A mostly flat and forested land, Cambodia is a small, compact country. But for more than 500 years, Angkor (in northwestern Cambodia) was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which controlled mainland Southeast Asia from the 9th to the 13th century. Thailand and Vietnam encroached upon the kingdom until 1863, when France made Cambodia a protectorate. Independence came in 1953.

The Vietnam War spilled into Cambodia, igniting conflict, and in 1970 a pro-Western military government overthrew longtime ruler Prince Norodom Sihanouk. Five years later Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge guerrillas began brutally enforcing radical communism, killing some two million Cambodians. After intense border clashes, Vietnam invaded and occupied Cambodia from 1978 to 1989, with up to 200,000 troops. In 1991 three rebel groups and the Phnom Penh government signed a UN-sponsored peace accord.

Country Fact*:

Full country name: Kingdom of Cambodia Area: 181,035 sq km Population: 13,388,910 Capital city: Phnom Penh People: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4% Language: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English Religion: Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5% Government : multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy Business Hours: Government offices are officially open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm.  The lunch break and siesta are from 11:00 or 11:30 am to about 2:00 or 2: 30 pm.  Private businesses and shops generally follow the same schedule, although some shops may remain open longer. Banks, ministries and embassies are closed during all public holidays and festivals Major industries: tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles Major trading partners: Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Germany, Canada Internet domain: .kh International dialling code: +855

Major Tourist Cities/Areas Information:

	Phnom Penh		Siem Reap

A mixture of Asian exotica, Indochinese charm and Cambodian hospitality await the visitor to Phnom Penh. Situated at the confluence of three great rivers - known as ‘Chaktomuk’ (four faces) or the ‘Quatre Bras’ (four arms) of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers - Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia and the country’s commercial, economic and political hub of Cambodia. It is also the gateway to an exotic land...the ancient temples of Angkor in the west, the beaches of Sihanoukville and Kep on the southern coast, the ethnic minority people, jungles and wildlife of Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces in the northeast and a wide-open, unspoiled countryside of rice paddies, little villages and lost temples across the country just waiting to be explored.

Phnom Penh City has several cultural and historical attractions including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, Wat Phnom, Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. Other historical sites such as the old capital of Oudong and the Angkorian ruins of Phnom Chisor and Phnom Da lie within an easy day-trip of Phnom Penh. The city also offers a full compliment of visitor services and facilities including accommodations ranging from five-star hotels to budget guesthouses, some of best restaurants and dining in Southeast Asia, a vibrant all-night bar and entertainment scene, and a unique and varied array of shopping opportunities including traditional Asian markets, silk shops, art galleries and stylish Euroasian boutiques.

Nestled between rice paddies and stretched along the Siem Reap River, the small provincial capital of Siem Reap Town serves as the gateway to the millennium-old temple ruins of the Khmer Empire. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srey and the legendary Angkor Wat whose artistic and archaeological significance and visual impact put it in a class with the Pyramids, Machu Pichu and the Taj Mahal. Unlike many other world class monuments, the ruins of Angkor are as yet unspoiled by over-development. This will not be true in a couple of years. Though the major temples are relatively well touristed these days, it is still possible get away from the crowds, to explore the area and discover Angkor. 

Siem Reap Town is where you will stay during your visit to Angkor. The area has been receiving foreign visitors to the temples for over 100 years. The town is actually a cluster of old villages, which originally developed around individual pagodas, and later overlaid with an French colonial-era center. Note the colonial and Chinese style architecture in the town center and around the Old Market. Nowadays, Siem Reap offers a wide range of hotels, restaurants, pubs and shops including several upscale hotels and dozens of budget guesthouses. Often missed are the many opportunities to experience traditional Cambodia: ‘Apsara’ dance performances, craft shops and silk farms, road tours through rice-paddy countryside, boat trips on the great Tonle Sap Lake to fishing villages and bird sanctuary, and much more.

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