Angkor Wat & SiamReap
Phnom Penh
SIHANOUKVILLE
The Country
Angkor Wat is a huge temple complex near Siem Reap, about 200 miles from the capital. Built in the 12th century by the king of the Khmer empire, Angkor Wat was built as a royal temple dedicated to a Hindu deity.
After the city of Angkor fell to invaders, Angkor Wat receded into the jungle.
Angkor Wat is the best preserved example of Khmer architecture in Cambodia
The country's capital Phnom Penh is renowned for its beautyful area surrounding the Royal Palace where magificent Khmer towers share the boulevard with French villas overlooking the banks of the Tonle Sap river.
Phnom Penh although still a bit rough elsewhere overall things are improving, but roads remain shabby and traffic chaotic.
Cambodia's premier island and beach resort. Sihanoukville is surrounded on 3 sides by the Bay of Thailand.
From the beaches and surrounding hills, many of the country's small islands can be seen. Most of the beaches are filled with grass hut restaurants and bars, some of the beaches are rocky, a couple are big resorts, and some are pure sandy beach.
The fate of Cambodia shocked the world when in 1975 the radical communist Khmer Rouge under their leader Pol Pot seized power. An estimated 1.7 million Cambodians died during the next three years, many from exhaustion or starvation. . Today, Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world. The two pillars of Cambodia's new economy are textiles and tourism.
Cambodia’s tourism grows
Cambodia’s tourism grows Tourists from Thailand to Cambodia skyrocketed almost triple during April; raising Thailand to fourth place on the top source country list. Cambodia’s Statistics and Tourism Information Department at the Tourism Ministry reported tourist arrivals from Thailand skyrocketed 165.2% during April from 7,987 to 21,178. April had various holidays such as the Songkran holiday, a long holiday to celebrate Thai New Year and earlier in the month the Coronation Day holiday. Overall, Cambodia welcomed 277,304 during April, an increase of 24.3%. Looking at January to April figures, the growth slowed down slightly compared to the first quarter bringing the average growth down from 27.8% to 27.1%. The accumulated arrivals were 1,272.514.
Caution
Immigration now fingerprint visitors on arrival and departure to Cambodia. These fingerprints may well find their way to your country's authorities or any other agency that cares to buy them. If you object to it, either bribe the official (US$1-2 should be enough if you want to try) or avoid the main entry points e.g. airports, Cham Yeam (near Koh Kong), and Bavet (on the Phnom Penh-Ho Chi Minh road).