Welcome to Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a Southeast Asian nation bordered by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, with a stunning coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. Home to nearly 17 million people, its capital Phnom Penh blends modern vibrancy with historic charm, while Siem Reap and Battambang showcase cultural richness. Known for its ancient Khmer Empire, Cambodia is most famous for the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest religious monument. Cambodia today is a peaceful constitutional monarchy, deeply rooted in Buddhism and Khmer traditions. With its warm hospitality, tropical climate, and growing tourism sector, Cambodia invites visitors to discover its heritage, natural beauty, and resilient spirit.
Cambodia’s history stretches back to the Pleistocene era, with early evidence of human occupation found along the Mekong River. The famous Laang Spean cave reveals traces of hunter-gatherer life as early as 6000 BC, later showing the transition to Neolithic culture with the earliest ceramics in the region. By the 3rd millennium BC, rice farming communities began to thrive, leaving behind fascinating circular earthworks and settlement sites like Samrong Sen. The Iron Age (around 500 BC) brought social organization, improved food supplies, and active trade networks, as seen in archaeological finds of glass beads and burial sites. These early cultural developments laid the foundation for the flourishing Khmer civilization that would later create the majestic Angkor temples.
Cambodian New Year (Khmer New Year or Choul Chnam Thmey) is the most important and joyful festival in Cambodia, celebrated every year in mid-April, usually from 13th to 16th April. Marking the end of the harvest season, it is a time when families reunite, honor their ancestors, and welcome the new year with prayers, traditional games, dancing, and water celebrations. Known locally as Moha Sangkran or simply Sangkran, this three-day festival transforms cities and villages into vibrant hubs of culture, where temples are decorated, offerings are made, and people enjoy festive foods. For travelers, it’s one of the best times to experience the warmth of Khmer traditions, community spirit, and colorful street celebrations.
Traditionally, the Khmer people preserved their history and culture by recording information on Tra leaves, which contained legends of the Khmer people, the Ramayana, Buddhist teachings, and sacred prayer books. These manuscripts were carefully wrapped in cloth to protect them from moisture and Cambodia’s tropical climate. Among the country’s vibrant cultural celebrations, Bon Om Touk (the Cambodian Water & Moon Festival) is the most popular, attracting nearly 10% of the nation’s population each year. Held at the end of the rainy season when the Mekong River recedes and the Tonle Sap reverses its flow, the festival is marked by thrilling boat races, moon worship rituals, fireworks, feasts, and a carnival-like atmosphere. Another important observance is Pchum Ben (Ancestors’ Day), a 15-day festival during which Cambodians visit pagodas, offering prayers and food to the spirits of their ancestors. For many, it is also a solemn moment to remember relatives who perished during the Khmer Rouge era (1975–1979).
