PRACTICAL INFORMATION

[Offcial Name] [Location] [Area] [Cities] [Crimate] [Population] [Religion] [Language] [Currency] [Local Time] [Working Hours] [Visas] [Railroads, Highways and Airports] [Getting There] [Domestic Transport] [Flag of Cambodia] [Map of Cambodia]

OFFICIAL NAME After regaining independence in 1953, the country has several names: Kingdom of Cambodia (since 1993) State of Cambodia (1989-1993) People's Republic of Kampuchea (1979-1989) Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979) Khmer Republic (1970-1975) Kingdom of Cambodia (1953-1970) LOCATION The Kingdom of Cambodia is bordered to the north by Thailand and Laos, to the East and the South by Vietnam, and to the South and West by the Gulf of Siam and Thailand. AREA 181,035 square kilometres CITIES Capital : Phnom Penh (population 1 million) Other cities : Battambang, Siem Riep, Sihanoukville CLIMATE Situated in the tropical zone, Cambodia benefits from a great amount of sun almost year-round. Each season has its own beauty and refreshing changes in weather. The average temperature is 27 degrees celcius. The minimum temperature is about 16 degrees. There are two seasons : monsoon season(Apr-Oct) and dry season(Nov-Mar). Hottest month-April (Temperature can reach 38 degrees). Coolest month-December to January (17-27 degrees) POPULATION Total : Approximately 9 million Ethnic Division : Khmer(90-95%), Vietnamese(5%), Chinese and others(1%) RELIGION Theravada Buddhism (official religion) : 95% of population Muslims : 500,000 Christians : 60,000 LANGUAGE Khmer is the officlal language of Cambodia. Older and educated Khmers speak and read French. Younger Cambodians study English as their second language. CURRENCY The unit is riel. Riel denominations are 100, 200 and 500. Exchange rate : 1US$=2500riel (vary all the time!) US$ are generally accepted throughout the country. Some credit cards can be used. LOCAL TIME +7 hours GMT WORKING HOURS Government offices : 7:30-11:30a.m. and 2:00-5:00p.m. Business offices : 8:00-11:30a.m. and 2:00-5:00p.m. Shops : 7:00a.m.-7:00p.m. Banks : 8:00a.m.-3:00p.m. VISAS A fifteen-day tourist visa is available free of charge upon arrival at Pochentong Airport. Visa extensions are possible through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Office of Immigration. RAILROADS, HIGHWAYS AND AIRPORTS Railroads : 655 km Highways : 34100 km Airports : 22 (Tourists are not recommended to go to destinations by both car and train) GETTING THERE There are direct flights to Phnom Penh from Hong Kong, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Ming City, Kuala Lumper, Singapore and Vientiane. Or it can be reached by road from Vietnam Phnom Penh <> Hong Kong -- Dragonair, Cambodian Airlines DOMESTIC TRANSPORT Air Kampuchea carries passengers on their linking flights between Phnom Penh and several cities. But actually, only Phnom Penh and Siem Riep, where the famous Angkor Wat is situated at, are open for tourists. There is railway connected between the capital and the southern and north-western parts of Cambodia. But as rail travel in Cambodia is quite unsafe and uncomfortable, so it is not recommended to travel by rail in Cambodia. And for taxis, you can find large number of them at the carpark of the airport and also the main streets in Phnom Penh. Chauffeur-driven cars can be rented through major agencies and most hotels. The fare is economical when compared to other places, you only have to pay US$5.0 for a whole-day trip in Phnom Penh. FLAG OF CAMBODIA Horizontal band of red separates two equal horizontal bands of blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat in the centre MAP OF CAMBODIA Press here >>>> MAP