Cambodia

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Cambodia lies in the Southern parts of Southeast Asia in Indochina Peninsula. It borders Thailand to the North and Vietnam to the east.

There are about 15 million people who reside in Cambodia with majority being Buddhists. Its capital city is Phnom Penh which is also the largest in the country.

It is never a bad or right time to take a vacation to a place which will generate not only good memories, but also give you a good life feeling. One of those places that you can consider visiting is Cambodia, which has become one of the busiest tourist attraction areas in South East Asia.

Though the place is associated with painful history, it became a vacation area after the end of Khmer Rouge, who was the former president of the country in the late nineties. However, peace was restored back in the country and the place is much safer for the residences and tourists who plan to come visit.

Nice video about Cambodia from World Travel Guides Youtube channel.

Today, there are about two million people across the world that comes to Cambodia to enjoy the exotic weather, sandy beaches, good food, and interact with happy people. On the other hand, there are beautiful monuments that mark its history. Anyone who visits Cambodia will have nothing to regret about, but take with them beautiful memories that will last forever.

The People of Cambodia

The citizens of Cambodia are known as Cambodians and ninety percent of the population speaks Khmer language which is the official language in the country. There are other ethnic minority groups in the country such as Chinese, Chams and Vietnamese.

Cambodians - the people of Cambodia
Cambodians - the people of Cambodia

Cambodians have high level of friendliness. One thing that a tourist needs to respect while in Cambodia is their culture especially Buddhism and Hinduism religion plus their mode of dressing which is more reserved compared to the Westerners.

Best time to visit Cambodia

There are monsoons that dominate the area thus the climate is sometimes dry and wet. Majority of people love to visit Cambodia between November to March though during this period, it is extremely crowded and the price is higher. Low season is April til October, it is cheaper, but rainy season and less crowded. However, it is recommended to visit the place between May to October, when the weather is fair (below 30 degrees). The hottest and driest period is January to April (April is top over 40) thus those who do not love hot sun can avoid the area.

However, it is recommended to visit the place between May to October, when the weather is fair (below 30 degrees)

 

Why People Should Visit Cambodia

All a person needs is five minutes of their life in Cambodia to understand the reasons why they made the right choice to visit it. The millions of tourists are attracted by several and different things which depends on individual tastes and preferences. Among the most incredible reasons to visit Cambodia is the fascinating history that is presented in the form of monuments across the country.

Angkror Wat is among the tourist sites which are considered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Region. It is not only attracts religious individuals in the world, but also historians and anthropologists who wants to understand more about the Cambodian people.

At the same time, the exotic Asian weather is one reason that will attract a person to the country. Those western tourists who want to enjoy the sun and watch it go down in the evening have the perfect chance to do so in Cambodia.

The other reason to visit the place is the level of friendliness among the locals. Anyone who wants to have a peaceful area surrounding with loving people can head to Cambodia. The Cambodians are born naturally happy, which is a culture they have instilled in the entire society. They are not only warm and welcoming, but also love visitors whom they encounter on a daily basis.

Things to do while in Cambodia

There are a lot of things that a person can do while visiting Cambodia:

1) Floating villages

The floating villages, which are located on the Tonle Sap Lake, is a place to visit. It is the best way to experience the ancient lifestyle that can only be found in Cambodia. At the same time, the beautiful beaches are places which a person can visit while in the country.

2) Fantastic beaches

The shores of the beaches are attractive with golden sands and clear waters. Some beaches such as Sihanoukville are not overcrowded by people providing those who love solitude a perfect experience to enjoy their time in the country.

The isolated beaches will enable an individual to forget their problems by enjoying the sun, the sand in the beach and also bathing in the clear waters. However, things get better at the beach when served with the fresh seafood with love providing an experience that one has never felt before in their life. There are shacks at the beach where a person gets to sit as they enjoy the ocean waves and their tasty meals.

Top beaches in Cambodia

Some of the best beaches in Cambodia include Koh-Rong, Otres Beach and KohTonsay. These beaches are not overcrowded enabling the tourists to enjoy spending some good time away from the noise.

Koh Rong beach - Cambodia
Koh Rong beach - Cambodia

At the same time, there are no hawkers in these beaches making them safe and friendly for those who want to have a quite time without any disturbance. The beaches are also known for their sandy nature and clear waters which is what several tourists always look for while considering a vacation region.

3) Khmer Apsara

The other thing which a person can do is experiencing the Cambodian rich culture such as Khmer Apsara spiritual dance or sampling and tasting their cuisine which is affordable and tasty.

The best food to taste is fresh fish obtained from the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers and costs about $15. On the other hand, any tourist should not miss to taste the rice wine which is not only sweet but also has medicinal purposes, which costs about $10.

There are various hotels and bars that provide that good night out feeling to the tourist, especially the snake whiskey which is unique and live bands performed by the Cambodian people.

4) Local markets

One can also take some time and visit the markets, where they can interact with the loving residence of the area while sample the kinds of cuisines that they offer.

5) Angkor Wat

Lastly, a person can go see Angkor Wat which is the ultimate symbolism for this country. It is a beautiful area that provides historical masterpiece such as monuments.

Angkor Wat - must visit in Cambodia
Angkor Wat - must visit in Cambodia

6) Museums

The museums is also a beautiful place to visit, because it offers several historical pieces that enables a person to have a clear understanding of the Cambodian history. Some examples of museums in the country include Angkor National Museum, National Museum of Cambodia and Cambodian Landmine Museum.

7) Fantastic nature and forest

Koh Tonsay is among the untouched and secluded area where a person can visit. All they need is a 20 minutes ride on a boat and have an amazing feeling away from civilization. There are rustic open-air restaurants and bungalows plus green trees which bring fresh air as you walk along the beach.

Where to stay in Cambodia?

1) Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh has one of the most lovely colonial buildings and riverside promenade in the city. The place was reinvented and made to look more like a glittering Royal Palace. There are sophisticated restaurants and bars which are built in a contemporary way which are attractive to tourists.

Check these nice hotels in Phnom Penh

2) Siem Reap

The vacation rentals in Siem Reap are perfect for tourists to stay especially those who want to a have an amazing feeling in the city. It is because they are located near several restaurants and bars where they can enjoy their night out in a safe environment.

It is also important to note that there are romantic hotels which charge about $45 per day, which the tourists can reside in for the period they are in the country. Examples of some of the nice resorts include Belmond La Residence d’ Angkor and Cambodian Vacation Rental which charge $75 per night. We fully recommend this nice deal and you can check it at Vacation Rental in Siem Reap website.

Or here you can check these hotels in Siem Reap

Cambodia transportation: How to get there

There are several ways to reach Cambodia. A person can fly into Phnom Penh which is the capital city of Cambodia and stay in one of the exotic hotels in the town area.

At the same time, one can fly to Siem Reap which is considered as the safest city in Cambodia.

How about visas to Cambodia

The process of acquiring a visa to enter Cambodia is easy thus making it simple to access the country. The major airports in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh offer the visa cards or a person can simply apply for them online. There are no hidden charges for the visa which costs approximately $30.00 while the allowance period of stay in the country for tourists is 1 month.

Transportation

There are buses in the area which a person can ride to from one place to another. The buses and the car rides charge lower fare enabling the tourists to reach the popular destinations such as the beaches safely. For instance, the charges range from $11 - $15 from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap.

There are bus companies such as Mekong Express which can be booked online or directly at their station where the buses are boarded. They have accurate timetables for travels which they follow on a daily basis. The average price they charge is $10 - $13 across the country.

Other Amenities

There are good hospitals around like Angkor Hospital for Children and Royal Angkor International Hospital which in case of emergency the tourists can call the numbers 117, 118 or 119 and obtain services from the police.

Some other numbers which can be contacted include 023 723 555 which is a police phone number working for 24 hours.

There are different embassies such as United States of America which is located at Christopher Howes Street and can be contacted through the phone numbers (96) +855 2 728 000. There is also Embassy of Australia which is located at the National Assembly Street and can be contacted on +855 23 213 470.