About Cambodia

Written by Cambodia-Tourism.org

Thursday, 12 January 2012 01:32

Kngdom of Cambodia (Khmer: ព្រះរាជាណាច្រកម្ពុជា) is monarchy country situated in the Indochinese Peninsula adjacent to the gulf of Thailand with a land area of 181,035 km2. 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. The territory is characterized by a central floodplain surrounded by Cardamom Mountains in the southwest, Dangrek mountains in the north, and the coastal-marine ecosystem in the southwest.

Administratively, Cambodia is divided into 24 provinces-municipalities. The total Cambodian population is about 14 million people (48.6% males and 51.40% females) of which 26% of households are headed by women. Of those about 80.5% of Cambodians live in rural areas. 26.4% of Cambodian households use electricity as their main source of light; 33.7% have a toilet facility within their premises; 47.0% have access to improved water sources (including piped water, tube/pipe well , protected dug well and rain water; 83.6% use firewood as their main type of fuel for cooking.

Cambodia Capital city is Phnom Penh (Population approx 2 Million, 290 square kilometers) and it is considered the center of Industry, Administration, Commerce, and Tourism center.

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Cambodian History

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire, ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country under French protection in 1863 and it became part of French Indochina in 1887.

Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, began a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war.

The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The remaining elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999.

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Geography

The kingdom of Cambodia (ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា) located is south of indochina peninsula and in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Loa, Thailand, Indochina, Myanmar and Vietnam. Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions : the mountains and forests in the North; the vast rice fields of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.

Cambodia's two dominant topographical features are the Mekong River system is almost 5km wide in places, and the Tonlé Sap lake. The Mekong River, which rises in Tibet, flows about 486km through Cambodia before continuing, via southern Vietnam, to the South China Sea. At Phnom Penh, it splits into the Upper River (Tonle Mekong Leu) and the Lower River (The Bassac River or Tonle Mekong Krom).

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Art & Culture

Traditional arts and crafts are abundant in Cambodia. Sculptures, paintings and curving done with great care and attention. One can view such antiquities in market place, shop or museum. The variety of arts and crafts are large in range and include such item as: silver and gold jewellery, wicker were furniture, fine hard wood furniture, silks, marble sculptures, high quality China, leather ware and much more. There is a sharp eye for detail here and much of the products will be intricately carved especially the furniture, sculptures etc.

Unfortunately, much of these works completely ceased to exist during the Khmer Rouge dictatorship. Artisans ware instead forced to work in labour camps, where most of them died painful deaths. Many arts and crafts also purposely perished during that time.Today there has been a revival, due to a great deal of restoration work, which has been initiated by foreign governments.

Now many centers have been established to keep the ancient methods of the craftwork alive. You can see examples of this throughout the country.

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Economic

From 2004 to 2008, the economy grew about 10% per year, driven largely by an expansion in the garment sector, construction, agriculture, and tourism. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodian textile producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced countries such as China, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.

The garment industry currently employs more than 320,000 people and contributes more than 85% of Cambodia's exports. In 2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue stream for the government if commercial extraction begins. Mining also is attracting significant investor interest, particularly in the northern parts of the country, and the government has said opportunities exist for mining bauxite, gold, iron and gems.

In 2006, a US-Cambodia bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) was signed and several rounds of discussions have been held since 2007. The tourism industry has continued to grow rapidly, with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year in 2007-08, however, economic troubles abroad will dampen growth in 2009. Rubber exports declined more than 15% in 2008 due to falling world market prices.

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Language

Khmer, secondary languages: English and French. The official Cambodian language, known in English as Khmer, belongs to the Eastern Mon-Khmer group of the Mon-Khmer language family. Employing a script which (like Thai and Burmese) is believed to have evolved from southern Indian Brahmi, Khmer is one of the few non-tonal languages in South East Asia.

Centuries of close contact between Thailand and Cambodia has resulted in a considerable amount of borrowing between the two languages, both at the lexical and syntactical levels. French are still spoken by the older generation, but the use of English is rapidly becoming widespread throughout the country and is expected to increase because it is the language employed within the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

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Populations

95% Khmer and the balance being ethnic Chinese, Cham, ethnic Vietnamese and hill-tribe people. Approximately 95% of the Cambodian population follows Therevada or Hinayana Buddhism, though this is strongly overlaid with ancestor-worship and animist practices. It was estimated that there are 4,330 Theravada Buddhist pagodas and 88 Mahayana temples in Cambodia.

The Cambodian hill tribes mainly inhabit the isolated north-east mountainous regions of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces, and the mountainous areas of Koh Kong Province in the south-west. Another 5% of population is including Vietnam and Cham (Muslims). The Christian constitutes approximately 2% of Cambodia's population.

Other Useful Tourist Information

International Gateway

Phnom Penh International Airport : Where your flight arrive or departure
Siem Reap International Airport
Sihanoukville (Kampong Som) Port

Visas & Airport Tax Information

Visas can be obtained at Royal Embassies and Consulates of Cambodia. Visa on arrival: valid for 30 days, is issued at Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap International Airport and most international border crossing. Visa fee: Business visa: USD25, Tourist visa: USD20. New Visa You can Obtain Online!

International Airport: (Foreigner: USD25, Cambodian: USD18), Domestic: (Foreigner: 6USD, Cambodian: 5USD)

International Border Checkpoints

Bavet (Svay Rieng Province)
O'Smach (Oddar Meanchhey Province)
Kaam Samnor-Koh Rokar (Kandal-Prey Veng)
Cham Yeam (Koh Kong Province)
Poipet (Banteay Meanchhey Province)
Phnom Den (Takeo Province)
Dong Krolor (Stung Treng Province)

Transport From the Airport

Phnom Penh International Airport: When you arrive, taxis and motorcycle taxis (motodub in Khmer) can be hired just outside the arrival lobby. There are no meter taxis. Taxis cost $7.00 for the 30-50 minute ride into the city center. Cheaper, slower and less comfortable, motorcycle taxis can be hired for $2 into town. A taxi to the airport from town costs $5 - $7. Shared taxi for $2/person.

Siem Reap Airport: The airport is 6km from SiemReap town. Outside the terminal is a ticket booth for registered taxis into town. Independent taxis and motorcycles wait just outside the airport. The price is the same for both: motorcycles are $1 and cars are $5 into town. Most hotels offer free transportation from the airport but you must notify them in advance of your arrival.

Neighboring Countries

1) Thailand - north and west,
2) Lao P.D.R. - north
3) Vietnam - east and south

Electricity

The electric current is 220 volt AC (50 cycles). Power is in short supply in Cambodia and power cuts are frequent. Most hotels and restaurants have their own generators, but in rural areas you can expect to be without electricity for long periods everyday. Many different types of plugs and sockets are in use. Travelers with electric shavers, hair dryers, tape recorders and other appliances should carry a plug adapter kit. The better hotels will make

Tap water

Tap water is clean but drinking from it directly should be avoided. Bottled water is recommended

Clothing

Light, cool clothes are sensible and a jacket is needed for formal meetings and dining in top restaurants. Shorts (except knee length walking shorts), sleeveless shirts, tank tops and other beach-style attire are considered inappropriate dress when not actually at the beach or in a resort area.

Weights & Measures

Cambodia uses the metric system. For those unaccustomed to this system, The metric system is used throughout Cambodia. Numerals on vehicle speed ometers, highway markers and speed limits all indicate kilometers.

Business Hours

Most commercial concerns in Phnom Penh operate on a five-day week, usually from 8 am to 5 pm. Many stores open seven days a week from 7 am to 10 pm. Government offices are generally open between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm with a noon to 1 pm lunch break, Monday to Friday except on public holidays. Banks are open Mondays to Fridays from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm except on public holidays.

Postal Services

Cambodia's mail service is reliable and efficient. Major hotels provide basic postal services on their premises. Provincial post offices are usually open from 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Letters and parcels setn further a field than Asia can take up to two or three weeks to reach their destination.

International Roaming Mobile Phone

A Subscriber Identity Module Card (SIM Card) is now available for Cambodian and foreign customers who are traveling around for work or pleasure. The SIM Card must be used in conjunction with a Digital GSM mobile phone within the 900-MHz range or a Digital PCN mobile phone within the 1800-MHz range. Most hotels in Phnom Penh will allow you to make local calls free of charge. Numbers starting with 011, 012, 015, 017 or 108 are mobile phone numbers. If you need to get connected to a mobile network. you have to know codes for all provinces.

Fax and E-mail

All of Cambodia's leading hotels offer facsimile (fax) and e-mail services. Numerous private businesses offer such facilities, most often in conjunction with translation services.

Internet Services

Cambodia has been expanding its information service for residents and tourists alike through the Internet system. Services are now available at Cambodia's leading hotels and at the many " cybercafes " that are growwing up in all major tourist destinations in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap.