TRAVEL TIPS
CAMBODIA
OVERVIEW VISÃO GERAL TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTE ATTRACTIONS ATRAÇÕES WHERE COMPRAS TO STAY ONDE WHERE FICAR TO EAT ONDE SHOPPING COMER
OVERVIEW Cambodia is not widely known by travelers,
one third of the population. Any Cambodian
but the Southeast Asian country is fascinating
citizen older than 35 years old was part of
because of its beautiful beaches, magnificent
one of the bloodiest communist authoritarian
temples, ancient culture and rich cuisine, which
polities of the twentieth century, either as
makes this destination an exciting travel option.
victim or executioner. Visiting Cambodia is a real history class, an architectural delight and a
The country has over 180,000 square
survivor experience.
kilometers, but most all of it is composed of forest. The flora and fauna is a great attraction
Millions of citizens were forced to leave their
for nature lovers, because it is really diverse.
houses and were work in concentration camps, watching family members die from starvation,
What people usually think about Cambodia
diseases or even be murder. In a few lines, the
is: civil war, poverty, and adoption of needy
Khmer Rouge (Cambodian Communist Party)
children, but the country is much more than
tried to kill all the people who had studied,
that. Because Cambodia is not a very popular
such as intellectuals, artists, teachers, doctors,
destination the prices are really low, the natural
and others, the one that got away alive were
reserves are untouched and it is a whole new
the ‘pure’ and ‘non-corrupt’ peasants, and also
culture to be explored.
those who got to trick the executioners.
Cambodia is still going through a reconstruction
In 1993 the UN was on a peacekeeping
process after the civil war that killed nearly
operation in Cambodia, organizing and running
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an election and taking over the country’s
Besides being the capital, Phnom Penh is
Khmer Rougecommunist regime. In order to
one of the most attractive cities in Southeast
restore civilian rule, restore peace to a country
Asia. It is not a very big city and most of
destroyed by a civil war and conduct free and
its attractions are downtown, their nicest
fair elections, this intervention led to a new constitution for the Cambodians. Its official name is Kingdom of Cambodia or Royaume Du Cambodgeand the official language is Khmer, even though Vietnamese is also spoken. The population is mostly Buddhist and worships each and every temple of the country.
neighborhood. You will see huge contrasts at the streets, such as Buddhist monks walking in their colorful robes through the chaos of the streets with motorbikes, tuk-tuks (motorized tricycles with a cabin for the transport of two, three or six passengers), bicycles and vehicles try to find a space in the crowded streets. And do not be alarmed if you are walking and an elephant pass you by.
The climate in Cambodia is mostly hot and humid with temperatures ranging between 10°C and 40°C. There are three well defined seasons: the cooler season occurs between November and February, the hottest is between March and June and the humid season is from June to October. Another important climate characteristic are the tropical monsoons over the country. The Southeast monsoon winds blows toward the northeast between May and October, as the northeast monsoons blow from the countryside to the coast, providing the dry season between November and March. Because of the climate, the best time to visit Cambodia is during the winter, between November and February, this way you can get away from the high temperatures. If you do not like rainy days, do not go to Cambodia between June and October, the southwest monsoon rains are really strong. When it comes to holidays, Cambodians have
- Vishaka Boch (April or May): This national
a different schedule because of their culture
holiday was established as a Buddhist
and religion.
celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.
- Victory Day (Jan. 7): This national holiday celebrates the end of theKhmer Rouge regime
- Royal Ploughing Ceremony (May) is a
in 1979.
national holiday for the beginning of the planting season.
- Meaker Boch (February) is a national holiday celebrates the spontaneous assembly of
- Human Rights Day (December 10): This
monks to hear the preaching of the Buddha.
national holiday celebrates the UN General Assembly and the proclamation of the
- Khmer New Year (April 14-16), a national holiday that celebrates the New Year in Cambodia. The holiday lasts three days and is considered the most important festival of the calendar.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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TRANSPORT
Renting a bike and using it as a means of transportation is also a great option for those who enjoy cycling.
There are several options to get around this
Another option is to take a boat or even
country. Regardless of where you are the best
rent one. That way it is possible to sail on
option is to rent a bike - available in many sizes
the Mekong river, that leads to the Gulf of
- which is everywhere and are easy to get to
Thailand and Tonle Sap lake (largest lake in
most places. They are also called “tuk-tuks�
Southeast Asia) and enjoy all the beauties of
and you can see entire families riding on top of
the coast, the Sanloem, Koun, Seh islands and
one of these.
many others. Sihanoukville is one of the main river ports and it is located in the Gulf of Thailand, and there are other ports located in Phnom Penh. Another option, but not very advisable, is to drive or take public transportation. The roads are not safe and well maintained, except for the main routes like the A3, which runs along the entire coast, A4 and A5 that are in the countryside.
ATTRACTIONS You can enjoy the cultural, archaeological, natural beauty and every detail of this fascinating country. - Phnom Penh, the capital of the country has a wide variety of entertainment options, monuments, nightclubs, great restaurants, theaters, museums, malls and many others. - Angkor Wat, located 5.5 km from Siem Reap, it is the largest and best preserved temple in the Angkor region. It is the only one with religious significance, which got
through the civil war in Cambodia. Today it
- Krong Koh Kong, southwest of the country,
is one of the most important archaeological
is a perfect place to enjoy a more countrified
treasures of the world.
experience. You can find beaches with crystalline waters accessible only by boat,
- Royal Palace: located in the capital, the
mangroves, mountains, forests and waterfalls
residence of King Norodom Sihamoni was built
almost deserted. At this small town there are
in the nineteenth century. The Royal Palace
many hotels and comfortable guesthouses
is actually a peace sanctuary in the bustling
and several restaurants. Krong Koh Kong is
metropolis, there are art pavilions, lush gardens
bordered by Thailand which is 10 km away. But
and numerous temples built in traditional Khmer
do not forget that you must walk on marked
architectural style. It is rich in golden detail sand
trails, it is estimated that there were still
is a famous sight in the country. Do not forget
about 4 million mines and unexploded buried
to wear clothing that covers legs and shoulders
throughout the country.
when visiting this palace. It is opened every day from 7:30am to 11am and from 2h30pm to 5pm.
- Mekong River: one of the most interesting
You need at least 2 hours to visit the whole place.
activities to do while you in Cambodia is to fish at the Mekong River, the largest in
- Tuol Sleng, is an ancient center of torture and
Southeast Asia. When boating, and fishing, you
detention of the victims of the massacre in
still have the opportunity to enjoy one of the
Cambodia. It is a freaky place, but part of the
most impressive landscapes with houses and
history of this country marked by violence. It is
villages on the riverbank.
located in Phnom Penh. - Choeung Ek, is another place marked by the difficult history of this country. It is a former death camp that now is a museum. You can see the graves and even a glass tower with human skulls. It is located 15 km from the capital. Opened every day and. - Sihanoukville, is the country’s main beach resort with beautiful white sand beaches and tropical island. Even though there are technological advances, it is still possible to find a rustic atmosphere here. Serendipity Beach, the most crowded one in the city, has several tents with comfortable lounges and even wi-fi internet for free. It is often visited by European backpackers and there is a festive atmosphere all year long.
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WHERE TO STAY
DINING OUT
The capital Phnom Penh has a wide range of
Put in a saucepan a bit of Vietnamese herbs,
hotels at different prices. In Sisowhat Quay
a few spoonfuls of Thai sauces, mix it all on a
there are 4 star hotels, where a double room
Chinese way, do not forget the Indian curry and
costs around $ 140. In Sras Chok there are
you will have the Cambodian cuisine. The Khmer
many inns where the rooms cost between $3
cuisine is a pleasant mix of everything that Asia
and $12. In Siem Reap you can find hotel rooms
has to offer, and is always made with fresh
from $6 to $1.200 per night. The hotels closer
ingredients and usually cooked over charcoal.
to the ruins are the most expensive one. The food in Cambodia is really cheap. For less than a dollar you can try a stir-fry, spring rolls,
At the capital and Siem Reap there are many options of restaurants with international cuisine, they are exotic and very interesting. Cambodia was strongly influenced by the customs of China and India, so rice, fruits and hot spices have an important role in the local cuisine. The river crab, for example, is usually accompanied by sauces, condiments and spices, with a peculiar and remarkable touch of the Cambodian cuisine. For dessert, tropical fruits are the most common option and, to drink, beer is widely consumed.
SHOPPING The best place to shop in Cambodia is in the capital Phnom Penh, where you can find shopping centers, fashion boutiques and even small and traditional markets. With a wide
bagels and fresh fruit at the stands of street vendors. Another inexpensive option are the street markets, where several tents compose a kind of food court, each one of them with its own specialty. In coastal cities like Sihanoukville, the seafood is plentiful and cheap, curry shrimp and a dish made of rice costs about three U.S. dollars in restaurants by the sea. Another typical dish of the region is the Fish Amok, a fish made with coconut milk and steamed in a banana leaf.
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variety of products, from conventional to the exotic, everything can be found on the Combodian streets. In other cities like Kep, Pailin, Sisopho or at coastal cities of Cambodia is also possible to find small shops and a large number of traditional outlets where you can shop while enjoy your vacation.
STREET MARKETS
CURRENCY The local currency is the Riel (KHR), but the U.S.
The street markets are everywhere in the
dollar is also accepted in most places of the
country, especially at Phnom Penh. Rich silks,
country, except in non-tourist areas. The shops,
souvenirs, local foods and many bargains,
even small ones, are prepared with two types
usually open at 6am. At these markets, you
of currency. One dollar costs about 4,000 riels.
can drink beer at 50 cents.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
855 119 118 117
COUNTRY CODE EMERGENCIES FIREMEN POLICE
INTERNACIONAL AIRPORT PHNOM PENH
023 890 520 TOURIST INFORMATION
023 728-000