Cambodia Travel Tips

INTRODUCTION:
Comprising an area of 181,035 square kilometers, the Kingdom of Cambodia was part of the ancient Kingdom of Funan. Being the oldest Indianised state in Southeast Asia, its religion was Hinduism. Today, Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion.
The Mekong river which flows through the country, and the Tonle Sap lake are the lifeline of the people who live along the waterways. The Tonle Sap lake is one of the richest sources of fresh water fish in the world.  

CITY CAPITAL:
Phnom Penh. The population is around 1.3 million.

LOCAL TIME:
7 Hours ahead of GMT.  

POPULATION :
Of the 12 million people, about 90% are ethnic Khmers. There are several minorities such as Chams, Vietnamese and Chinese.  

ATTRACTION SITES:

Highlight  in Siem Reap | Highlight  in Phnom Penh | Highlight in Kampong Thom | Highlight  in Kampong Cham | Highlight in Banteay Meanchey | Highlight in Battambang province| Highlights in Sihanoukville | Highlights in Kampot| Highlights in Takeo| Highlight in Prey Veng| Highlight in Oddor Meanchey Highlight in Kep City| Highlight in Mondulkiri| Highlight in Kandal| Highlight in Ratanakiri |Highlight in Kratie| Highlight in Pursat| Highlight in Pailin City| Highlight in Koh Kong|Highlight in Kampong Chhnang |Highlight of Prasat Preah|

LANGUAGE:
The official language is Khmer, which belongs to the Mon-Khmer family, enriched by Indian Pali and Sanskrit languages and peppered with Thai and French influence. The second language is French which was widely spoken by the intelligentsia before 1975 and is still spoken by a few elderly Cambodians. However, in recent years, English has gained a great popularity and there are plenty of English schools in Phnom Penh’s streets.  

RELIGION:
The official religion is Theravada Buddhism, as is also practiced in Thailand, Burma, Laos and Sri Lanka. Ninety percent of Khmers are of this religion. The country also has minority religions of about half a million Muslims, and 60,000 Christians.  

 CURRENCY:
The local currency is the Riel. However, US$ are widely accepted and easily exchanged across the country. In Phnom Penh and other towns most goods and services are priced in dollars and there is a little need to buy riel. In remote rural areas prices are quoted in riel (except accommodation). In western districts, particularly Poipet, Pailin and Koh Kong the Thai Baht is widely used. Traveler’s cheque’s in US$ can be changed at most banks in Phnom Penh and major tourist destinations. Credit card facilities are limited to some major hotels. It is best to carry US$ in cash in small denominations.
Exchange rate: 1 $US = 3870 Riel (April 2000)  

TELEPHONES:
There are no coin operated phones in Cambodia (Cambodian currency has no coins). In Phnom Penh, though, there are cardphones situated throughout the city, and the cards to use in them are available at many outlets. There are also several mobile phone systems. - Country Code: +855.  

 ELECTRICITY:
220 volts/50 Hz, It is available in most cities for 24 hours, but in remote power cuts are possible during the night and it is recommended to carry a flash light.

 IMMIGRATION PROCEDURE:
All foreign nationals entering Cambodia are required to have a visa which are issued on arrival at Pochentong airport in Phnom Penh and at Siem Reap airport. Two passport photos are needed. The price for a tourist visa is US$ 20 & for business US$ 25. For arrival overland, the visa must be issued by one of the Cambodian embassies outside Cambodia. The tourist visa is valid for one month and can be extended for one month.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS:
Airlines currently serving Phnom Penh are Royal Air Cambodge, Thai International, Malaysia Airlines, Silk Air, Dragon Air, Vietnam Airlines, Lao Aviation, Bangkok Airways and President Airlines. For Siem Reap is Royal Air Cambodge, Bangkok Airways and Vietnam Airlines.  

AIRPORT-TAXES:
- International flight from Phnom Penh - US$ 20 - International flight from Siem Reap - US$ 8
- Domestic flight from Phnom Penh - US$ 10 - Domestic flight from all other airports - US$ 4  

 CLIMATE:
Cambodia’s tropical climate is affected by the monsoon. The cool, dry Northeast Monsoon which brings little rain, is from November to March. From May to October, the south-west Monsoon brings heavy rain and humidity. However, during the rain season, the rain is limited to one or two downpours a day.  

CLOTHING:
Lightweight, loose-fitting, cotton clothing is recommended and long-sleeved items should be included for protection from mosquitoes and the sun. During the rainy season an umbrella is more convenient than a rain coast. A jacket may be needed in hotels and restaurants using excessive air-conditioning.  

 FOOD:
The Khmer cuisine is closely related to other Asian countries, but not very spicy. The typical Khmer dishes are rice, fish, curries and soups with beef, pork, poultry and tasty sauces. Western style food is provided widely in the major cities although other Asian dishes are available (Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese). Never drink tap water. Purified bottle water is available everywhere. Soft drinks are also widely sold as well as locally brewed and imported beers.  

OPENING HOURS:
-Government offices: 
Monday to Friday: 07:30 - 11:30 & 14:00 - 17:00,  Banks: Monday to Friday 08:00 - 15:30. 
Closed on public holidays.
- General offices: Private companies are usually open from 07:30 - 20:00 every day.
- National Museum, Silver Pagoda, Kings Palace, Tuol Sleng Museum & Killing Fields: 
08:00 - 11:00 & 14:00 - 17:00. 
The National Museum is closed on Monday and public holidays. - 

HEALTH:
Good hospitals are only available in Phnom Penh. Private doctors and pharmacies are available in most cities. Major tourist destinations, such as Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, are free of Malaria. However, for the evenings it is recommended to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants and to apply insect repellants to prevent mosquito bites.  

GENERAL TRAVEL ADVICE:
For visiting temples or pagodas, shorts and T-shirts are acceptable. However, for visiting the Silver Pagoda and the Royal Palace, visitors are asked to dress more formally. Films, such as Kodak or Fuji, are widely available. Any specialized photo equipment should be brought along.