| Capital | Phnom Penh |
|---|---|
| Population | 15.2 million people, about 90 percent are ethnic Khmers. |
| Location | 11° 33′ N, 104° 55′ E (Phnom Penh); Southeast Asia, bordered by Vietnam, Thailand and Laos and the South China Sea |
| Area | Cambodia has a land area of 181,035 square kilometers in the southwestern part of the Indochina peninsula, about 20 percent of which is used for agriculture. The Mekong River, which flows through the country and the Tonle Sap are the lifeline of the people who live along the waterways. The Tonle Spa is one of the richest sources of freshwater fish in the world. |
| Government | Constitutional Monarchy under a Multiparty Democracy |
| Language | Khmer |
| Religion | Theravada Buddhism (97%), Islam, Christianity, Animism |
| Climate | Tropical. Cambodia has two distinct seasons. The rainy season, which runs from May to October or early November, can see temperatures drop to 22 °C (71.6 °F) and is generally accompanied with high humidity. The dry season lasts from November to April when temperatures can rise up to 40 °C (104 °F) around April. |
| Health | Although no vaccinations are officially required for entry to Cambodia, they are highly encouraged. Visitors are advised to check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding protection against malaria, typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and B. Any essential medications should be brought with you as there is no guarantee they will be available in Cambodia. Use an insect repellent against mosquitoes. |
| Local Time | Cambodia runs at GMT +7 hours. |
| Communication | 1: Sign up for an international plan before departure. 2: Do everything via WIFI: many places in Siem Reap offer free wifi or wifi hotspots. 3: Purchase a Cambodian prepaid card: make sure you have an unlocked phone. Mobile SIM cards available at the airports upon arrival and can be topped up at local roadside vendors. |
| Calling code | +855 |
| Internet TLD | .kh |
| Currency |
Cambodian Riel is the official currency, however the US dollars is widely accepted in most places.1 dollar equals approximately to 4000 riel. There is no coinage only Riel notes that come in 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000 and 100,000 but the 500 and 1000 notes are the most useful and common. Pay attention, dollars torn are not accepted, as well as two-dollar bills and dollar bills printed before 2006. |
| Banks |
There are banks in all provincial capitals. They offer the usual banking services – cash advances on credits cards (most accept Visa card,) international currency exchange, cash travelers‟ checks, ATMs with international access. Mostly open from 8:00 to 3:00 or 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Some are open Saturday mornings until 11:30 AM. |
| ATMs | There are now ATMs with international access. All ATMs accept Visa and MasterCard and many Cirrus, Plus and Maestro. All ATMs dispenses US dollars. For locations see the ATM icon on the city maps.ATMs are available 24 hours. |
| Money changers |
Offer a slightly better rate than banks. They are plenty money changers around the traditional markets and there is usually a section within the market dedicated to money changers and gold sellers. |
| Credit Cards | Visa, MasterCard (MC) and JCB cards are the most widely accepted credit in the major tourist towns but not outside Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and the casinos in Poipet. AMEX is coming into wider use, as well as the new ANZ Bluespot card. Diners Club (DC) is accepted at very few places. Most businesses charge a 2%-4% fee to accept credit cards. |
| Water | Never drink tap water purified, bottled water is available everywhere. |
| Electricity power plugs |
Electrical supply uses 220 volts PLUG TYPES An adapter may be needed |
| Hospitals |
Royal Angkor International Hospital and the international clinics can handle most medical problems but serious illness or injury may require medical evacuation, probably to Bangkok or Singapore. Though the cost of medical care is nominal, the cost of medical evacuation is exorbitant and can exceed $15,000 – $20,000 just to a nearby country. Medical travel/expat insurance including evacuation insurance is highly advisable. Be aware that only a couple of places accept insurance and even if they do they will require a letter of guarantee from the insurance company. Short of that, the hospital and clinics expect cash or credit card payment at time of treatment. |
| Royal Angkor International Hospital |
International-standard medical services.24-hour emergency care, ambulance, translation, evacuation.
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| Pharmacies |
U-Care Pharmacy, health and beauty care products
Angkor Tom Pharmacy Pharmacy and beauty store
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| EMERGENCY NUMBERS |
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