Spending how much pain and destruction under Khmer Rouge, how much poverty and political unstableness afterwards, Cambodia has come back to show the whole world its beauty and mystery.

Contemporary Cambodia is the successor state to the mighty Khmer empire, which during the Angkorian period, ruled much of what is now Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The remains of this empire can be seen at the fabled temples of Angkor, monuments unrivalled in scale and grandeur in South East Asia. The traveller’s first glimpse of Angkor Wat, the ultimate expression of Khmer genius, is sublime and is matched by only a few select spots on earth, such as Machu Picchu or Petra.

Coming to Cambodia, you will find yourself immerse in the beauty of the capital Phnom Penh, which used to be chaotic but extremely attractive now with its gorgeous scenes by rivers, its cultural renaissance...that is rival to anywhere else in the region.

For those who desire to return the peaceful and tranquil countryside, then this is the place to experience the rhythm of rural life and timeless landscapes of dazzling rice paddies and swaying sugar palms.

For those who loves ecotourism adventures, come to the South Coast which is fringed by tropical islands, with just a handful of beach huts in sight. Inland from the coast lie the Cardamom Mountains, part of a vast tropical wilderness that provides a home to elusive wildlife.

LANGUAGE

Speaking languages:

● Official language: Khmer (Cambodian).

● Foreign languages: English, Vietnamese, Chinese (widely spoken and taught at schools and foreign language centers). The older people can speak French clearly (Cambodian French).

● The most popular languages for tourist guides: English, Chinese, French, Vietnamese and Japanese.

Dialects

Khmer is the official language of Cambodia and is used in most social contexts including government administration, education at all levels, and in the mass media.

Regional differences are slight and normally mutually intelligible. Based on the dialect of the capital city of Phnom Penh, Modern Khmer is used throughout the nation and widely understood by its inhabitants. Much Khmer vocabulary used in literature, the military, and administration is borrowed from Sanskrit, or Pali. Due to years of French colonial rule, numerous French words have been incorporated into the language as well.

Common Phrases

● Hello

● Goodbye

● Thank you

● I don’t understand

● I understand

● How much is it?

● Yes

● No

● Do you speak English?

● Sorry

Suosday

Lea heuy

Akun

Khnum ot yol

Khnum yol

Teu nis thlay pun mann?

Baat (for man)/Cha (for woman)

Otay

Teu nak niyeay phea sar anglei tay?

Sohm toh

CURRENCY

Official currency in Cambodia: Riel (KHR). However, most Cambodians use US Dollar as well as their own currency. Even the littlest shops quote prices in US Dollar.

METHOD OF PAYMENT

* Direct payment of cash is most popular in Cambodia. They mainly use US Dollar and Riel. Pay for something cheap in US Dollars and the change comes in Riel. In remote areas of the north and northeast, locals only deal in riel or small Dollar denominations.

* The only other currency that can be useful is Thai Baht, mainly in the west of the country. Prices in towns such as Krong Koh Kong, Poipet and Sisophon are often quoted in baht, and even in Battambang it is as common as the Dollar.

* There are no banks at any land border crossings into Cambodia, meaning credit cards and travellers cheques are effectively useless on arrival. In the interests of making life as simple as possible, organise a supply of US Dollars before arriving in Cambodia.

CREDIT CARDS

* Top-end hotels, airline offices and upmarket boutiques and restaurants generally accept most major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, JCB, sometimes American Express), but they usually pass the charges straight on to the customers, meaning an extra 3% on the bill.

* Cash advances on credit cards are available in Phom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kampot, Battambang and Kompong Cham. Canadia Bank and Union Commercial Bank offer free cash advances, but most other banks advertise a minimum charge of US$5.

Several travel agents and hotels in Phom Penh and Siem Reap arrange cash advances for about 5% commission, this can be particularly useful if you get caught short at the weekend.

TRAVELLERS CHEQUES

Acleda Bank now offers travellers cheques encashment at most branches, bringing financial freedom to far-flung provinces like Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri. It is best to have cheques in US Dollars, though it is also possible to change euros at Acleda Bank and most major currencies at branches of Canadia Bank. Generally, you pay about 2% commission to change travellers cheques.

ATM Machines

There are now credit-card-compatible ATMs (Visa and MasterCard only) in most major cities including Phom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kampot, Battambang and Kompong Cham There are also ATMs at the Cham Yeam and Poipet borders if arriving from Thailand. Machines dispense US Dollars. ANZ Royal Bank has the most extensive network, including ATMs at petrol stations and popular hotels, restaurants and shops, closely followed by Canadia Bank. Acleda Bank has the widest network of branches in the country, including all provincial capitals, and many have ATMs. However, these are not yet compatible with international credit cards.

TIME & WORKING HOURS

● Government offices: 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Monday to Friday

● Business offices: 08:00 AM. to noon and 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Monday to Saturday

● Shops: 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. 7 days a week

● Banks: 8:00 AM. to 3:00 PM. Monday to Friday

● Markets: 6:00 AM. to 5:00 PM. 7 days a week.

TIMEZONE GMT+7

TELEPHONE

Emergency telephone numbers and area codes of Cambodia as following:

Police	117
Fire	118
Emergency medical services	119
Country code	855
Phnom Penh	23
Siem Reap	63
Kampong Cham	42
Kampong Thom	62
Kratie	72
Battambang	53
Kampong Chhnang	26

INTERNET

Cambodia may not be the country you have in mind when you think about modern and reliable Internet access. If you want to get online, do it in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap - here you're never far from an Internet shop or café. In other provinces it's a different matter even in Battambang and Sihanoukville, Internet access is limited and expensive. A lot of hotels and restaurants in Phnom Penh also offer wifi internet access.

TRANSPORT

- Airlines flying to/from Cambodia

Air Asia	Dragon Air	Shanghai Airlines
Angkor Airways	Eva Air	Siem Reap Airways
Asiana Airlines	Jetstar Asia	Silk Air
Bangkok Airways	Lao Airlines	Thai Airways
China Eastern Airlines	Malaysia Airlines	Vietnam Airlines
China Southern Airlines	PMT Air

- Other means of transportation

● Boat service.

● Car and motorcycle rental are comparatively cheap in Cambodia.

● Cambodia’s rail system is like the old road network, one of the most notorious in Asia.

● As in Vietnam, cyclo is a cheap way to get around the city center.

● Bicycles are also preferred for independent travelers to explore the adventurous Cambodia.

PUPLICH HOLIDAYS

Liberation Day	January 7th
Khmer New Year	April 14th - 16th
Visak Bochea (date of birth, enlightenment & death of Buddha)	April 28th
Royal Ploughing Day (Phnom Penh or Siem Reap)	May 2nd
King’s Birthday	May 13th – 15th
Pchum Ben Festival	October 7th – 9th
Independence Day	November 9th
Water Festival	November 20 - 22nd

EMBASSIES & GENARAL CONSULATE IN CAMBODIA

Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

16B National Assembly St

Sangkat Tonle Bassac

Khan Chamkamon

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

● City: Phnom Penh

● Phone: +855 23 213 470

● Fax: +855 23 213 413

Dry season	Rainy season
- October - April. - Average temperature: 24°C - 27°C Note: * November - January: very cool, (the temperatures may reach 20°C) * In April, Cambodia's climate can easily reach temperatures of 40°C *This is the peak season in Cambodia.	- May - October - Average temperatures: 25°C - 27°C, taking almost 75% of Cambodia's annual rainfall. Note: * May - July: hot, short downpours. * Late July - September: the rain is more constant and heavy. (this is an advantage: dust is gone, the environment is clear and green. *Angkor Wat is stunning in the wet season as it is less crowded.

January	Chinese New Year	Due to the large number of people of Chinese descents who run much of Cambodia's business enterprises; and also Vietnamese immigrant communities, the Chinese New Year is widely celebrated, especially in Phnom Penh. Fireworks are seen and wealthy families organize their own private displays which light up the skies for all to see.
	National Day	This day is newly added to the festival list and marks the end of the Khmer Rouge Regime. However for many Khmers it also marks the start of the Vietnamese regime seen as another period of foreign occupancy.
March	International Women’ Day
April	Khmer New Year's Day	(celebrated at the same time as the Thai New Year) This is one of the happiest times of the year when people celebrate the turn of the year and marks the end of the harvest. This is the time when Cambodians decorate their homes to please the Heaven God and many people can be seen on the streets armed with small bags of water and water pistols to bless people passing by, with joyous smiling faces everywhere you turn.
May		Royal Ploughing Day Cambodia has a deep connection with the Earth and farming, and there is a deep astrological belief that the Ox has an instrumental role in determining the fate of the agricultural harvest each year, this cultural ceremony takes place in the large park next to the Royal Palace and in front of the National Museum. The King plays a key role in driving the Ox and depicting real ploughing activities in the process of growing rice. The Ox is given a selection of foods and beverages to consume and the royal soothsayers interpret what the Ox has eaten. For this festival both men and women can be seen wearing brightly colored traditional Khmer costume.
	May Day
September		Pchum Ben This is the most culturally and religiously significant event of the year. This festival of souls concentrates on blessing the souls of ancestors, relatives, and friends who have passed away. All Buddhist temples, especially Wat Phnom, are the focal points for this festival and most Cambodians visit the temples to make traditional offerings and pray.
October		Water festival This vast festival is probably the most extravagant festival in the calendar, when you can enjoy boat racing with hundreds of brightly colored boats ridden by over 50 paddlers battle racing out for top honors. The festival marks the changing of the flow of the Tonle Sap and is also seen as thanksgiving to the Mekong River for providing the country with fertile land and abundant fish.
November		Angkor Festival This festival is a showcase of performing arts with Angkor Wat as a backdrop. Performers from all over Asia attend this festival performing great epic stories from myths and legends, including the Ramayana, with their own national dance costumes and musical and rhythmic international melodies.
	Independence Day	This important ceremony takes place at the site of the Independence Monument at the junction of Norodom and Sihanouk Boulevards. This ceremony celebrates Cambodia's gaining of independence from France in 1953. All over the city flags adorn the shop fronts and bunting stretched over all the main thorough fares as a sign of national pride.
December		International Half Marathon This International Half Marathon is held at Angkor Wat and attracts competitors from all over the world. Thousands of people come to see this international event held in the spectacular setting that is Angkor.

Places of interest	Entertainment	Top eats and drinks
Ta Prohm	Warehouse Bar	char kreung (spice paste)
Angkor Thom	Temple Club	Amok (a delectable baked fish curry in banana leaf)
Beng Mealea	La Noria Bar	Angkor Beer
Banteay Srei	Apsara Theatre	Lok Lak (stir fried beef with oyster sauce)
McDermott Gallery	Old Market	Umph Rou Pau
Phnom Kulen	Les Artisans D'Angkor Bar	Cha-Urk
Cambodia Land Mine Museum	Dead Fish Tower	Kau-Pad-Ki-Mau (Thai style pork fried rice)
Wat Athvea		BBQ pulut (glutinous rice) with banana
		Poriteh koun
		Sombai

Categories	Map &Locations	Address
Fabric	Russian Market Olympic Market Beautiful Shoes BR Shop	Corner of Street 163 and Street 444 Street 286 138 Street 143, Boeung Keng Kong 3 54 Street 426, Tuol Tum Pung I
Antiques and Home Décor	Hidden Treasures	9 Street 148
Handicrafts	Rajana Colors of Cambodia Kravan House Stef's Happy Painting	House 170, Street 450 373 Sisowath Quay 13 St. 178 Sisowath Quay (near St. 178, directly under FCC)
Jewelry	Russian Market	Corner of Street 163 and Street 444
Books	Monument Books Bohr's Books Boston Book Company The National Museum of Cambodia	111 Norodom Boulevard 5 Sothearos Boulevard 8 Street 240 Street 13, Sangkat Chey Chumneas, Khan Daun Penh

Places of interest	Entertainment	Top eats and drinks
Phnom Sombok temple	Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching	Khmer salads
Sambor (pre-Angkorian era settlement)	Bird Watching	home made prahok
Town Museum	Basketball and Volleyball	Khmer herbal spirits
Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts	Mekong Discovery Trail	tuk-a-lok (fruit shake)
Concrete Animals	Sorya Kayaking Adventures
Basket weaver villages	Looking Glass Jeep Tours

Places of interest	Entertainment	Top eats and drinks
Victory Beach	Go for a ride	BBQ
Independence Beach	Scuba Diving	Greek cuisines
Sokha Beach	Golden Spa & Massage	Western cuisines
Ochheuteal Beach	Snorkeling	Chicken Amok Curry
Serendipity Beach	The Cambodian Children's Painting Project
Otres Beach	Unspoiled Island Day Trip
Kampong Pier Nup Lok
Ream National Park
Koh Russei (Bamboo Island)

Categories	Map &Locations	Address
Handicrafts	Rajana	Building G, Street 502, Village 4
Clothing & Souvenir	Victory Hill Ocheteaul area

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