Many people are unaware of what is Cambodia known for. They might know the country because it was the Cambodian genocide. There are other things that are important about this Southeast Asian nation.
The country has many different climates depending on where you are in its territory. On the east coast, there are tropical beaches and beautiful waterfalls. There are also temples to visit, as well as a Royal Palace, all built during the French colonial era.
What is Cambodia Special for?
Exploring spectacular historical landmarks, some of which are readily on most people’s bucket lists. It is one of the best things to do in Cambodia.
From the magnificent Angkor Wat and its many offshoots to the eerie Killing Fields of Phnom Penh. This region of the world is a fascinating and rewarding destination to visit. Cambodia’s tumultuous history can teach us all a thing or two.
At remote Bamboo Island, you can switch gears from conflict to peace, or simply relax on the gorgeous beaches of Koh Rong.
Consider Battambang, Cambodia’s ‘rice bowl’ area, if you prefer the countryside to the seaside. Alternatively, you can watch the enchanting Apsara Dance or gamble in Sihanoukville’s casinos.
1. Angkor Wat
The remains of the ancient city of Angkor found a short distance north of Siem Reap. It is home to the world’s largest pre-industrial city, which spans 400 square kilometers.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat is generally the main motive for many visitors to Cambodia. The majestic ruins were once the heart of the ancient Khmer Empire, and it remains a breathtaking monument, well deserving of its renowned fame, even after 1,000 years.
2. The Bayon
The Bayon complex is located in the heart of Angkor Thom (which means “Great City” in Khmer). As a result, Bayon is now the core of the Angkor complex.
You can reach the inner city by a massive stone gate. And also causeways at the site’s four cardinal points. Gods and giants bordered these passages are which add to the complex’s overall appearance.
3. Ta Prohm
Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom may be better recognized for their grandeur and majesty, but Ta Prohm’s temple and monastery steal the award for sheer dramatic effect.
Unlike most other structures in the Angkor Archaeological Park, Ta Prohm has been preserved in its original state for many years. The location is extensively overgrown and hidden by tree roots, which adds to the eerie atmosphere.
4. Tonlé Sap Lake
Tonlé Sap Lake in Siem Reap is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. It creates a large and incredibly diverse natural environment, including flooded woods and wetlands, during the monsoon season, which runs from June to October.
This aids in its transformation into a haven for a bewildering assortment of exotic creatures. Around the lake, there are also some impressive examples of human activity in the shape of various floating houses.
5. Apsaras Dance Performance
The Apsara Dance is a must-see Khmer traditional spectacle that you should not miss while in Cambodia. The Apsaras, the celestial dancers of the legendary court of the gods, are the inspiration for the dance.
During the reigns of Jayavarman II and VII, as well as during the Angkor era, the Apsara Dance took on its own distinctive shape, adding motions and meaning, and was taught and passed down through many generations.
What are 5 Interesting Facts About Cambodia?
Cambodia is also unexpectedly gay friendly; in fact, we rank it as Asia’s second-most LGBT-friendly country, owing to the absence of anti-gay laws and vibrant gay scenes in the main cities. While the King may or may not be gay (more on that later in this post! ), he has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ rights in his nation.
These are some of our favorite Cambodian facts that demonstrate how fascinating, gorgeous, and fantastic this nation is. We hope it inspires you to be as enamored with it as we were.
1. Cambodia has the Largest Religious Monument in the World
Angkor Wat is, of course, the most prominent and well-known intriguing fact about Cambodia. The main reason that travelers flock to Cambodia in such numbers is to see Angkor Wat.
The world’s largest religious structure is famous for one of the world’s natural marvels. UNESCO World Heritage List inscribe it in 1992.
Cambodia was erected as a Hindu temple at the beginning of the 12th century and transformed into a Buddhist temple near the end of the century.
It is a great example of Khmer architecture that has become a national icon of Cambodia and is even depicted on its flag. Although it was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, it later became a Buddhist temple and contributed to Cambodia’s conversion to Buddhism.
Angkor Wat is now a prominent pilgrimage site for Buddhists from all over the world, as well as a popular tourist destination, with over 2.6 million visits each year!
2. Khmer is the Only Official Language of Cambodia
While Cambodia has roughly 19 indigenous languages, Khmer is the country’s only recognized script and language. Cambodia gets its name from the French term “Cambodge,” which is how the Khmer word Kampuchea was pronounced.
Even now, westerners refer to a country like Cambodia, although Cambodians and other Asians refer to it as the “Country of Kampuchea.”
The Khmer language comes from Cambodia’s Khmer people, a Southeast Asian ethnic group. While anybody who lives in Cambodia is considered Cambodian, the term “Khmer” refers to the 97 percent of the population who are ethnically Khmer, if that makes sense.
Given that Cambodians make up 97 percent of the population, it’s no surprise that Khmer is the most widely spoken language in the country.
3. There has Never been a McDonald’s in Cambodia
Our favorite interesting fact about Cambodia is that, along with Ghana and Yemen, it is one of the few countries in the world without a McDonald’s.
Other countries, such as Iceland and Bolivia, may have had it once and then kicked it out, but McDonald’s has never set foot in Cambodia!
The lack of a McDonald’s in Cambodia has been attributed to a lack of demand as well as suspected pressure from the Cambodian franchise owner of Burger King who does not want any competition…
You won’t need to seek a Big Mac if you visit Cambodia because there are so many great local cuisines to sample. Don’t make the mistake of asking for the internet otherwise you can subjected to some light teasing.
While Cambodia does not have a McDonald’s, it does have Burger King, KFC, and their own version of the McDonald’s dubbed “Lucky Burger”:
4. Cambodia has a Gay King
As we landed at Phnom Penh International Airport, we were greeted by the “Kingdom of Cambodia.” The Royal Throne Council elects a constitutional monarch as the country’s head of state. King Norodom Sihamoni, a 51-year-old unmarried ex-ballerina, is the current monarch.
There have been numerous reports that he is gay, particularly when his mother (Queen Monineath) blanched when asked if he was planning to marry soon and exclaimed:
“Wife?” she inquired. “He only has Buddhist feelings!”
However, no formal statement make and King Sihamoni is a highly private monarch.
Putting rumors and gossip aside, we were pleasantly pleased by how gay-friendly Cambodia is, particularly in Phnom Penh’s gay scene and in Siem Reap’s gay pubs. During his reign, the previous King Norodom Sihanouk came out in favor of gay marriage in Cambodia.
5. A New Name for Every new Cambodian Government
Cambodia has had a tumultuous history, which is no secret. Within the last 60 years, the country’s name has changed several times, starting with “The Kingdom of Cambodia” and ending with “The Kingdom of Cambodia.”
In 1970, the monarchy was deposed in a military coup, mainly due to the King’s tolerance of Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops operating within Cambodian boundaries.
The Khmer Republic gave this name to this military regime. The Khmer Rouge, or Communist Party of Kampuchea, came next, renaming the country “Democratic Kampuchea” while committing genocide.
In response to a Khmer Rouge invasion attempt, Vietnam invaded Cambodia, and the People’s Republic of Kampuchea was established by Cambodians backed by Vietnam.
Following the disintegration of the Soviet bloc in Europe, Vietnam lost its communist support and withdrew from Cambodia, which began to make changes, including the renaming of the country The State of Cambodia.
The United Nations assisted in peace negotiations, and the monarchy was eventually restored, and Cambodia was renamed the Kingdom of Cambodia.
- Cambodian Kingdom (1953-1970) (ruled by a monarchy)
- The Khmer Republic: 1970-1975 (ruled by President Lon Nol’s government)
- Democratic Kampuchea: 1975-1979 (under Pol Pot’s terrible Khmer Rouge regime)
- The People’s Republic of Kampuchea: 1979-1989 (under the rule of the Vietnamese sponsored government)
- The State of Cambodia: 1989-1993 (under the United Nations Transitional Assembly)
- The Kingdom of Cambodia: 1993-present (under the restored constitutional monarchy)
How Would You Describe Phnom Penh?
Cambodia’s capital and most populous city are Phnom Penh. Since the French protectorate of Cambodia, it has served as the country’s commercial, industrial, and cultural hub.
Phnom Penh was created in 1434 to succeed Angkor Thom as the Khmer nation’s capital, but it was abandoned multiple times before King Norodom reestablished it in 1865.
Textiles, medicines, machine manufacturing, and rice milling were all formerly major industries in the city. Its main strengths, on the other hand, were cultural.
The Royal University of Phnom Penh (founded in 1960 as Royal Khmer University) had schools of engineering, fine arts, technology, and agricultural sciences, the latter of which was located in Chamkar Daung, a suburb.
The Royal University of Agronomic Sciences and the Agricultural School of Prek Leap were also in Phnom Penh.
In the 1920s, it is renowned as the “Pearl of Asia” for being the most beautiful French-built city in Indochina.
Cambodia’s major international and local tourist sites include Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville. The city found in 1372 knows for ancient architecture and attractions.
Following the fall of Angkor in 1434, it became the country’s capital and remained so until 1497. During the French colonial period, it recovered its capital status in 1865. Along the wide boulevards, there are a number of remaining colonial-era structures.
What do You Like About Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has an allure for me that I can’t get enough of. I fell hard and fast for Cambodia’s capital city when I first visited it eight years ago.
I’m not sure if it was the idyllic setting on the banks of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers, the orange-robed monks strolling through the parks, or the softly decaying colonial buildings that line the boulevards that drew me in. But whatever it was, I couldn’t get enough of it.
Since that brief visit, I’ve held Phnom Penh in the highest regard. Its popularity is so strong that I frequently refer to it as my favorite city in Southeast Asia.
Despite my high regard for Phnom Penh, I’ve recently realized that many visitors do not share my enthusiasm for the city. And, until lately, I was completely unaware that some visitors despise Phnom Penh.
While I understand why some people are put off by the city, I’m always fascinated by how widely people’s perceptions and experiences of a place may differ.
I’m well aware of Phnom Penh’s seediness, dirt, and poverty. I’m also aware that Phnom Penh and Cambodia as a whole are plagued with a slew of frightening and terrible facts. And there’s no doubting that the country is still working its way back from a dark and inexplicable past.
It may not be the most beautiful or flawless city on the planet, but in some ways, I love it that way. And I can’t help but see the beauty hidden beneath the dust and grime.
The Perfect Place to Get Lost
My favorite method to explore a city is on a motorcycle or on my own two feet, as I frequently remark. When I’m in a major city, I like to stroll about a lot.
Part of the reason is that I’m cheap; I’d rather walk everywhere than take an exorbitant tuk-tuk or taxi, even if it’s in the middle of the day in Southeast Asia’s sweltering heat.
However, I also enjoy being lost, seeing glimpses of everyday life, and coming upon hidden treasures that I would not have discovered otherwise.
Phnom Penh is the type of city that is ideal for exploring on foot. The city isn’t huge, measuring 262 square miles and home to around two million people, yet it’s not so little that visitors would get bored in a day.
It’s the ideal size for spending days or even weeks strolling around, exploring the city’s nooks and corners, and taking in everything it has to offer.
Many of the major sites, such as Wat Phnom, the Central Market, and the Royal Palace, are within walking distance of the main tourist area of Phnom Penh.
There’s nothing better for me than getting lost in the city’s chaotic streets, which are bustling with tuk-tuks, motorcycles, and merchants, and seeing what I can find.
A Variety of Architectural Styles
I’m a sucker for old and unusual structures, and Phnom Penh has plenty of them. I don’t see how anyone could believe this city is dreary when I adore its architecture.
The architecture, which ranges from magnificent Khmer-style temples to antique French-colonial structures to small Chinese-style shophouses, is quite amazing.
I also have a thing for old colonial buildings, especially those with peeling paint and decaying facades, therefore Phnom Penh’s picturesque architectural landscape appeals to me. And, while Phnom Penh isn’t exactly glitzy and perfect, I like the beauty that comes with a little grit and age.
Another noteworthy aspect of Phnom Penh’s architecture is that the structures convey a tale about the city’s intricate and varied history.
Wat Phnom, Phnom Penh’s only hill build in the 13th century and still remains in the heart of the city. For centuries the Buddhist temple is still use for worship.
The city is most famous for its colonial structures, which are a legacy of the French who ruled Cambodia from 1863 to 1941. The city’s broad, tree-lined boulevards, majestic homes, and gorgeous churches all have a particular French feel to them.
Following Cambodia’s independence, the King embarked on a construction frenzy in Phnom Penh as part of his efforts to develop a new architectural style known as New Khmer Architecture, which combined post-modern and traditional Angkor forms.
Although most of these structures are outside of the city center, they are fairly spectacular.
Browsing at The Local Markets
I’m not a huge shopper. I do, however, enjoy a good old-fashioned market. And there are several in Phnom Penh. The Central Market is Phnom Penh’s most well-known market. It’s a 10-minute walk from the river, and with its distinctive art deco architecture, it’s easy to find.
Everything from housewares to freshly-cut meats to exotic flowers to fresh fruits and vegetables found by wandering through the maze-like passageways. Prices are increasing at this touristy market but still one of the more affordable locations to eat in town.
At the Central Market, you’ll find everything from grilled fish to steamy bowls of noodle soup to sweet pastries. It’s feasible to spend hours exploring everything this place has to offer, in addition to sampling the local food.
The Russian Market is also a famous tourist destination. It’s a little further inland from the river, so you’ll have to hail a tuk-tuk to get there.
I honestly don’t think the Russian Market is worth the tuk-tuk ride (not to mention the prices are ridiculously high here), but I did have a fantastic time exploring the various regions of this market. This is also the spot to go if you want to do some souvenir shopping.
Every corridor appears to devote a single product. If you walk down a path, you might come across a variety of motorcycle components, coffee shops, or Buddha sculptures. Glitter devote entire lane.
The Night Market, on weekends, which takes place along the river, is a terrific spot to people watch and stock up on inexpensive meals, clothes, and bootleg DVDs.
The City is Teeming with Cute Kitties
This was really just an excuse to include a few beautiful cat photographs in this post. But, truly, one of the most difficult aspects of living a semi-nomadic lifestyle is that I am unable to keep pets.
What type of pet owner would I be if I simply abandoned my pet whenever I went out of town? However, I am a passionate animal lover who adores cats.
When I returned to Phnom Penh this time, I was ecstatic to see all of the adorable and cuddly cats roaming the streets.
Yes, Although the city’s stray cat and dog numbers are a nuisance, they were all very cute and energetic (for the most part). And I couldn’t help but stop and photograph each and everyone I came across.
It’s difficult to pinpoint what makes us enjoy or detest a particular destination as travelers. Our individual preferences and experience influence it to chance down. However, Phnom Penh is simply a city that I adore for whatever reason.
At first glance, I can see why people would want to rush to the ancient temples of Angkor or the idyllic beaches of Koh Rong.
However, Phnom Penh, in my opinion, is well worth a visit. And, I believe, the Phnom Penh visitors will get a handsome reward.
Why is Cambodia Called Khmer?
The Kingdom of Cambodia, or simply Cambodia, is a sovereign kingdom in Southeast Asia on the Indochina Peninsula’s southern tip. It has a population of roughly 16.2 million people and occupies an area of 69,898 square miles.
The Khmer Rouge people who lived in the area gave the country its name. The Khmer Rouge is one of ancient India’s 16 Mahajanapadas.
Although the relationship between the Khmer Rouge of Afghanistan and the Kambojas of Cambodia is contested, the Khmer Rouge is mentioned in Afghan history. The origins and meanings of the “Khmer Rouge” are unknown.
The word was translated as “people who adore beautiful things” in Nirukta’s texts and Yaska’s 7th-century Yaska.
The name is said to be derived from Svayambhuva Kambu, a legendary Indian chief who came to Indochina and married a princess, according to the Baksei Chamkrong inscription from 947 AD. Others claim the name comes from the Old Persian word “Kambaujiya,” which means “weak.”
What is Cambodian Culture?
Prior to 1970, the greatness of the past influenced Cambodian culture and creative expression. The Khmer empire owed much of its success to Indian influence, but it also made unique contributions to Asian civilization.
The temple complexes at Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, as well as the superb architecture and sculpture of the Angkor period (802–1432), marked a high point in Khmer creativity.
After the Tai (15th century) captured Angkor and the empire crumbled, the region experienced four centuries of foreign invasions, civil strife, and widespread depopulation.
Internal security was restored, the country’s borders were fixed, and efforts to resurrect indigenous Khmer art forms were attempted only when the French protectorate was established in 1863.
Following Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953, the government put a strong emphasis on speeding the country’s rebirth.
This occurred at the same time as the fast expansion of primary and secondary school facilities, as well as the rise of education as the most important factor in determining social mobility.
Democratic Kampuchea’s government, influenced by the People’s Republic of China in significant part, subordinated culture to its own interpretations of Marxist-Leninist principles.
After 1979, however, the government in Phnom Penh made concerted efforts to reestablish traditional forms of creative expression such as Cambodian classical music, ballet, and popular theater.
Daily Life and Social Customs
The long-standing divides between urban and rural Cambodians have begun to fade to some extent. This trend began in the 1970s with the eviction of almost two million Cambodians from urban areas, and it continued after 1979 with the reoccupation of urban areas by those who had previously resided in rural areas.
After 1990, the near-ubiquity of television sets in rural areas—albeit in villages rather than individual homes—and the entry of globalization into the countryside exacerbated such changes.
However, life in Cambodia’s main cities continues to be faster than elsewhere in the country. Despite Cambodia’s poverty, urban residents have a better standard of living than farmers.
Many city people can afford automobiles and motorcycles, eat fast food and enjoy busy nightlife. Thanks to salaried jobs in government, industry, and Cambodia’s rapidly increasing service sector.
Rural Cambodians rely on bicycles, oxcarts, and intermittent public transportation outside of Phnom Penh, and planned evening entertainment is rare.
Food shortages, which were formerly a part of everyday life, have become less widespread as a result of political stability and foreign aid.
The Cambodian rural diet, on the other hand, is very boring, consisting almost entirely of rice and fish. Garnishes such as spicy peppers, mint, lemongrass, ginger, prahoc (a seasoned fish paste), and red curry paste add variety.
Music and Dance Forms
Traditional Cambodian culture placed a strong emphasis on music. It was sung and played everywhere—by children at play, people at work, young men and women courting. It was generally part of the many celebrations and festivals held at Buddhist temples throughout the countryside throughout the year.
Traditional music groups featured a variety of wooden flutes and reed instruments, bowed and plucked lutes, hammered zithers, xylophones and metallophones, kong vong gong circles, and drums of various sizes, among other instruments.
The participants improvised their own parts based on a pool of traditional melodic and rhythmic formulae. While following the lead of one instrument, usually the xylophone.
Dancing and theatre were other popular ways to express oneself artistically. The Royal Ballet of Phnom Penh specialized in classical, highly stylized apsara dances retelling the Ramayana epic and other stories.
Both the Khmer and the Thai have modified those forms from the old Angkor dances over the years. Other dramatic genres and folk dances are present by traveling troupes during festivals and weddings in the countryside.
The national classical ballet, which was resurrected in the early 1980s by a few surviving dancers, has matured into a highly professional company that has traveled successfully internationally.
During her time as Minister of Culture at the beginning of the twenty-first century. King Norodom Sihanouk’s daughter, Princess Bopha Devi, is a former star dancer in the royal troupe. Ardently encouraged the rebirth of classical dance.
The Royal University of Fine Arts has played a critical role in the revival of Cambodian classical music and dance after its near-extinction in the 1970s. To help preserve those traditions, Cambodian people overseas have built schools and cultural institutions.
Visual Arts
In the past, Cambodia’s traditional visual arts highlighted the Khmer’s conservatism. There was no effort to modify or adapt Ancient themes. Weaving, silver and goldsmithing, jewelry making, and wood and stone carving were the main crafts.
Visual arts were frequently create for government propaganda in the 1970s and 1980s. Little unique art has evolved in Cambodia since then.
Most artists paint traditional themes and sculpt in repetitious, classical shapes, primarily for tourists and Cambodia’s expanding middle class. Others are more innovative, portraying Cambodia’s legacy and turbulent past in both abstract and soberingly realistic methods.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has worked hard to hire senior artists, train new ones, and promote Cambodian art through domestic and international exhibition sponsorship.
International aid organizations revitalize traditional and modern art programs. UNESCO and the Ford and Rockefeller foundations, both in Cambodia and abroad.
Literature
Indian and Thai literature influence the long literary legacy of Cambodia. However, because only a tiny percentage of the population was literate in the past. Few individuals were able to read indigenous literature.
Despite this, most Khmers are aware of the stories of traditional epic figures such as Neang Kakey and Dum Deav. As well as the Jataka tales detailing episodes in the Buddha’s life. It frequently broadcast on radio and printed in comic books. Folktales known as reuang preng are also popular.
During the 1960s and early 1970s, Cambodia’s historically conservative literature. Western influencers influence its readership of young urbanized Cambodians.
Novels, poetry, visual arts, and films began to reflect the international taste and flourished. In the early 1970s, some 50 new novels were published each year, and new films were made on a regular basis.
Officials in Democratic Kampuchea, on the other hand, have outlawed all kinds of expression. Writers and artists become exiled and the communist regime destroy existing works of art and literature.
Culminating in the destruction of the majority of the country’s books, manuscripts, and paintings. Following 1979, the Vietnam-backed administration continued to restrict freedom of expression by restricting paper distribution and employing literature for propagandist purposes.
Apart from Khmer-English dictionaries, school textbooks, horoscopes, and how-to books, few books are published in Cambodia nowadays.
Novels and serious nonfiction have no market, and government support for writers, which peaked in the 1980s, has disappeared.
As a result, the majority of Cambodian writers currently reside in the United States, Canada, and Europe, where they publish.
Cultural Institutions
The Cambodian government aimed to revitalize the country’s rich creative traditions after gaining independence in 1953. King Sihanouk established the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh in 1965 with the goal of preserving and nurturing traditional arts.
Rouge came to power in 1965 and schools and other educational institutes closed.vThe Khmer Rouge killed many artists during his reign. A tiny minority managed to survive by concealing their identities.
When the school reopened in 1980, it became a magnet for people who had survived the war. It has been a hub of Cambodian creative activity ever since.
It is actively teaching young artists in ancient art forms and funding performances in Cambodia around the world, with two core units. One comprises archaeology, architecture, urbanism, and plastic arts, and the other encompasses choreographic arts and music.
There are two significant museums in Cambodia. Cambodian ethnography, bronze ware, sculpture, and ceramics are all represented at the National Museum.
The Toul Sleng Genocidal Museum commemorates the Khmer Rouge regime’s atrocities and is housed in a former school in Phnom Penh that became the notorious S-21 jail and execution camp in 1976.
The Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, located just southwest of the capital at another former execution site, is also significant. In 1992, UNESCO listed the Hindu-Buddhist ruins of the Khmer state of Angkor (9th–15th century) as a World Heritage Site.
UNESCO World Heritage Site design the Temple of Preah Vihear in 2008 and dedicate it to Shiva worship.
Sports and Recreation
Football (soccer) has long been popular in Cambodia. Although the best players perished or fled the nation during the Khmer Rouge era.
Following that, German supervision trained and rebuild the national squad. Similarly, after the 1970s, Khmer kickboxing, a martial art performed to the accompaniment of a unique variety of traditional music. Resurfaced and garnered a significant and loyal following.
Badminton and tennis are also popular sports, as is cycling. Golf has recently gained popularity among the elite. While motocross has grown in popularity, with regular competitions held in Phnom Penh and the regions.
Outside of Phnom Penh, which has two large venues: the Olympic Stadium and the National Sporting Centre. There are few sports facilities.
Cambodia competed in its first Olympic Games in 1956. It went on to compete in two more without force to withdraw due to war and civil upheaval. With the 1996 Summer Olympics, the country resumed regular participation.
Media and Broadcasting
In Phnom Penh, several daily newspapers (in print and online), including one in English, express a variety of political viewpoints.
Television and radio, on the other hand, are largely controlled by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party; in the 1990s, a number of Cambodian journalists who were critical of the regime were slain, and others were imprisoned.
More than a dozen large radio stations appeal to a diverse range of religious, linguistic, lesser extent, political audiences. Many of them use the Internet to broadcast abroad.
A number of the tiny private station serves local settlements. Several television stations broadcast Khmer and other languages programs.
Modern Cambodia (1993–present)
Cambodia was occupied by Vietnam after the fall of the Pol Pot dictatorship of Democratic Kampuchea. A pro-Hanoi administration, the People’s Republic of Kampuchea discovered.
During the 1980s, a civil war erupted between the government’s Kampuchean People’s Revolutionary Armed Forces. The Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea made three Cambodian political factions:
Prince Norodom Sihanouk’s FUNCINPEC party, the Party of Democratic Kampuchea (often referred to as the Khmer Rouge), and the Khmer People’s National Liberation Front (KPNLF).
Peace efforts accelerated in 1989 and 1991, with two international conferences held in Paris. A UN peacekeeping deployment assisting in the maintenance of a ceasefire.
United Nations funded in elections in 1993 as part of the peace effort, and they served to restore some sense of normalcy. As did the Khmer Rouge’s swift decline in the mid-1990s. Throne restore norodom Sihanouk.
Following national elections in 1998, a coalition government was in form, which brought new political stability and the surrender of surviving Khmer Rouge forces in 1998.
Conclusion
Many people don’t know what is Cambodia known for. People know Cambodia for Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, and its culinary history.
Tourists from all over the world come to Cambodia to visit the rich culture and history.
