Cambodia is a member of ASEAN. It is bordered by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam with an area of 181,035 square kilometres. Cambodia has a 443-kilometre coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. Low-lying central plain is surrounded by mountains. It also includes the Great Lake Tonle Sap and Mekong River delta.

Phnom Penh is the capital and the largest city in Cambodia. The political, economic and cultural centre are centred around the capital. The country has a population of over 15 million. Theravada Buddhism is the official religion of Cambodia with 95% of the population practised it. Cambodia is one of the world’s top ten countries with the highest annual average GDP growth based on the Economist, IMF: Annual average GDP growth for the period 2001-2010.  Cambodia stable economic for a long period have helped the country reducing its poverty. With the increasing of tourist from 219,000 in 1997 to over 2 million in 2007, tourism was the fastest growing industry in Cambodia. The textile industry is the greatest source of hard currency for Cambodia while the tourism industry is the second. With the stability of the economy, the country has become one of the middle-class income countries.

The Khmer Empire is the predecessor state to modern Cambodia. During the 12th century, it was Southeast Asia’s largest empire. Hinduism and Buddhism is the religion of the empire. Angkor, the empire’s centre of power, had been the largest pre-industrial city in the world. Angkor Wat serves as a reminder of Cambodia’s past as a major regional power. Later, Cambodia has been colonised by French and gained independence on 9 November 1953. In 1993 monarchy was restored again.

Nowadays, Khmer is the official language of Cambodia, while English has replaced the French language as the main foreign language. The climate of Cambodia is like the rest of Southeast Asia, is dominated by monsoon which is known as tropical wet and dry. From May to October, Southwest monsoons blow moisture-laden winds from the Gulf of Thailand while Northeast monsoons bring dry seasons in November to April.

The people of Cambodia are routinely eating rice and fish from the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. Tropical fruits, soups and noodles are also a cuisine of Cambodia. The cuisine of Cambodia is also influenced by French and another country. The tourist does not have an issue to find food as the country also boasts various distinct local street foods, such as a fried spider.

Street food is considered snack than meals and tradition of Cambodian life. Noodle soups are popular dishes in Cambodia. Chha (stir-fried dishes) and Rice Dishes are another popular dishes there. Crab sautéed with green Kampot peppercorn is a famous speciality from Kep province. Rice wine is a popular alcoholic drink in Colombia.

How to Get There?

By Flight

Aeroplanes are the easiest and fastest way to travel to Cambodia. There are three airports in Cambodia which is Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap International Airport and Sihanoukville International Airport.

From Kuala Lumpur to Phnom Penh International Airport, various airlines provide flights such as Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways and may more. Phnom Penh International Airport is located 10 kilometres west of Phnom Penh, the nation’s capital. This airport is the busiest airport with passenger movements and the largest airport in Cambodia. A ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Phnom Penh International Airport costs around MYR 100 to MYR 400 for the lowest price given by AirAsia, Malindo Air and Malaysia Airlines which is a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to the intended location. The flight only took 2 hours from Malaysia to Phnom Penh.

A flight ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Siem Reap International Airport costs around MYR 100 to MYR 400 for the cheapest flights given by the AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines. You also can choose another flight which such as Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, SilkAir and many more. Siem Reap is a popular tourist destination due to nearby Angkor Wat.  It is label as busiest airport in Cambodia because of aircraft movements.

While, if you are going to Sihanoukville International Airport, it will cost around MYR 100 to MYR 300. For this intended location, only AirAsia provide a flight to Sihanoukville. This place is near to the beach, so you can do scuba diving or snorkelling to enjoy your holiday.

AirAsia offers the lowest price as it does not include baggage. Meanwhile, the Malaysia Airlines price is not always reasonable, yet it includes 30 kg baggage, in-flight meal and in-flight entertainment. These airlines are a direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to the intended location.

What to Do There?

There are many activities you can do in Cambodia. For example, you can see Angkor Wat from the Angkor Hot Air Balloon. Besides that, in the countryside, you can do horse riding and snorkelling or scuba diving in the tropical waters of Cambodia.

Angkor

Angkor is one of UNESCO World Heritage site. This place is a major tourist destination and visited by many tourists from around the world. A city founded by King Jayavarman VII was Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. At the temple, you can explore the courtyards, temples, moats, carvings of Angkor Wat and take photos. You also can take the Angkor Tuk-Tuk Tour if you do not want to walk by yourself.

Tonle Sap

Nominated as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in1997. It is a unique ecological phenomenon surrounding Tonle Sap. You can enjoy the scenery around the Tonle Sap while on a dinner cruise.

Chansor Village

Visit the village of Chansor, a small village outside of Siem Reap to enjoy traditional Cambodia. You can earn the villagers’ traditional way of life and take part in their local crafts. You can also ride on an ox-cart to explore the place.

Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville area’s favourable topographical features should be the reason you want to try scuba diving. You can see rocky reefs, shallow waters and coral, and colourful tropical fish if you are snorkelling. The scuba diving and snorkelling are ideal to do from December to June because the water is clearer and cooler than the rest of the year. Divers can get assistance from the professional diver available at the place.

Sok San Beach

Koh Rong Blob Jump is an inflatable water activity which located on the far north end of Sok San Beach. It is an activity which you can do with a group of friends so that you can experience it together. Life jackets are given to ensure you have fun while your safety is secure.

Koh Rong

You can also see Bioluminescent Plankton in Koh Rong which look so stunning at night. To indulge in a unique magical experience, you can swim to see the sparkling plankton up close but swim at night can be a risky endeavour.

There are many other things that you can do in Cambodia besides what is being given as there are so much more activities can be explored in Cambodia that has not been shared.

Where to Stay?

A variety of hotels are available in Cambodia. Hotels in Cambodia have variations from budget to luxury hotels. The number of quality hotels in Cambodia is growing every year. International hotels such as the Sofitel and Inter-Continental hotels are available in this country. The selection of hotels in Cambodia is very important to ensure your comfort and pleasure to go to any places of interest. Location factors are very important as it can facilitate your movement from one place to another. In addition to location factors, financial factors are also important. While looking for a hotel in a strategic location, you also need to think about financial and security factors.

Shinta Mani Angkor

Shinta Mani Angkor is located in the heart of Siem Reap. Shinta Mani Angkor is also just a short stroll away from the royal residence of Siem Reap and the Lucky Market. Shinta Mani Angkor provides a variety of basic amenities for its guests such as business centre, limousine or car service. The hotel has a conference room and a meeting room. Shinta Mani Angkor also provides airport pick-up.

The Privilege Floor by Angkor

The Privilege Floor is a five-star luxury resort located in the heart of Siem Reap city. The airport is about 8 kilometres away and with the shuttle service on offer, the way to get to the hotel is very convenient. The Privilege Floor is located on the fourth floor of the five-star property of Borei Angkor Resort & Spa; The Privilege Floor is specially designed to offer travellers the best experience and privacy and comfort. With 19 main rooms & suites, this accommodation provides exclusive room & suite packages provided with 24-hour private car service, private cell phones with local calls up to 30 minutes, free daily minibar and laundry, and more.

Raffles Hotel Le Royal

Raffles Hotel Le Royal is a three-star hotel which operated in Cambodia since 1929. The hotel is located in Phnom Penh and it offers the guests with the perfect location to explore the city and its surroundings. You will definitely want to choose Raffles Hotel Le Royal when you are in Phnom Penh.