About Cambodia

Geography

Cambodia

The Kingdom of Cambodia, formerlyKampuchea, is a Southeast Asian nation that borders Thailand,Laos, Vietnam, and the Gulf of Thailand. The capital city is Phnom Penh.
Cambodia Map Situated in the southwest of the Indochinese peninsula, Cambodia occupies a total area of 181,035 square kilometers and borders Thailand to the west and northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. Cambodia’s terrain consists mainly of low plains, with mountains to the southwest and north. Two dominant physicalfeatures of Cambodiaare the Mekong River, which runs from north to south of the country,and the Tonlé Sap Lake.Natural resources includeoil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential.

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The wet season in Cambodia lasts from May to October, brought by the southwest monsoon, which delivers about 75% of the yearly rainfall. It often rains heavily for a few hours, especially from July to September, though all‑day rain can happen.

Cambodia’s dry season lasts from October to April. During this time, the northeast monsoon brings dry, hot, and dusty weather.The months from November to January are cooler, but by April it becomesvery hot.

*Note: Weather in November
Siem Reap Conditions is characterized by warm temperatures and moderate rainfall. Daytime highs typically reach 32°C (89.6°F), while evening temperatures drop to around 24°C (75.2°F), offering more comfortable conditions after sunset. Rainfall averages 66 mm for the month, with about six days of light showers.

Culture

Cambodian culture and tradition have had a rich varied history dating back many centuries. Over the years, the people of Cambodiadeveloped a set of uniquetradition from the syncretism of indigenous Buddhism and Hinduism. Cambodians have been raised to respect their culture and are very traditional in their way of life. Cambodians traditionally greet with a Sampeah, which involves pressing the palms together before the chest with a slight bow and greeting with a polite ‘Chumreap Suor’. Customarily, the higher the hands are held and the lower the bow, the more respect is conveyed.

There are many classical dance forms in Cambodia, of which a highly stylized art form was once confined mainly to the courts of the royal palace and performed mainly by females. Known formally in Khmer as Robam Apsara, the dancersof this classical form are often referred to as Apsara dancers. This dance form was first introduced to foreign countries and best known during the 1960s as the Khmer
Royal Ballet. The first royal ballerina was Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, a daughter of King Norodom Sihanouk.

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Food

Cambodian cuisine is a traditional art passed down through generations, known for its rich flavours and natural ingredients. A key element is kroeung, a fragrant spice paste made from spices like cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and turmeric, blended with local ingredients such as galangal, lemongrass, garlic, and kaffir lime leaves. Rice is central to nearly every meal, accompanied by curries, soups, and stir-fries. Cambodia’s unique flavours also come from pra-hok (fermented fish paste) and kapi (fermented prawn paste), both essential to many dishes.

A typical meal includes rice and several dishes balancing sweet, sour, salty, and bitter notes, often with soup served alongside. Chili is added individually, allowing each diner to tailor the heat to their taste.

Besides traditional Khmer cuisine, Cambodia also offers a wide variety of international food options, including European, Chinese, Japanese………., Vegetarians option and Halal dishes. You’ll find these in major cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, especially in tourist areas and popular restaurants.

Currency

The Cambodian Riel is the national currency. However, USD is widely accepted and generally preferred especially when the cost of an item is substantially large since the exchange rate floats around 4000 riel to one US dollar.
Nonetheless, one could enjoy better value for your money when using the Riel. When making a purchase in USD, you will most likely receive your change in Riel.

Online Payment

The Bakong Tourists App is a digital payment application developed by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) specifically for international tourists visiting Cambodia. It allows tourists to make digital payments usingtheir mobile phones, enablingthem to pay for goodsand services using KHQR codes, and even link their Visa cards to the app for convenient top-ups and payments. The app also facilitates sending and receiving money, currency exchange, and tracking transaction history.

Download: Bakong Tourists – Apps on Google Play
Here is a video: How to pay with BakongTourists app.

Cambodia languages

Khmer is the officiallanguage of Cambodia. The language is derived from the Mon-Khmer (Austro- Asiatic) language family. It is renowned for being one with the largest set of alphabets.consisting 33 consonants, 23 vowels and 12 independent vowels.

English is widely spoken and understood in most parts of the country. French is the second language after English;most elderly Cambodians speak French. Chineselanguage is also widely spoken; Cambodian Ethnic Chinese population has a good dialect mix of Teochew and Cantonese.

Transportation in Cambodia

Cambodia offersa range of public and private transport options, including buses,trains, taxis, ride-hailing apps, and unique local vehicles. Major cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have limitedpublic transport, with tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis widely used.

Public Transport: Phnom Penh operates city buses on multiple routes.
Transportation Apps: In Siem Reap, guests can enjoy a stress-free travel experience by using ride-hailing apps that offer transparent pricing and reliable service without the need for intensebargaining

Grab: The leading ride‑hailing app for taxis, motorbikes, and tuk‑tuks.
(download via this link: https://apps.apple.com/kh/app/grab-driver-app-for-partners/id1257641454)

PassApp: Popular local app for tuk‑tuks and taxis. (download via this link: https://apps.apple.com/kh/app/passapp- taxi-and-delivery/id1535615747)

WOWNOW: Growing “Super App” in Cambodia offering food delivery, online shopping, and taxi booking, including electric‑car rides.
(download via this link: https://apps.apple.com/kh/app/wownow- driver/id6736985072)

Electricity in Cambodia

In Cambodia, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type A, type C and type G are used. the standard voltage is 230V at a frequency of 50Hz.

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Attractive Tourist Destination

Tatay Waterfall: The scenic beauty of the Tatay Waterfalls draws many travelers to Koh Kong. Here, visitors may climb up to the individual small falls and take a refreshing dip in the crystal clear waters. Aside from swimming, one may also pack a lunch and picnic on the big rocks surrounding the falls. A beautiful, serene escape, the Tatay Waterfallsare not to be missed.

Preah Vihear: Dedicated to Shiva, this temple is unusual among Khmer temples in being constructed along a long north-south axis rather than having the conventional rectangular plan with orientation toward the east. However, it is believedto have been built to serve the samepurpose as a stylised representation of
Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Preah Vihear is truly an outstanding masterpiece of Khmer architecture; very ‘pure’ both in plan and in the detail of its decoration. The temple has four levels and four courtyards which comprise of five Gopuras (entrance pavilions). The third level was the Palace Building.

Yeak Laom Lake: Yeak Laom Lake is located about 5 kilometers southeast of central Banlung. This beautiful lake is a crater formed after a volcaniceruption over 4000 years ago; the diameter of this lake is about 800 metersand it bears about 50 meters of clear water. A path surrounds the lake, providing a leisurely track for trekking.A walk
aroundthe lake takes around forty minutes. Midwayalong the track, at the westernendof the lake, there is a small visitor center which exhibits and sells local handicrafts such as musical instruments, crossbows, baskets, scarvesand handbags made from hand-woven cloth.

Phnom Sompov: Phnom Sampov is a natural resort located along the national road 57 (former national road 10), in Phnom Sampov commune, Banan district.This striking limestone mountain is about
12 Km from the town center of Battambang in the direction of Pailin. Locally, it is an important religious site known throughout the country.Daily,
hundreds of people including locals from other provinces and foreign tourists wait patiently to watch the flocks of Bats break from their cave, cheering as they make their appearance. These Bats are protected and kept safe by the local authorities; their resident cave is maintained by staff appointed solely to look after and clear the droppings in the cave.

Koh Rong Island
It is situated west of the provincial coast. It offers the fantastic strand of beach on its southwest, stretching about 5km. It has freshwater resources on the island and a bustling fishing community with basic supplies including fresh water, fish and crab.

Kampi Dolphin Site
Kampi is the name of a small villagesituated at the east bank of theMekong River, 15km north of Kratie on the old National Road
7. Kampi is the best place in Cambodia to see the rare Mekong River Dolphin. Kampi Dolphin pool is the most inhabited dolpin pool in the MekongRiver with about20 dolphins. Kampi Dolphin Site was established in 1999 to welcomeinternational and local tourists and for scientific researchers to study the Mekong River Dolphin.

Bousra Waterfall
The Bousra Waterfall is conveniently located-in Pech Chenda District, 43 kilometers from Sen Monorom. It can be accessed by red soil road. The waterfall is one of the most interesting places for keen tourists. It is divided into three stages.