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|
| Area:
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181,035 sq km (69,898 sq mi) |
| Population: |
11,438,000 (March 1998 census). 13.2m (2001 estimate) |
| Capital City:
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Phnom Penh (1m) |
| People:
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Khmer (90 to 95%), with the remainder being Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham or about
one dozen other smaller ethnic groups. |
| Languages:
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Khmer/Cambodian |
| Religion(s):
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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:
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Constitutional Monarchy |
| Head of State:
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King Norodom Sihanouk |
| Prime Minister:
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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.
Map of Cambodia
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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