The Kingdom of Cambodia; a country of immense cultural and historical contrasts. The ancient Khmer Empire ruled much of Southeast Asia for centuries and gave  Angkor Wat to the world. Its artistic and architectural influences can still be seen in the  corresponding forms of its regional neighbors.  However, for four years in the late 1970s Cambodia came under the control of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge regime and fell victim to a failed  political ideal that left over two million of the nation's citizens dead from disease, malnutrition and persecution.

Many people only know of Cambodia in terms of these two periods but there is far more to this country than ancient temples and past tragedies. Its topography and climate are as varied as its culture. The Tonle Sap Lake at the heart of Cambodia is one of the richest freshwater fishing grounds in the world and is home to a variety of migratory birds. Cambodia's mountain and jungle areas abound with rare and beautiful flora and fauna. In these regions animism is still practiced and indigenous, tribal peoples continue to follow a centuries-old way of life.

Cambodia has its own unique and much underrated cuisine and produces delicious, organic meat and fruit. The burgeoning tourist industry has brought relative wealth to some  Provinces while in others the life of Cambodia’s agricultural workers has changed little in  a millennium. But ask any repeat visitors to the country what keeps bringing them back and  they will all tell you the same thing: it is the people. The Khmer people have a warmth strength and spirituality that is a surprise and delight to most visitors. There seems to be an unquenchable spirit, humor and gentle pride in most Cambodians that perhaps explains how they have succeeded in surviving years of political experimentation and civil war.

Located near Siem Reap, the Angkor temple complex is comprised of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Banteay Srei, and many other structures built between the 9th and 13th centuries by the Khmer Empire that spanned a period of approximately 600 years. The Thais sacked the city in 1351 and again in 1431 when the entire city was abandoned and the court moved to Phnom Penh. In the middle of the 19th century the French colonized the country as part of Indochina, which also included Vietnam and Laos. It was not until 1953, nearly 100 years later, that Cambodia achieved independence when King Norodom Sihanouk proclaimed himself Head of State. The 1970s saw the country’s darkest period. In 1970 General Lon Nol successfully staged a coup d’etat and ousted the King. Then in 1975, following a bitter civil war, Nol was deposed by the fanatical Khmer Rouge, led by the infamous Pol Pot. For four terrible years the country reverted back to “Year Zero” as thousands of the countries intellectuals and over one million Cambodians died. In 1979 the regime was deposed, with the help of the Vietnamese Army. Today however, both Cambodia and Angkor Wat in particular are most definitely open for business and are now firmly established on the tourist map.

We welcome you to a most extraordinary country: Cambodia.

Economy of Cambodia

Cambodian - Khmer People

Cambodia travel guide

Cambodia facts

Cambodia holidays & celebrations

Khmer Classic Dance

Buddhism in Cambodia

Safety In Cambodia

Cambodia's Communication

Visa to travel to Cambodia

Money & banking in Cambodia

Cambodia border crossing

Cambodia health care

• Siem Reap travel guide
• Phnom Penh travel guide
• Sihanoukville travel guide
• Battambang travel guide

• Poi Pet travel guide
• Kampot - Kep travel guide
• Mondulkiri travel guide
• Preah Vihear travel guide

• Kampong Thom travel guide
• Ratanakiri travel guide
• Anlong Veaeng travel guide
• Kohkong travel guide

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