Source from Ministry of Tourism 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.
Capital City Phnom Penh (Population approx 2 Million, 290 square kilometers). It is considered the center of Industry, Administration, Commerce, and Tourism.
The Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Cambodia
Population 13,124,764 Million (2003 est.) (90-95% Khmers) the balance being ethnic Chinese, Cham, ethnic Vietnamese and hill-tribe people.
Language Khmer, secondary languages: English and French
Religion 95% Theravada Buddhist with the balance being Muslim, Christian and animist.
The National flag of the Kingdom of Cambodia
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 Sihanouk Ville. In major cities a wide range of culinary fare is on offer including; Chinese, Thai, French, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese and Middle Eastern.
Climate in Cambodia has four seasons:
1. Nov-Feb, cool/dry
2. Mar-May, hot/dry
3. Jun-Aug, hot/wet
4. Sep-Oct, cool/wet
Time GMT+7 hours
Voltage 220v/50Hz
Currency / Banks / Credit Cards
The official currency of Cambodia is the Riel however US dollars are widely accepted; in fact many businesses set their prices in US dollars. It is however wise to carry some Riel around with you for small purchases. The current exchange rate for the Riel to the US$ is around 4100 Riel = US$1.
The acceptance of credit cards is increasing in Cambodia and you can get cash advances against your credit card at some major commercial banks. There are however no ATMs that will provide access to foreign bank accounts.
Tipping Tipping isn’t obligatory but is widely practiced in hotels and restaurants in addition to the service charges shown on bills.
Visas
- 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: USD25, Tourist visa: USD20. More information››
Airport Taxi For visitors entering Cambodia through Phnom Penh International Airport, a taxi into the city will cost USD9 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 USD7 and takes 10-15 minutes.
Local Transport 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.
Hotels and Guesthouses There are many of each in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanouk Ville. Accommodation ranges from guesthouses charging from USD5/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 are set among rice fields and palms but require a taxi ride for each venture outside).
Nightlife Plenty available, but take your own driver or "motodoop" (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.
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 and e-mail are available in city and all provinces.
Tourist information
Ministry of Tourism.
Tel.: +855-23 211 593, Fax: +855-23 212 837
Emergency
There are emergency services in Phnom Penh. Call 119 ambulance, Call 118 fire truck, Call 117 police.
