Asian Time Zone

Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia and borders Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The country’s official name in Khmer is Kampuchea. In the West, the name Kampuchea most often refers to the country under the Khmer Rouge regime 1975-1979.

Cambodia became a French protectorate in 1863 as part of French Indochina. The Japanese occupied the country during World War II, but in 1953 Cambodia was declared independent. During the Vietnam War, the Americans bombed Cambodia in an attempt to prevent the North Vietnamese army and FNL guerrillas’ operations in the country. The Khmer Rouge took power in the country in 1975 and Pol Pot began his bloody rule of the country. There is varying information on how many people were killed by the Khmer Rouge. The data varies between 1.7 million to 3 million.

In 1979, Vietnam invaded the country and drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, where they continued a guerrilla war against the appointed government. The UN-backed election in 1993 helped to bring the country back to a somewhat more normal state, while the Khmer Rouge almost ceased to exist in the 1990s.

The people of Cambodia often lack education, and the infrastructure is almost non-existent in large parts of the country. Concerns about the political situation lead to delays in the work of aid organizations and others. Cambodia’s economy today is based almost exclusively on tourism. Cambodia is still a very poor country.

WORLD HERITAGE

The following objects in Cambodia are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The year in which the item was added to the list is indicated in parentheses.

• The Temple of Angkor (1992)
• Preah Viheart Temple from the 1000s (2008)

ELECTRICAL OUTLET

Electricity and electrical outlets in Cambodia

Voltage: 230 V

Frequency: 50 Hz

Type of plug: A, C

Need an adapter: No, you do not need an adapter.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER

Weather in Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh

According to Countryaah, Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, with a population of 1.3 million (2008). It is located where the Mekong, Tonlé Sap and Bassac rivers meet.

The city was founded in 1373 with the construction of the Wat Phnom temple. The city became the capital of the country in 1431 when King Ponhea Yat moved there from Angkor after being defeated by Siam (Thailand). The Royal Palace with the Silver Pagoda was built in 1866 and it was only then that the city became a major city. Under French colonial rule, Phnom Penh was known as the pearl of Asia. The city became the capital of independent Cambodia in 1953.

In 1975, the city was taken over by the Khmer Rouge, which displaced the city’s then two million residents. Since the fall of the Khmer Rouge, Phnom Penh has grown to become a tourist destination in recent years, increasing many of the city’s industries. Attractions, in addition to the above, include the National Museum, Choeung Ek (Khmer Rouge execution site outside the city), the Toul Sleng Museum (formerly S-21, Khmer Rouge prison) and Wat Ounalom.

Siem Reap

Siem Reap is a city in northern Cambodia with around 139,458 residents (2006). The city is best known for the nearby ruined city of Angkor, which stands for the city’s main industry, namely tourism. A river with the same name as the city flows through it and then flows into Tonlé Sapsjön.

Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is a port city in southern Cambodia, on the coast towards the Gulf of Thailand, and has 235,190 residents (2006). It is the country’s fifth largest city. The city is connected to Phnom Penh in the north by a 264 kilometer long railway. Sihanoukville has recently become a popular tourist destination, as there are large sandy beaches nearby.