Cambodia, also called the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a gorgeous and vibrant south-east asian country surrounded by Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Cambodia is a land of forests and paddies irrigated by the Mekong River and the Tonlé Sap.

From Wikipedia: Cambodian Cultural Village, Siem Reap

Interesting Facts on Cambodia

• Cambodia’s  national flag is the only one in the world  which represents a building: the famous Angkor Wat temple.
• More than  half  of Cambodia’s population is  15 years old or younger .
• Cambodia’s first source of income is the  garment industry . The second is  tourism .
• Like most SE Asian (Buddhist) countries, it is considered  very rude to touch  someone else’s head, as it is considered a sacred part of the body.
•  90%  of Cambodia’s population are  ethnic Khmer .
• Cambodia has a  monarchy , although it is  only symbolic  and holds no power over government. Cambodia’s king is named Norodom Sihamoni, and he is partly of European descent on his mother side (French-Italian-Khmer).

Places to Visit in Cambodia

Cultural tourism is especially popular. Famous tourist spots include the Angkor Wat Hindu temple located in the Siem Reap province.  There are 9 important to know when visiting Angkor, make sure to read it.

^{by jurvetson Over view of Angkor Wat}

The breathtakingly beautiful Royal Palace, built in 1866 and situated in the country’s capital, is also very popular with tourists. The palace’s intricate detailing, with its cream walls and golden roof, is said to be the country’s crown jewel.

Geography

The country is entirely situated in the tropics and borders Laos to the northeast, Thailand to the north and west, and Vietnam to the east and southeast. The change of seasons is marked by monsoons, and the country has two very distinct seasons: a humid, rainy season which lasts from May to October and a dry season from November to April. The country often faces floodings during the rainy season.

^{by Benecee – Bamboo Trains – A soon to be extinct tranport in rural Cambodia}

Brief History & Tragic Past

Cambodia was a French protectorate from 1867 to 1953. Remnants of French culture still live in Cambodia: French is still spoken by a large portion of older cambodians. French is also the language of instruction in several universities. Cambodian French, a French dialect, is spoken all over Cambodia. The main language of the country is Khmer.

Cambodia has a rich but also tragic history. The country has been scarred by coups, revolutions and wars. The Khmer Rouge rebellion left the country ravaged with most of its intellectual elite decimated.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (Click image to read in detail)

During the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, doctors, lawyers and teachers were targeted, in what has been called an ethnic cleanse or genocide. Pol Pot and his followers wanted to create an agrarian society, based on Maoism and Stalinism. It is estimated that 25% of the country’s population was killed in the span of four years, from 1975 to 1979. Although not as explosive as it once was, the political situation in Cambodia is still complicated today, with waring political factions and corruption plaguing the country’s political system.

Major Cities

Cambodia’s largest city, and capital, is Phnom Penh: it is the economic and industrial center of the country and boasts a population of 2.2 millions. Cambodia as a whole has a population of 14.8 millions. Cambodia is made up of 25 provinces, including the capital Phnom Penh.

Religion

Cambodia is overwhelmingly Buddhist. 96,9% of its population practices Buddhism, which is the official religion of the country. Muslims make up 1,9% of the country.