Country's Full Name: Kingdom of Cambodia/Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
Former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

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Country's Full Name: Kingdom of Cambodia/Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea
Former: Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

Brief History:
Stretched over vast South-East Asia the Khmer Hindu kings ruled from here for more than 600 years. Constant attack from Thai and Cham (Vietnam) areas made the kingdom vulnerable bringing its downfall. Finally French colonized the nation along with Laos and Vietnam naming it as French Indochina. Japanese occupied it from 1942-45 during the Second World War. After popular uprising the French forces reluctantly left in 1953 giving it complete independence. Sihanouk became the king in 1960, but he was ousted by the army led by Gen Lon Nol in 1970. This regime was overthrown by the Khmer Rouge communists backed by Norodum Sihanouk in 1975. Bad history is written after the Khmer Rouge forces took over with Pol Pot as their leader. The regime left blood stained scar with 2 million (about 25% population) people dead mainly due to malnutrition, disease and the bullets. The genocide stopped only when Vietnamese forces drove away the Khmer Rouge to the jungles in 1979. Factional fighting continued till the UN sponsored election took place in 1993. Khmer Rouge was a still a potent force to strike until all its leaders were booked for human rights violation in 1999, bringing an end to the uncivilized force. Norodom Sihamoni is the present day king who took over from his father King Sihanouk in October 2004. Hun Sen remains the country’s Prime Minister since more than two decades.

What is the country known for:
Angkor Wat the temple built by Khmer kings mesmerizes the visitors.
It is famous for the classical dance “Apsara” which started in the Angkor Wat temples in the 11th century.

Main Industries:
Tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Main Trading Partners:
Exports: $4.089 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities: clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Exports - partners: US 60.1%, Germany 7.6%, UK 5.4%, Canada 4.8% (2007)
Imports: $5.424 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities: petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products
Imports - partners: Thailand 26.9%, China 17.5%, Hong Kong 12.2%, Taiwan 8.8%, Singapore 8.7%, Vietnam 6.1% (2007)

Major Cities:
Phnom Penh - 1,169,800

Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 105 00 E

Size:
Area total: 181,040 sq km (Land: 176,520 sq km, Water: 4,520 sq km)

Slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Time Zone:
UTC 7 hours

Type of Government:
Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with multi-party democracy.
Bicameral parliament, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils; members serve five-year terms)
Chief of state: King Norodom Sihamoni (since 29 October 2004)
Head of government: Prime Minister Hun Sen (since 14 January 1985) [co-prime minister from 1993 to 1997]

National Holidays:

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
7 Jan Victory Day.
30 Jan * Meak Bochea Day.
8 Mar Women's Day.
14 Apr - 16 Apr Cambodian New Year.
28 Apr Visaka Buja Day (Birth of Buddha).
1 May Labour Day.
3 May Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony.
15 May King Sihamoni's Birthday.
18 Jun Former Queen's Birthday.
24 Sep Constitution Day.
7 Oct - 9 Jan * Pchum Ben Day.
29 Oct Coronation Day.
31 Oct Former King Sihanouk's Birthday.
9 Nov Independence Day.
20 Nov * Water Festival.
10 Dec Human Rights Day.

2011
1 Jan New Year's Day.
7 Jan Victory Day.
30 Jan * Meak Bochea Day.
8 Mar Women's Day.
16 Apr Cambodian New Year.
1 May Labour Day.
15 May King Sihamoni's Birthday.
18 Jun Former Queen's Birthday.
24 Sep Constitution Day.
7 Oct * Pchum Ben Day.
29 Oct Coronation Day.
31 Oct Former King Sihanouk's Birthday.
9 Nov Independence Day.
20 Nov * Water Festival
10 Dec Human Rights Day.

Note
* The religious festivals are determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and are therefore variable. Public holidays falling on a Saturday or Sunday are carried forward to the following working day.

Population:
14,241,640 (July 2008 est)

0-14 years: 33.2% (male 2,389,668/female 2,338,838)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 4,372,480/female 4,627,895)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 193,338/female 319,421) (2008 est.)

Religion:
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%

Language:
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Local Customs:
Cambodia is a collective society where individuals have second importance.
Cambodians greet with a bow, bringing both hands to the chest. The greeting and bowing depends upon the relationship or age or social status.
Shaking hands with women is improper.
People address each other using “Lok” for men and “Lok Srey” for women with their name and surname.
Gifts are usually exchanged normally on Cambodian New Year wrapped in colored paper.
While dining the eldest person starts first.
Print your business cards in Khmer and English.

Best Time to go:
Avoid the monsoonal rains from May to October. Plan your visit from November to February the driest months with comfortable weather.

Weather:

Phnom Penh Weather

Month Average Temp °F Average precipitation
Min Max inches
Jan 69.8 87.8 0.27
Feb 71.6 89.6 0.39
Mar 73.4 93.2 1.57
April 75.2 95 3.03
May 75.2 93.2 5.27
June 75.2 91.2 6.1
July 75.2 89.6 6.73
Aug 78.8 89.6 6.29
Sep 77 87.8 8.81
Oct 75.2 86 10.11
Nov 73.4 86 5
Dec 71.6 86 1.71


Currency:
1 US Dollar = 4,256.46 Cambodian Riel
1 Cambodian Riel (KHR) = 0.0002349 US Dollar

1 British Pound = 6,979.16 Cambodian Riel
1 Cambodian Riel (KHR) = 0.0001433 British

1 Euro = 6,295.23 Cambodian Riel
1 Cambodian Riel (KHR) = 0.0001589 Euro (EUR)


Customs Regulations:
For visitors 18 years or older, allowable amounts of goods when entering are as follows: 200 cigarettes or the equivalent quantity of tobacco, one opened bottle of liquor, and a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use. Currency in possession must be declared on arrival.

Tipping:
Tipping is not a common practice in Cambodia. However, since the salary is low tip 10% in the restaurants for good service. Porters, bell boys can be paid 1,000 Riel. Tour Guides and drivers can be given $2 -$5 at your discretion.