General Information of Cambodia
The Kingdom of Cambodia is one of the Southeast Asian countries, located in Indochina Peninsula and adjasent to Viet Nam, Thailand and Laos. Capital: Phnom Penh. 90% of the people is Khmer (Cambodian) despite bordering on the neighbor countries. Official language is Khmer (Cambodian).
The Cambodians, who are admitted to be Khmers, descendants of Angkor Empire which ruled most of Indochina Peninsula (Southeast countries) between the 9th and 13th centuries . From 14th century, the empire was weakened by the attacks of Thailand and Champ (Central part of present Viet Nam) to be in the long period of decline. In 1884 the king of the empire placed his nation under French protection. In 1953 Cambodia gained full independence from France. In 1970 Sihanouk regime was overthrown, the royalism was abolished and the Khmer Republic was established. In 1975 Communist Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh after 5-year inland struggle. At least 1.5million Cambodians were killed during the Khmer Rouge administration under Pol Pot. In 1979 Vietnamese invasion relegated the Khmer Rouge to the countryside and backed up pro-Viet Nam Phnom Penh Regime.
After the civil war between the Phnom Penh regime and the National Government of Cambodia for about 12 years, the 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy under a coalition government. In the same year kingship was restored. Elections in July 2003 were relatively peaceful through confusion of factional fighting of political parties in 1990s, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed.
| Name of the Country : |
Kingdom of Cambodia |
| Capital City : |
Phnom Penh (PHN) |
| Heritage Site : |
Siem Reap (REP) |
| International Airports : |
PHN, REP |
| Mother language : |
Khmer |
| Business language : |
English, French and Japanese (Siem Reap only) |
| Ethnics Group : |
Khmer (90%), Vietnamese (5%), Chinese (1%),Cham and several ethno-linguistic minority group (4%) |
| Religion : |
Theravada Buddhism (97%), Islam, Christianity, Animism, Caodaism |
| Population of Cambodia : |
13.1 million (2001 est.) |
| Population of Siem Reap : |
0.8 million (2001 est.) |
| Land Area of Cambodia : |
181,035 km3 |
| Land Area of Siem Reap : |
10,299 km3 |
| Climate : |
Tropics monsoon (4 seasons) * C-cool, H-hot, D-dry, W-wet C/ D (Nov.-Feb.), H/ D (Mar.-May),
H/ W (Jun.-Aug.), C/ W (Sep.-Oct.) |
| Currency : |
Riel (US$1 = 4000R)
* US dollars are as commonly used as Riel. |
| Voltage : |
220v/ 50Hz *Stabilizer is available in some hotels and guest houses. |
| Plug: |
A- C type multiple or SE type |
| VTR : |
PAL *Multi system VTR is available some hotels and guesthouses. |
| Time : |
+ 7 hours |
| Business Hours : |
7:30-11:30/ 14:00-17:00
(Monday morning to Saturday afternoon) |
| Weights and measures : |
The metric system |
| Gratuity : |
Basically unnecessary |
| Water : |
Hard water *(Abstain from un-boiled running water) |
| Mineral water : |
Mineral water is available (around 1000 Riel) |
| Public phone : |
Telephone boxes are available on street. |
| Internet : |
Available |
| Angkor Wat Admission : |
US$ 20.00/ one day, US$ 40.00/ three day, US$ 60.00/ seven day Applicants have an obligation to pay Entrance fee |
Transportation
| By airplane |
| Visas : |
You can get Cambodian visa at Embassy of Cambodia in your country, or apply online!
Visas at the airport/ border
– US$ 20.00 (tourist/ 1 month) with 2 picture (4×6)
– US$ 25.00 (business/ 1month) with 2 picture (4×6) |
| Airport Departure Tax : |
US$6.00 (Domestic) or US$25.00 (International) |
| To downtown/ Airport : |
US$ 1.00 by Motorcycle taxis (Motodop)US$5.00 by Car taxis (5 min.) |
| By ferry |
| Ferry PHN-REP-PHN : |
US$ 15.00-35.00 (Dep. AM 7:00- / 5-6 h)
To Downtown/ Ferry Dock: US$ 1.00-2.00 by Motorcycle taxi (Motodop)
US$ 4.00-5.00 by Car taxi (15 min.) |
| By bus |
| Bus from/ to PHN: |
US$ 4.00-5.00 (Dep. AM 6-7:00/ 7-8 h) |
| Bus from/ to Poipet : |
US$ 3.00-4.00 (Dep. AM 6-7:00/ 3-4 h) |
| Bus from/ to Bangkok : |
US$ 10.00 (Dep. AM 6-7:00/ 10 h transfer at Poipet) |
| The other vehicles |
| Pick up truck from/ to PHN: |
US$ 3.00-7.00 (Dep. AM 4:00-16:00/ 6-7 h) |
| Pick up truck from/ to Poipet: |
US$ 3.00-5.00 (Dep. AM 06:00-12:00/ 2.5-3h) |
| Taxi from/ to PHN: |
US$ 10.00-30.00 (5-6 h) |
| Taxi from/ to Poipet: |
US$ 10.00-30.00 (2-2.5h) |
| Vehicles in Town |
| Rental bicycles: |
US$ 2.00-3.00/ per day |
| Motorcycle with driver: |
US$ 0.25/ per 2 km |
| Motorcycle with driver: |
US$ 6.00-8.00/ one person per day |
| Tuk tuk with driver: |
US$ 8.00-12.00/ two person per day |
| Car taxi with driver: |
US$15.00-25.00/ per day
1) Refer to Siem Reap Angkor Visitors Guide. |
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