Since opening up to tourism in the early 1990's, Cambodia has become one of the newest and hottest tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. The Kingdom of Cambodia has a lot to offer: mystical ruins at Angkor Archaeological Park, the Great Tonle Sap lake, its pristine coastline and untouched islands, Khmer culture and tradition, as well as its friendly population. Cambodia is the new Thailand!

Official Name

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

Area

181,035km2. It is bordered to the North by Thailand and Laos, to the East and the South by Vietnam, and to the South and the West by the Gulf of Thailand.

Population

13,124,764 Million (2003 est.) (90-95% Khmers) the balance being ethnic Chinese, Cham, ethnic Vietnamese and hill-tribe people.

Capital City

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

Language

Khmer, secondary languages: English and French.

Religion

95% Theravada Buddhist with the balance being Muslim, Christian and animist.

Food and Drink

Rice and fish are the basic foods enjoyed by Cambodians. Delicious noodle soups are available at cafes. Fresh seafood is plentiful at Sihanoukville. In major cities a wide range of culinary fare is on offer including Chinese, Thai, French, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Middle Eastern.

Climate

Cambodia has four seasons: Nov-Feb, cool/dry. Mar-May, hot/dry. Jun-Aug, hot/wet. Sep-Oct, cool/wet.

Entry Requirements

Visa can be obtained at Royal Embassies and Consulates of Cambodia. A visa on arrival, valid for 30 days, is issued at Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap International Airport. Poi Pet, O'Smach and Cham Yeam at the Cambodia-Thailand international border checkpoint and Bavet, Kaam Samnor at the Cambodia-Vietnam international border checkpoint.

Visa fee: Business visa: US$25, Tourist visa: US$20.

International Checkpoints

• Bavet (Svay Rieng Province)

• Kaam Samnor-Koh Rokar (Kandal-Prey Veng)

• Cham Yeam (Koh Kong Province)

• Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchhey Province)

• O'Smach (Oddar Meanchhey Province)

• Phnom Den (Takeo Province): No Visa on Arrival

• Dong Krolor (Stung Treng Province): No Visa on Arrival

Currency

RIEL (US$1 is approximately 4000 Riels). US dollars are widely accepted.

Time Zone

GMT+7 hours.

Tipping

Tipping isn’t obligatory but is widely practiced in hotels and restaurants in addition to the service charges shown on bills.

Electricity

220v/50Hz.

How to Get There

Most international visitors arrive by air at the airports in either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. These airports are serviced by an increasing number of airlines. A growing number of tourists are also entering overland from Thailand and Vietnam.

International Arrival

International Gateway: Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap International Airport, Sihanoukville Port (Visa on Arrival)

Airport Tax

Internatioanl airport tax: Foreigner is US$25 and Cambodian is US$18.

Domestic airport tax: Foreigner is US$6 and Cambodian is US$5.

Domestic Airports

Cambodia has six airports at Battambang, Mondulkiri, Phnom Penh, Rattanakhiri, Siem Riep and Stung Treng. All flights pass through Phnom Penh International Airport.

Airport Taxi

For visitors entering Cambodia through Phnom Penh International Airport, a taxi into the city will cost US$7 and will take approximately 15 minutes. Most hotels and better guesthouses provide airport pickups for booked guests. A (non-metered) taxi from Siem Reap International Airport into town, 8km away, costs about US$5 and takes 10-15 minutes.

Local Transportation

Cars and mini-buses are readily available for touring the temples at Angkor or for day trips in and around Phnom Penh. The cost of a car and driver is US$20+per day.

Nightlife

Plenty available, but take your own driver or "motodop" (motorbike taxi driver) for the evening.

Telephone

Country code: 855, Phnom Penh code: 23. Phone cards are available, and can be purchased at many outlets. There are also several mobile phone systems. Mobile phones can be rented from booths on the street on a pay-per-call basis.

Accomodation

There are many of each in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Accommodation ranges from guesthouses charging from US$5/night to luxurious 5-star hotels. In Siem Reap there are several small hotels along the road between the airport and the town. (These are peaceful as they're set among rice fields and palms but require a taxi ride for each venture outside).

Opening Hours

Government offices: business hours are from 7:30am-11: 30am and 2:30pm-5pm, Monday to Friday. Banks are open from 8am-3pm Monday to Friday. Markets are open from early morning to late evening, including Sundays and pubic holidays.

Postal service

Airmail to Europe takes 4-5 days, and to the USA 7-10 days

Newspapers

English dailies: The Phnom Penh Post and The Cambodia Daily.

Internet Services

The Internet and E-mail are available in city and all the provinces.

Tourism Information

Ministry of Tourism. Tel.: (855)23 211 593

Emergency Services

There are emergency services in Phnom Penh. Call 119 ambumlance, Call 118 fire truck, Call 117 polices.