COUNTRY FACTS

Cambodia has 24 municipalities/provinces, one of Southeast Asian countries, is bordering to Lao to the northeast, Thailand to the northwest, Vietnam to the east and Ocean to the southwest.

Official Country Name: Kingdom of Cambodia

Motto: Nation – Religion – King

Head of State: King Norodom Sihamoni

Head of Government: Prime Minister Hun Sen

Capital City: Phnom Penh

Major Cities: Siem Reap, Battambang, SihanoukVille, Kampong Cham

Coastal Provinces: Koh Kong, SihanoukVille, Kampot, and Kep

Major Lakes/Rivers: Tonle Sap Lake, Tonle Sap River, Bassac River and Mekong River

International Airports: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and SihanoukVille

Language: The official language is Khmer however English, Chinese and French are also widely spoken.

Population of Cambodia: 14.8 millions

Ethnic Groups: Khmer 90% and remaining are Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham, and Several Hill Tribes

Land Area of Cambodia: 181,035 square kilometers

Land Area of Phnom Penh: 357 square kilometers

Official Religion: Theravada Buddhism 90% and the rest are Islam and Christianity

Electricity: 220 volts with various electric sockets but adaptors are widely available at any electric appliance stores located every where.

Time: Cambodia has one time zone and seven (7) hours ahead of GMT

Geographical Coordinates (Approximate): 11°N 104°E

Climate: Cambodia's climate, like rest of Southeast Asia, has a temperature range from 21 to 35 °C (69.8 to 95 °F). Cambodia has two distinct seasons. The rainy season, which runs from May to October and the dry season lasts from November to April. Temperatures can drop to 21 °C in December and January while temperatures can rise up to 35 °C around April.

Passport and Visas: Cambodia has very liberal visa regulations. It is meant to say a valid passport and visa are required for entry. Visas can be obtained at Phnom Penh International Airport or Siem Reap (Angkor) Airport. All travelers have to do is bring along two passport size photos and fill up visa application. A one-month tourist visa costs US$20 while a business visa costs US$25.00. Visa application form will be provided on inbound flights. Visas are also available at overland border crossing to Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.

Transportation: Most tourists are flying in and out of Cambodia at either Phnom Penh International Airport or Siem Reap International Airport. Recently a growing numbers of visitors are also arriving overland from Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.

On arrival, Motorcycle taxis (Motodub) and taxis can be rented just outside the arrival lobby. From Phnom Penh International airport to anywhere in Phnom Penh will cost you $7.00 while Motordub is charging $1.00 to $2.00. The distance is about 8 kilometers to town.

Guesthouse, Hotel: Room rate is starting from $10 to over $100 per night. You have a choice from basic fan room to luxury 5 stars hotel.

Communication: The country code for Cambodia is 855. Domestic and International rate is about the same, running from $0.05 to $0.08 per minute. All Cambodia mobile operators are equipped for using SIM cards which can be bought for few dollars provided you have proper identification card. While 3G Internet access for 1,000MB is $5 and offered by most mobile operators.

Postal Services: The main postal service in Phnom Penh is located on the corner of street 102 and 13, which is east of Wat Phnom Penh. From there, you can send parcels, telegrams etc. It opens daily from 6:30AM to 5:00PM

Business Hours: Government offices are open from 7:30AM to 5:00PM on weekday; the lunch break is from 12:00 to 2:00PM. Most businesses, restaurants open from 7:00AM to 8:00PM while most banks operate from 7:30AM to 3:30PM on weekday and some are half day on Saturday.

Tipping and Bargaining: Tipping is not expected in Cambodia but if you meet with exceptional services or kindness, a tip is always appreciated. Salaries remain extremely low in Cambodia. Bargaining is the rule in the markets when you are hiring vehicles or buying things. A persuasive smile and a little friendly personality is usually enough to get a good price