| Area: |
181,035 sq km (69,898
sq mi) |
| Population: |
11,438,000 (March 1998
census). 13.2m (2001 estimate) |
| Capital City:
|
Phnom Penh (1m) |
| People: |
Khmer (90 to 95%), with
the remainder being Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham or
about one dozen other smaller ethnic groups. |
| Languages: |
Khmer/Cambodian |
| Religion(s): |
The population is largely
Buddhist, with a small Islamic minority. |
| Currency: |
Riel |
| Major political parties:
|
Cambodian People's Party
(CPP), National United Front for an Independent,
Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC)
(acronym from French initials), Sam Rainsy Party
(SRP)
|
| Government: |
Constitutional Monarchy |
| Head of State:
|
King Norodom Sihanouk |
| Prime Minister:
|
Hun Sen |
| Foreign Minister:
|
Hor Namhong |
Membership of
international groupings/
organizations: |
United Nations (UN),
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
Group of 77 at the United Nations (G77), Non Aligned
Movement (NAM). |
Cambodia is Asia's fastest growing tourist destination.
After about 35 years of non-stop war, this beautiful
country is finally re-emerging from the darkness.
Since the time of the Vietnam war in the sixties,
Cambodia has had to suffer "secret" carpet bombings
by the United States, followed by the reign of terror
of the Khmer Rouge, a Vietnamese takeover, and a further
20 years of civil war.
Following U.N. peacekeeping efforts, the somewhat dubious
election of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the dismantling
of the Khmer Rouge, the country is now enjoying a period
of stability and new-found optimism. It's many wonders
are now open to visitors.
Phnom Penh: Asia Meets Europe
The capital city of Phnom Penh (pop. 1 million) is a
lively place these days. Cars and motorcycles careen
through charming streets lined with many French style
buildings dating back to its days as a French colony
in the first half of this century. The center of city
life is the riverfront boulevard, featuring many bars
and restaurants with a big emphasis on French-style
food.
One attraction worth visiting (though not for the faint-hearted)
is the Killing Field Museum (Tuol Sleng), a former school
taken over in 1975 by the Khmer Rouge and converted
into a torture chamber. The National Museum is less
grisly, with an emphasis on Ancient Khmer history.
The Temples of Angkor
The biggest attraction for most visitors are the temple
ruins at Angkor, just a few kilometers from the colonial
city of Siem Reap. Well preserved stone temple ruins
dating back about 1,000 years cover an area of 200 sq.
kilometers. Visitors can easily spend several days exploring
here, taking in the thousands of exquisite statues and
bas relief carvings that adorn the walls of seemingly
endless temple buildings and chedis.
A cruise on the Tonle Sap -- Asia's largest freshwater
lake -- is also a memorable experience.
A Word of Warning: Though Cambodia is now more peaceful
than at any time in the last 30 years, visitors should
still exercise caution - particularly in the capital.
Confine tourism activities to the daytime, since the
dimly-lit streets can be dangerous at night. In the
more rural areas, stick to well-established pathways
(or better yet, travel with a qualified guide), since
there are still countless landmines left over from the
war years. Hazards aside though, a little prudence is
all that's required to enjoy a safe and happy holiday
in this remarkable country.
Travel Destinations
Siem Reap is a small colonial town just
north of Southeast Asia’s largest lake, Tonle Sap.
Phnom Penh, founded alongside the Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers, has been the capital of Cambodia since the mid15th century, after Angkor was abandoned.
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