Cambodia or Kampuchea, officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia and once known as the Khmer Empire, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Its total landmass is 181,035 square kilometres (69,898 sq mi), bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest.
With a population of over 14.8 million, Cambodia is the 69th most populous country in the world. The official religion is Theravada Buddhism, practiced by approximately 95 percent of the population. The country's minority groups include Vietnamese, Chinese, Chams, and 30 hill tribes. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh, the political, economic, and cultural center of Cambodia. The kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Norodom Sihamoni, a monarch chosen by the Royal Throne Council, as head of state. The head of government is Hun Sen, who is currently the longest serving non-royal leader in South East Asia and has ruled Cambodia for over 25 years.
Cambodia's ancient name is "Kambuja". In 802 AD, Jayavarman II declared himself king and marked the beginning of the Khmer Empire which flourished for over 600 years, allowing successive kings to dominate much of Southeast Asia and accumulate immense power and wealth. The Indianized kingdom built monumental temples including Angkor Wat, now a World Heritage Site, and facilitated the spread of first Hinduism, then Buddhism to much of Southeast Asia. After the fall of Angkor to Ayutthaya in the 15th century, Cambodia was then ruled as a vassal between its neighbors.
Cambodia became a protectorate of France in 1863, and gained independence in 1953. The Vietnam War extended into Cambodia, during which the Khmer Rouge took Phnom Penh in 1975 and later carried out the Cambodian Genocide from 1975 until 1979, when they were ousted by Vietnam and then fought against the Vietnamese backed People's Republic of Kampuchea in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War (1979-1991). Following the 1991 Paris Peace Accords Cambodia was governed briefly by a United Nations mission (1992-1993). The UN withdrew after holding elections in which around 90 percent of the registered voters cast ballots. The 1997 coup placed power solely in the hands of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian People's Party, who remain in power as of 2014.
Cambodia is a "vaguely communist free-market state with a relatively authoritarian coalition ruling over a superficial democracy."The country faces numerous challenges and sociopolitical issues, including widespread poverty, pervasive corruption, lack of political freedoms, low human development, and a high rate of hunger.
A low income economy, Cambodia nonetheless has one of the best economic records in Asia, with growth averaging 6 percent over the last decade. Agriculture remains the dominant economic sector, with strong growth in textiles, construction, garments, and tourism leading to increased foreign investment and international trade.
Sihanoukville
SihanoukVille. Cambodia's premier island and beach resort.
It's Winter Time now. Our FAVORITE time of year!
The rains have stopped, the temperature is low (if you call 25 to 30 degrees Celcius low) and the yearly party has begun. The town and islands are filling up and everyone's busy relaxing or partying.
Don't miss out on all the FUN !
Things to do around town.
There are SihanoukVille's beaches. There's Cambodian culture. Then there's everything else.
Beaches and Islands
The town of SihanoukVille is surrounded on 3 sides by the Bay of Thailand. From the beaches and surrounding hills, many of the country's small islands can be seen. Many of the beaches are filled with grass hut restaurants and bars, some of the beaches are rocky, a couple are big resorts, and some are pure sandy beach. A dozen Islands surround SihanoukVille, and these are fairly unspoiled for the moment. Beaches, forest treks, diving, swimming, and chilling are the main activites here.
Day Trips
Many close by stops await you outside downtown SihanoukVille. The fishing village at Stung Hauv, Kbal Chay Waterfalls, Ream National Park, day trips to the islands. You can even holiday in the coastal towns of Kampot, Kep and Bokor Mountain, just 2 hours away. Lots of boat trips to the islands.
Transportation
There are a few ways to get around town. While many tourist walk, there are also motorcycle taxi's and Tuk Tuks (carts pulled by a motorcycle) on every street. To get to SihanoukVille, you can take a car or bus from Koh Kong, near Thailand. From Vietnam, Kampot or Phnom Penh, a bus or car. And cruise ships and Naval ships regularly dock at the port in town. Flights arrive at Phnom Penh and then it's a 3 to 5 hour countryside ride to town from the airport by private taxi or by bus from downtown. Flights also arrive at the SihanoukVille Airport from Siem Reap (Angkor Wat).
Activities
Many vacation activities around town are related to the beaches. Swimming and sunning, trips to the islands, fishing, and snorkeling. Within town, there are many themed restaurants and bars owned by people from all over the world. Buddhist temples, mountain biking, dirt biking, walking around downtown and the central
market, shopping, and seeing the Cambodian culture are also popular activities. Scuba Diving is also very popular.
Night Life
Daylight ends around 6pm here, and the vacation continues. Many beach restaurants stay open until the last customer leaves. Restaurants with French, Japanese, Italian, Indian and many other cuisines come to life. Some bars and the 8 casinos are open 24 hours a day.
Accommodations
SihanoukVille offers places to stay ranging from $2 a night, to an island resort costing thousands of dollars per day. Most hotels and guesthouses are either downtown, on "The Hill", or on one of several beaches. Typical rooms run $6 to $50. $6 gets you a basic fan room, $10+ gets you a nice room with air-con, cable TV, private bath and fridge. $25+ and you might get a poolside room. $50 and up gets you a nicer, bigger room, or better location (think BEACH).
Day Trips
Many close by stops await you outside downtown SihanoukVille. The fishing village at Stung Hauv, Kbal Chay Waterfalls, Ream National Park, day trips to the islands. You can even holiday in the coastal towns of Kampot, Kep and Bokor Mountain, just 2 hours away. Lots of boat trips to the islands.
Transportation
There are a few ways to get around town. While many tourist walk, there are also motorcycle taxi's and Tuk Tuks (carts pulled by a motorcycle) on every street. To get to SihanoukVille, you can take a car or bus from Koh Kong, near Thailand. From Vietnam, Kampot or Phnom Penh, a bus or car. And cruise ships and Naval ships regularly dock at the port in town. Flights arrive at Phnom Penh and then it's a 3 to 5 hour countryside ride to town from the airport by private taxi or by bus from downtown. Flights also arrive at the SihanoukVille Airport from Siem Reap (Angkor Wat).
Activities
Many vacation activities around town are related to the beaches. Swimming and sunning, trips to the islands, fishing, and snorkeling. Within town, there are many themed restaurants and bars owned by people from all over the world. Buddhist temples, mountain biking, dirt biking, walking around downtown and the central
market, shopping, and seeing the Cambodian culture are also popular activities. Scuba Diving is also very popular.
Night Life
Daylight ends around 6pm here, and the vacation continues. Many beach restaurants stay open until the last customer leaves. Restaurants with French, Japanese, Italian, Indian and many other cuisines come to life. Some bars and the 8 casinos are open 24 hours a day.
Accommodations
SihanoukVille offers places to stay ranging from $2 a night, to an island resort costing thousands of dollars per day. Most hotels and guesthouses are either downtown, on "The Hill", or on one of several beaches. Typical rooms run $6 to $50. $6 gets you a basic fan room, $10+ gets you a nice room with air-con, cable TV, private bath and fridge. $25+ and you might get a poolside room. $50 and up gets you a nicer, bigger room, or better location (think BEACH).
