CAMBODIA

Official name          : Kingdom of Cambodia

Capital                     : Phnom Penh

Currency                 : Riel (KHR)

Language                : Khmer

Inhabitants              : 14.000.000

Visa required          : YES

Cambodia was once the heart of the powerful Khmer empire that also embraced Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Angkor Wat, the old capital spread over hundreds of kilometers with as many temples. The centuries after that, Cambodia would slowly be undressed by neighboring countries Thailand and Vietnam.

The Mother-land France

Colonized by France, the country was occupied by Japan during WWII. Independence was proclaimed but the old colonizer already took over the country again. The civil war, at the end of the last century, was the real black page of the country - a quarter of the population was exterminated by the guerrilla fighters of the communist Khmer. Ironically, it became quiet again when neighboring Vietnam occupied Cambodia, even though the Khmer Rouge fighters would occupy parts of the country until the mid-1990s.

Current problems of Cambodia

Current problems include the influx of Vietnamese and the influence of Thailand. AIDS also plays an important role since the Khmer man pertinently refuses the condom. Prostitution is widespread and widely accepted. Even on the political level, it remains unsettled in Cambodia. The great political rivalry between the parties of Hun Sen, Prince Norodom Ranariddh (supported by King Norodom Sihanouk) and Sam Rainsy in combination with the abundant availability of war gear are a threat to the stability of the country.

There is also a lot of corruption. The harrowing poverty resulting from all this, together with the countless land mines and their consequences, are a major problem in rural areas. 

Sights

Despite all the problems, Cambodia is and remains a beautifully diverse travel country. Angkor Wat is the main attraction in the country but it has so much more to offer.

So you can view beautiful colonial architecture in the city of Battambang, make a multi-day trip in the jungle of Ratanakiri for example to spot the Ho Chi Minh Trail or the many different mountain tribes that offer their merchandise at local markets.

A trip on the Mekong river or just an afternoon of sandy beach in the port city Sihanouk is a “must”. A visit to Cambodia also includes an honorable visit to the Killing Fields and/or to the slaughterhouse Tuol Sleng which served as a prison during the Khmer Rouge years. Villages on the water can be viewed on the large Tonle Sap lake or you can take a boat trip on the river to discover the almost extinct Irrawaddy dolphins. 

Mountains, rivers, plantations, rice fields but also a trip on the bamboo train are all things that you can and must see and do when you come to Cambodia.