About Cambodia

Capital                 : Phnom Penh
Size                     : 181,035 square kilometres
Ethnic Groups      : Khmers: 90% Chams (Khmer Islam), Hilltribes, Chinese, Vietnamese
Official religion    : Theravada Buddhism, Others: Islam and Christianity
Official language : Khmer
Time                    : 7 hours ahead of GMT

Visas

Cambodia has very liberal visa regulations. From overseas, visas to the Kingdom can be obtained from embassies, foreign missions and consulates. Thirty-day tourist and business visas are readily available upon arrival through Pochentong International Airport and Siem Reap International Airport for US$20 and US$25 respectively. Passport size photos are required.

Currency

Riel is the Cambodia's currency. The exchange rate to the US Dollar has hovered from 3900 to 4100 within the last six years, with the usual peg at a flat rate of 4,000. It has been a relatively stable currency to use. The US Dollar is also liberally accepted.

Health

Although vaccination is not official required, it is recommended that traveler get vaccinated for cholera, typhoid, tetanus, and hepatitis A and B. There is no malaria in Phnom Penh or the main tourist destinations.

Sight Seeing

The best and most inexpensive way to take in the sights and sounds of Phnom Penh is by  Tuk Tuk. There are several tour operators in Phnom Penh who offer tours to other parts of the country. Most of them also provide cars and mini-vans for rent.

Transportation

From Pochentong International Airport to anywhere in Phnom Penh will cost you $9.00 per trip. It is about 8 kilometers to the main areas.

Communication

Mobile phones are used by almost everyone. Internet cafes are scattered throughout the city and are very cheap - $1 an hour. The cost of personal internet is decreasing all the time. Mobile modems are becoming the internet connection of choice by many.

Business Hours

Government offices are open from 7:30AM to 5:00PM. However, there can be a two hour time from 11:00am – 1:00pm when these offices are closed for lunch. Most banks are open from 8:00AM to 3:30PM on weekdays and from 8:00am to 12 noon on Saturday mornings. Most businesses open daily from 7:00AM to 8:00PM. Markets open about 7am and are beginning to close at 4:30pm.

PHNOM PENH CITY

Phnom Penh was founded by a rich old lady named Penh, who house was not far from the river bank, on a knoll on the eastern side of small hill. One day, when the water had overflowed she went down to the river bank and found a large Koki tree drifting down the river. She immediately called her neighbors to get into a boat to catch that tree.

After taking it to the bank, she cleaned out the mud and discovered four bronze Buddha statues and one stone Buddha in the hollow tree. Lady Penh and her neighbors exulted in their discovery. They brought all the statues to Lady Penh’s house. Then she asked the people to build a small cottage for them in front of her house and to build up a hill (Phnom) nearby.

After that, she had the Koki sawn up for wood to make a sanctuary. In 1372, as a result of the firm support and assistance of her neighbors, Lady Penh built up a sanctuary on the “Phnom” and covered it with grass called “Sbov Phlaing”. The sanctuary housed the four bronze statues, whereas the stone statue, she put at the foot of the “Phnom” to the east. When the work was finished, the monks were invited to settle at the foot of the “Phnom” to the west. Then, they called it “Wat Phnom Daun Penh” (old lady Penh’s Pagoda).

In 1434, King Ponhea Yat moved the capital from Bassac City (in ancient Kampong Cham Province) to Phnom Daun Penh. The sanctuary built by Lady Penh had been removed, but the King decided to construct a new one. Then he tried to build up the hill and constructed a brick stupa on top.

After the inauguration, the King named the hill “Preah Chedei Paravata”, but nowadays it is simply called Wat Phnom.