacy was to build Ankor Wat in western Cambodia, the
largest religious structure in the world. The Ankor Wat was
built by Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century
in Yasodharapura (Ankor) and was initially built as a Hindu
temple and dedicated to the God Vishnu, it became Buddhist
only subsequent. Theravada Buddhism has been the
Cambodian state religion since the 13th century. The Khmer
Empire ruled over Cambodia and what today is Southern
Vietnam, Laos and large parts of Thailand.
The following centuries until 1863 is called the dark ages of Cambodia, as the centuries were a
period of continued decline and territorial loss. Only highlight in the period happened when the
Cambodian Kings promoted trade with other parts of Asia.
Then the French showed up in 1963 and King Norodom,
the eldest son of King Ang Duong who ruled on behalf of
Siam, signed an agreement with the French to establish a
protectorate over his kingdom. In 1884 the French
authorities showed guns and forced King Norodom to sign
a treaty which consolidated their position in Cambodia by
forcing the King to give up control of public revenue,
customs taxes and public works. For the remainder of his
rule Norodom was a puppet of the French, who despite
Norodom protest moved the capital from Oudong to Phonm Penh.
After the fall of France in 1940 in World War II, Cambodia
and the rest of French Indochina were ruled by the Axispuppet Vichy France government and despite an invasion of
French Indochina, Japan allowed French colonial officials to
remain in their colonies under Japanese supervision. After
the war the Free French, under General Charles de Gaulle,
were determined to recover control over Cambodia, however
Cambodia gained its independence in 1953 after a long
struggle by King Sihanouk and also the independence
movement Khmer Issarak. King Sihanouk who is a hero in
the eyes of the Cambodian people abdicated in 2004 and died in 2012. 15 October, the date of his
death is now a national holiday.
Throughout the 1960s, domestic Cambodian politics became polarized. Opposition to the
government grew within the middle class and leftists most notable Saloth Sar (later known as Pol
Pot) led an insurgency under the clandestine Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK). Sihanouk
called these insurgents the Khmer Rouge.
While on a visit in Beijing in 1970 Sihanouk was ousted by a military coup led by Prime Minister
General Lon Nol and Prince Sisowath Sirik Matak and allegedly also with the help of CIA. On October
9, the Cambodian monarchy was abolished, and the country was renamed the Khmer Republic.
Later same year Khmer Rouge tried to take power from Khmer Republic with the help of North
Vietnam (who in fact was deceived into helping), they did not initially succeed, however they gained
control of 25% of Cambodia.
The Khmer Rouge insurgency inside Cambodia continued
to grow, aided by supplies and military support from North
Vietnam. In 1975 the Khmer Republic collapsed after a
battle that lasted 117 days and Democratic Kampuchea
was formed. Immediately after its victory, the Democratic
Kampuchea headed by Pol Pot ordered the evacuation of
all cities and towns, sending the entire urban population
into the countryside to work as farmers. However its
attempts at agricultural reform led to widespread famine,
while its insistence on absolute self-sufficiency, even in
the supply of medicine, led to the death of thousands from
treatable diseases such as malaria. Arbitrary executions and torture carried out by its cadres against
perceived subversive elements are considered to have constituted genocide. Modern research has
located 20,000 mass graves from the Khmer Rouge era all over Cambodia and the estimated death
toll between 740,000 and 3,000,000, most commonly between 1.4 million and 2.2 million.
The foundation of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (KUFNS) took place in 1978
in Vietnam by Cambodians, who were determined to overthrow Pol Pot's government. And in 1979
the Vietnamese army and the KUFNS invaded Cambodia, Pol Pot’s regime was over and the new
People's Republic of Kampuchea was established.
During the times of domestic disputes and wars, tourism in
Cambodia has not been considered a safe option. However
from 2004 to 2013 Cambodian tourist numbers has grown
from 1 million to 4 million. Cambodia is still a green field for
tourism in comparison with the neighbor Thailand, yet
Cambodia has a long history, fantastic scenery and rich
culture and it is lives up to its slogan “Kingdom of Wonder”.
Tourism is now one of the most important sectors in
Cambodia's economy.
Population: 15 million
Capital City: Phnom Penh
People: 4 major ethnic groups
Language: Khmer
Currency: Cambodian riel (KHR)
Time Zone: GMT +7 Hours
International Dialing Code: +855
2. ACCOMODATION
Hotel Classifications
Accommodation is available in all categories and for all budgets. Any difference between
"guesthouse", "hotel" and "resort" often exists in name only, but legally speaking, a guesthouse
cannot have more than 16 rooms. When selecting accommodation, we recommend you make a
choice based on a combination of duration of stay, budget and choice of comfort level.
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Luxury: Mainly 5-star Hotels and Resorts in
Cambodia meeting International standards
o
Deluxe: High quality 4-star Hotels providing
comfortable facilities and services
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Mid-range: Mainly 3-star Hotels with good facilities
and services
o
Budget: 2-star Hotels and Guesthouses but with
acceptable facilities and services
3. TRANSPORTATION
There are only three international airports in Cambodia –
Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. Fortunately,
these three airports cover the regions attracting the most
foreign visitors. Taking domestic flights to more remote
destinations shall be given a second thought. Flights are
frequently cancelled without warning if the weather is bad
or if not enough tickets have been sold.
Cambodia’s train rail system is one of the most notorious
in Asia. There are no longer passenger services, but it may
be possible to negotiate a ride on a freight train if you are
feeling really masochistic. The French colonial government built the first train line in Cambodia called
the Line and today there are 612 km rail line in Cambodia in total, now also with a Southern Line.
Northern line takes you from Phnom Penh - Battambang - Poi Pet, and the Southern Line takes you
from Phnom Penh - Kep - Sihanoukville.
If you require comfort and some minimum measure of
punctuality, then you better opt for the private operators
providing transport by air conditioned buses. The range of
road transport is extensive in Cambodia. On sealed roads,
large air-conditioned buses are the best choice. Elsewhere
in the country, a pick-up truck, share taxi or minibus is the
way to go.
Travelling within cities is fastest done using motorcycle
taxis, cyclos or lorry (No, not a big truck, but the Cambodian
name for a local train made from wood and powered by a
motorcycle). Always agree on the price before the journey starts. Note that some drivers will consider
1 US$ as being equivalent to 5,000 riel, whereas the official exchange rate is around 4,000.
Many tourists rent a motorcycle or bicycle to get around at their own leisure, but renting a car without
driver is not recommended.
Cambodia’s 1900km of navigable waterways are a key element in the country’s transportation
system, particularly given the state of many roads and the railways. Traditionally the most popular
boat services with foreigners are those that run between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The express
services do the trip in as little as five hours, but the boats between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap are
horrendously overcrowded and foreigners are charged almost twice the price of Khmers for the
‘privilege’ of sitting on the roof. The small boat between Siem Reap and Battambang is more
rewarding, as the river scenery is truly memorable.
4. COST & MONEY
Costs
As anywhere else, the cost of travel depends on style of travel and level of comfort required. One
can scrimp by on USD 15 per day, but a budget of USD 40 per day is much more realistic.
Outside of tourist centers, tiny rooms can be rented for USD 3
per night while a bowl of noodle soup is around USD Midrange accommodation costs USD 30-60 per night Deluxe 4
star for USD 60-100, but five star accommodations are also
available for 100 USD up
Restaurant meals cost under USD 5 for even the most
elaborate Cambodian, Lao, Thai or Vietnamese dishes, but
Western food is more expensive.
Foreigners are often overcharged, especially when being too
interested in local souvenirs and occasionally also in restaurants.
Taxi prices are in most cases increased several times the local price. However, don’t assume that
everyone is trying to rip you off, just watch out.
Tipping
Tipping is not a tradition, but it is very welcome and appreciated. A staff in a hotel earns very little,
so a small tip of just USD 1 is significant for the staff.
Some hotels and restaurants may charge a service charge, but this goes straight to the owners and
not to the staff. If you stay a couple of days in the same hotel, it is a good idea to tip well in the start.
That way you will ensure extra attention will be given to your room as a token of appreciation.
You should also consider tipping drivers if you think they
have done a good job and consider making a small
donation to a vat (temple) especially if a monk has shown
you the place.
Bargaining
If you like to shop in local markets, shops, and stalls, then
always bargain with a smile, as keeping up appearances
and maintaining face are important parts of the
negotiation. In some cases you will be able to get a 50%
discount or more, at other times this may only be 10%.
The trick is to offer a price and if that price is not accepted, then you leave. If the vendor calls you
back you know the price is too low but within an acceptable range. Once the money is accepted, the
deal is done. There is no money-back guarantee. In many cases the bargain is the most fun part of
the deal, so don’t get stressed if others got it for less. Learn from experience and be happy paying
the price that was right for you.
Bank Notes
The Cambodian currency is the riel, which is nonconvertible and the approximate exchange rate is USD 1=
4,000 riel. The notes in common circulation are 1000, 2000,
20,000 and 100,000 riel.
US$ notes are widely accepted.
There are many ATMs at major tourist destinations, but
surcharges apply. Note that the use of ATMs relies of
network connections, computer systems, and electricity
supply all being up to scratch. This is not always the case,
so travelers cannot rely on only credit cards. Always bring
cash as well.
Credit Cards
Most credit cards are accepted in some shops and hotels in the main tourist destinations, but credit
cards are not widely accepted. Moreover, a commission charge on every transaction will most often
apply, so ask about this before using your credit card as this charge can be quite hefty.
5. VISA
Tourist Visa can be applied for in advance or on arrival,
all nationalities can apply on arrival and tourist visa for a
maximum stay of 30 days, E-Visa is available to all with
few exceptions mainly African and Middle East countries.
Extensions are possible at extra cost.
http://evisa.mfaic.gov.kh/Map.aspx
Requesters of E-Visa can only enter at Phnom Penh and
Siem Reap airports and a few border crossings.
Requirements for Visa on arrival:
- 1 passport photo.
- Passport contains at least one unused visa page.
- Fee: USD 20 for tourists
- Passport is valid at least another 30 days
6. ETIQUETTE
The People
Cambodians are some of the friendliest and nicest people in
Southeast Asia – they will undoubtedly be one of the
highlights of any visit. The basic rules of interaction are: Dress
conservatively when visiting temples, respect monks, and
take your shoes off before entering temple buildings and
private houses.
Things in Cambodia tend to move at a snail’s pace and rarely
as scheduled, so expect the unexpected.
Helpful Hints
Keep enough money in your pocket but don’t show the money it in the public place. Keep the rest of
your money on your body. Remember never to count your money when you’re standing at ATM, put
it in your wallet and check it in a safe place later.
7. SIGHT SEEING GUIDELINE
Cambodia is most populated in Phnom Penh, Battambang, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap, the
Cambodian countryside is very sparsely populated and not many high class hotel accommodation
is to be found outside those cities.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Tonlé Sap and
Mekong River. Currently there are around 2.5 million people living in Phnom Penh. Temperatures
range from 23 degrees to 32 degrees Celsius all year.
Once known as the "Pearl of Asia," it was considered one of the loveliest French-built cities in
Indochina in the 1920s. Phnom Penh has been the national
capital since French colonization of Cambodia.
Visitors to Phnom Penh are charmed by the town’s lovely
design and historic buildings. The Mekong River separates
the town and along the river front you find most historic
attractions and best restaurants.
The most popular attraction of Phnom Penh is The Killing
Fields (Choeung Ek), located 15km southwest of the city.
They offer a recorded guided tour with headset and a visit
will last around 2-3 hours. This place is 1 of the 20,000 mass graves from the period of the Khmer
Rouge.
On the way back towards town from The Killing Fields you
find the second most popular attraction which is the prison
where interrogation and torture took place. Tuol Sleng
Genocide Museum was originally a school and was rebuilt to
serve as one of the 150 execution centers in Cambodia. It is
expected that around 20,000 people was killed after being
tortured here.
After this tragic sightseeing focus can be taken on to the
cultural scene, where Phnom Penh have a show at Plae
Pakaa (fruitful) located near the National museum, there you
can see fantastic shows with cultural singing and dancing. Only available from June to August.
A bit outside town you find the Phnom Chisor Temple, where you have tremendous views from the
133m tall hill where the ancient Khmer temple is located - Phnom Chisor is located 42 km south of
Phnom Penh. In the same area you find Phnom Tamao Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Center where you
can get up close with around a 1000 amimals.
Battambang
Battambang is the second biggest town in Cambodia with a population of around 200,000 people.
The city is situated by the Sangkae River, a tranquil, small body of water that winds its way through
Battambang Province providing its nice picturesque setting. Battambang is well known for being the
leading rice-producing province of the country. Temperatures in the city range from 21 to 32 degrees
Celsius.
Battambang Bat Caves are well worth a visit, we recommend that you go to the caves at dusk to see
the thousands upon thousands of bats leaving the cave for around 1 hour continuously, it is like
seeing dense smoke. The caves are located at Phnom Sampeu near Wat Banan. Phnom Sampeu
is a hill with the Killing Caves of the Khmer Rouge you also find a few others caves adorned with
Buddhist statues, and a monastery with two Buddhist Stupas on the hilltop. Entry is USD 3. This trip
will involve about 1 hour hiking and climbing of the hill, but a fantastic trip.
The world famous bamboo train is a must when visiting Battambang. It's not a life-changing
experience, but it's worth the USD 5 that you'll have to pay. The rails are a bit shoddy. It's rumored
the train's going to be discontinued sometime soon, but this is old-school Cambodia at its finest.
At evening time you can experience the fantastic
Battambang Circus (Phare Ponleu Selpak) PPS is an
association aiming to support the community with
development, and are doing this through art and circus. A
fantastic show that should not be missed.
Outside town you find many interesting temples Wat
Banan, Wat Baydamram, Wat Ek Phnom and Wat
Samraong Knong are the most famous and all well worth a
visit.
Easiest way to travel to Battambang is by road or river, a boat from Siem Reap leaves daily at 7 am,
and the journey can take 4-12 hours depending on the time of year, by bus the trip takes 5 hours
from Phnom Penh and 4 hours from Siem Reap.
Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the third largest city in Cambodia with around 150,000 people living there. Siem Reap
is the gateway to Ankor region where you find the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia, namely
Ankor Wat. Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and
around the Old Market. In the city, there are museums, traditional Apsara dance performances,
Cambodian cultural village, souvenir and handycraft shops, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside,
fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake. Temperatures in the city is from 23 to
32 degrees Celsius all year.
Angkor Wat, means "City of Temples", and this is no
understatement. This magnificent building as very
impressive to see and explore. Ankor Wat is printed on the
national flag, but is only one of many temples in the Ankor
regions that deserves a visit. Most notable are Angkor Thom
(The walled city of Jayavarman VII), Bayon (The Temple of
Faces at the center of Angkor Thom), Banteay Srey (Citadel
of Women. Some of the most beautiful carvings at Angkor),
Ta Prohm (The jungle temple.Sprawling monastic-complex,
much of the original jungle overgrowth left in place. Classic
'giant tree on temple' shots) and Phnom Bakheng (The
traditional sunset hill, though very over-touristed at sunset these days) But Ankor has much more on
offer, enough to spend a whole week to see just half of all.The town is located 7 km from the Siem
Reap-Angkor International Airport, Angkor is located about 20 minutes to the north, by car or
motorbike, from central Siem Reap. Going there by tuktuk is a good option, but bicycle is also a good
option.
Sihanoukville is a port city and growing urban center located 185 kilometres southwest of Phnom
Penh, it is also the fourth biggest city with around 100,000 people living there. Temperatures range
from 24 to 34 degrees Celsius. The city is named after former king Norodom Sihanouk.
During the Vietnam War the port became an intensive military
facility, first in the service of National Front for the Liberation
of South Vietnam and after 1970, under the government of
Lon Nol, at the service of the United States. Sihanoukville
was the place of the last official battle of the United States
army in the Vietnam War, although the incident took place
outside Vietnam. The Mayaguez incident of 12–15 May
1975 involved US forces and the Khmer Rouge.
Today Sihanoukville is known for its untouched beaches and
surrounding tropical islands. A small archipelago is embedded
by the Sihanoukville Bahia off its south and west coast. North to south are Victory Beach, Lamherkay
Beach, Koh Pos Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Serendipity Beach, Ochheuteal Beach
and Otres Beach. The most popular beaches are Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory.
Water taxis are available to travel to the nearby islands for
diving, snorkeling, and game fishing.
There are more than a dozen islands off the coast of
Sihanoukville, most popular are Bamboo Island (Koh
Russei), Koh Rong Samlon and Koh Rong.
The Sihanoukville International Airport is located 18
kilometres away from Sihanoukville and The bus station is
located outside of the center of the town, a journet to
Phnom Penh takes 3-5 hours.
When to go to Cambodia
Cambodia's dry season lasts from October to April, when the dry north-east monsoon arrives,
characterized by hot wind blowing across the entire country. Whilst November to January are quite
cool with temperatures around 23 Degrees. Cambodia's wet season comes courtesy of the
southwest monsoon and lasts from May to October, bringing with it almost 75% of Cambodia's
annual rainfall.
SAFETY TIPS
Cambodia is a very safe country with friendly people and tranquil life pace. However, in order to
enjoy your holiday the most, consider the following safety tips.
Get a good mosquito net, this will help to protect you from mosquitos’ bites, dangerous malaria and
dengue fever. A net also helps preventing cockroaches and other insects
Watch out for local thieves and pickpockets, especially
at the crowded places, they usually would target foreign
tourists displaying valuables
Purchase emergency medical insurance before
traveling to gain access to high quality treatment
facilities if needed.
Before dialing Cambodian Emergency Numbers you
need to dial the country code which is +855. There are
various area codes in Cambodia. Thus, you need to dial
the country code + area code + emergency number. Are code for Phnom Penh (0)23, Battambang
(0)53, Siem Reap (0)63 and Sihanoukville is (0)34.
Emergency numbers of Cambodia:
o
o
o
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Police: 117
Tourist police: +885 97 778 0002
Fire: 118
Ambulance: 119
PACKING TIPS
1.
Plan on bringing home more than you brought to the country. Cambodia is a country where
you can find amazing deals and beautiful exotic goods. Save extra space in your suitcase for
your haul.
2.
Pack at least one pair of comfortable shoes. Travel within Cambodia requires more walking
than you may expect, so you'll be thankful you packed athletic shoes instead of heels or dress
shoes.
3.
Fill the space left with snack staples. This is especially for those with weak stomachs. Sealed,
pre-packaged foods from home can curb cravings during active afternoons of travel and
sightseeing, and can ease a stomach upset by foreign foods.
4.
Pack warm clothing or scarf for Cambodia as early morning can be chilly, also bring swim wear
as there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy swimming pools, tubing on rivers or a bath under
a waterfall, when traveling in Cambodia.
5.
Also prepare to bring a small first-aid kit if you are the adventurous outdoor type, however all
of our hotels have medical emergency kits.
6.
Don’t forget a flashlight or a headlamp (for a cave visit or sudden power cuts), sun protection,
headwear, mosquito spray and sunscreen for protection especially during the summer months
from May to September.