The capital
Phnom Penh
Time
Cambodia time zone: GMT+7 (+4 hours from Moscow).
Population
The population of the kingdom of Cambodia reaches 13 million people. The indigenous people are the Khmers, who live in the south of the country and in the Mekong Valley. Khmers make up 90% of the total population. Also on the territory of the country live Vietnamese, Chinese, Thais, Chams. It is noteworthy that most of the population has not reached the age of 18. More than 93% of the population professes Buddhism.
Language
The main language of Cambodia is Khmer. Also, local residents who make up the communities of national minorities communicate in their native language: Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Cham. See liuxers for Cambodia customs and traditions.
Currency
Monetary unit of the country: riel. Banknotes of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 100000 riels are used in circulation. A common foreign currency is the US dollar, they can be paid everywhere. 1 dollar is approximately 4200 riels. It is better to immediately exchange euros at exchange offices for riels, since they are equal to the dollar and are not accepted everywhere. Credit card payments are accepted in hotels and some shops.
Transport
Transport infrastructure is poorly developed. The main transport is water and road.
City transport is made up of buses, taxis, motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds, auto rickshaws (this is a trolley with several seats attached to a moped). Buses are used only in large cities, as roads in the countryside are in very poor condition. Taxis are generally not in demand transport because the standard of living of the population is very low, and therefore many residents of the country do not have the opportunity to pay for the service of this transport. The main means of transportation are mopeds and auto rickshaws.
In Cambodia, there are three lines of railway tracks that emanate from the capital of Cambodia – Phnom Penh. But during the civil war, the railway tracks were seriously damaged, and at the moment only one line is in operation (from the capital to the border with Thailand ), but this flight is not constant and changeable. The trains themselves are in very poor condition, but it is possible to ride on the roof, from where you can see all the beauty of the local nature.
Waterways play a special role in the country. The Mekong, Tonle Sap, and their tributaries flow through the territory of the kingdom.
There are four airports in the country. The largest are the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. They operate regular flights. The other two airports do not function permanently.
Shopping
Markets run all week from Monday to Sunday, usually from sunrise to sunset. Days off are only on such holidays as Khmer New Year, Chinese New Year and All Souls’ Day.
In the markets and souvenir shops you can buy antiques: ceramics and silverware, silk fabrics, Buddha figurines.
Security
After the recent guerrilla war, the people of Cambodia still have a lot of automatic weapons, but the police are fighting this situation in the country. In this regard, it is necessary to adhere to the following tips to minimize risky situations:
– after dark, do not go out alone;
– do not carry your passport outside, it is better to take a photocopy of it;
– do not carry large amounts of money with you;
– to move around the city it is better to use a taxi or auto rickshaw.
