FACT FILE OF CAMBODIA

Official Name:

Kingdom of Cambodia

Surface Area:

181,035 square kilometers

It is bordered to the North by Thailand and Laos, to the East and the South by Vietnam, and to the South and the West by the Gulf of Thailand.

Capital City Phnom Penh (Population approx 2 Million, 290 square kilometers). It is considered the center of Industry, Administration, Commerce, and Tourism.

Population 13,124,764 Million (2003 est.) (90-95% Khmers) the balance being ethnic Chinese, Cham, ethnic Vietnamese and hill-tribe people.

Language Khmer, secondary languages: English and French

Religion 95% Theravada Buddhist with the balance being Muslim, Christian and animist

Food and Drink Rice and fish are the basic foods enjoyed by Cambodians. Delicious noodle soups are available at cafes. Fresh seafood is plentiful at Sihanouk Ville. In major cities a wide range of culinary fare is on offer including; Chinese, Thai, French, Korean, Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese and Middle Eastern.

Climate Cambodia has four seasons:

1. Nov-Feb, cool/dry

2. Mar-May, hot/dry

3. Jun-Aug, hot/wet

4. Sep-Oct, cool/wet

Time GMT+7 hours

Voltage 220v/50Hz

Currency RIEL (USD1 approximately 4000 Riels). US dollars are widely accepted.

Tipping Tipping isn’t obligatory but is widely practiced in hotels and restaurants in addition to the service charges shown on bills.

Visas:

- Can be obtained at Royal Embassies and Consulates of Cambodia

- A visa on arrival, valid for 30 days, is issued at Phnom Penh International Airport, Siem Reap International Airport. Poi Pet, O'Smach and Cham Yeam at the Cambodia-Thailand international border checkpoint and Bavet, Kaam Samnor at the Cambodia-Vietnam international border checkpoint.

- Visa fee: Business visa: USD25, Tourist visa: USD20.

Airport Taxi For visitors entering Cambodia through Phnom Penh International Airport, a taxi into the city will cost USD7 and will take approximately 15 minutes. Most hotels and better guesthouses provide airport pickups for booked guests. A (non-metered) taxi from Siem Reap International Airport into town, 8km away, costs about USD5 and takes 10-15 minutes.

Local Transport Cars and mini-buses are readily available for touring the temples at Angkor or for day trips in and around Phnom Penh. The cost of a car and driver is US$20+per day.

Hotels and Guesthouses There are many of each in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Accommodation ranges from guesthouses charging from USD5/night to luxurious 5-star hotels. In Siem Reap there are several small hotels along the road between the airport and the town. (These are peaceful as they're set among rice fields and palms but require a taxi ride for each venture outside).

Nightlife Plenty available, but take your own driver or "motodop" (motorbike taxi driver) for the evening.

Telephone Country code: 855, Phnom Penh code: 23. Phone cards are available, and can be purchased at many outlets. There are also several mobile phone systems. Mobile phones can be rented from booths on the street on a pay-per-call basis.

Opening Hours Government offices: business hours are from 7:30am-11: 30am and 2:30pm-5pm, Monday to Friday. Banks are open from 8am-3pm Monday to Friday. Markets are open from early morning to late evening, including Sundays and pubic holidays.

Postal service Airmail to Europe takes 4-5 days, and to the USA 7-10 days

Newspapers English dailies: The Phnom Penh Post and The Cambodia Daily.

Internet services The Internet and E-mail are available in city and all the provinces.

Tourist information Ministry of Tourism.

Tel.: (855)23 211 593, Fax: (855)23 212 837

Emergency There are emergency services in Phnom Penh. Call 119 ambulance, Call 118 fire truck, Call 117 polices.

International Gate Ways:

- Phnom Penh International Airport

- Siem Reap International Airport

- Sihanoukville Port (Visa on Arrival)

Airport Tax:

International Airport:

- Foreigner: USD25

- Cambodian: USD18

Domestic:

- Foreigner: 6USD

- Cambodian: 5USD (Effective from 5th January 2004)

International Border Checkpoints:

- Bavet (Svay Rieng Province)

- Kaam Samnor-Koh Rokar (Kandal-Prey Veng)

- Cham Yeam (Koh Kong Province)

- Poi Pet (Banteay Meanchhey Province)

- O'Smach (Oddar Meanchhey Province)

- Phnom Den (Takeo Province): No Visa on Arrival

- Dong Krolor (Stung Treng Province): No Visa on Arrival

Getting to Cambodia:

Most international visitors arrive by air at the airports in either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. These airports are serviced by an increasing number of airlines. A growing number of tourists are also entering overland from Thailand and Vietnam.

Domestic Flights:

City Airport Code

- Phnom Penh PNH

- Siem Riep REP

- Battambang BBM

- Mondulkiri MWV

- Rattanakhiri RBE

- Stung Treng TNX

- Sihanouk Ville KOS

- Koh Kong KKZ

- Poipet HPP

Cambodia has six airports at Battambang, Mondulkiri, Phnom Penh, Rattanakhiri, Siem Riep and Stung Treng. All flights pass through Phnom Penh International Airport.