Cambodia is a neighboring country of Vietnam. Traveling in Cambodia is discovering one of the most attractive and developing places in the world. The country is ranked in the top 5 of the cheapest places of travel in Asia. If international tourists can pay a visit to Chiangmai (Thailand) or Vientiane (Laos), they will visit Cambodia because of the ancient heritage and magnificent temples.
If you are lucky enough to go on holiday in Cambodia, do not miss its popular places such as Angkor Wat Temple, Angkor Thom Complex, Siem Reap City, Royal Palace, and Silver Pagoda. the port of Sihanoukville city and Preah Vihear temple. Don’t worry about transportation. You can choose various modes of transportation. Want to go from Sihanoukville to Battambang? You can even order your transportation online.
Temple of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
The temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom are in the province of Siem Reap, far from Phnom Penh about 320 kilometers to the north. They are one of the most important heritages in Cambodia and considered as the marvelous architectures of the art of the Khmer people. The archaeological park of Angkor contains magnificent remains of the various capitals of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century.
The main temples were built as a five-storey pyramid and surrounded by a water reservoir creating a square 1.5 km long. The building is decorated with old patterns, carved images on the wall along the lobbies. The archaeological park of Angkor is recognized as one of the wonders of the world by UNESCO. It is a pride of the Cambodians.
Phnom Penh, the capital
The small capital of the country has become one of the mecca for independent travelers around the world. The city stretches over the left bank of the Mekong and has, despite its size, quite a lot to see. The Royal Palace (Boulevard Samdach Sothearos) and the Silver Pagoda (Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot), which occupies a special place in front of the brown riverbed of river shape next to the Preah Sisowath road (‘river bank’, as locals call it) the heart of the city filled with small markets, temples and some surprises like the French Quarter, echoes of the colonial past filled with Art Deco houses and small palaces that share space with the Mountain Pagoda (Wat Phnom), one of the oldest and most respected Buddhist temples in city.
The city also has several good cultural centers: The National Museum is more than recommended and has an interesting collection of local history that highlights the country’s cultural richness with a special interest in the Khmer Empire (IX-XV century). For the latest lovers of history, despite Cambodian violence, there are milestones such as the former S-21 Security Prison turned into the Sleng Toul Genocide Museum and Killing Fields (death camps) – unsuitable for delicate stomachs – two places related to the genocide committed by the Khmer Red.
Royal Palace and Golden Pagoda-Silver Pagoda
The Golden Pagoda and the Silver Pagoda are both located in the Royal Palace of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. The Royal Palace is a collection of buildings where the royal family lived. It was built more than a century ago to serve as accommodation for the King’s family and foreign guests. A palace is also a meeting place for officials, diplomatic meetings and royal ceremonies. When visiting the Royal Palace, visitors will have the chance to discover the King’s Reading Room, the holding of important events, etc. Leaving the Royal Palace, visitors turn right and can see the Silver Pagoda. There are many tourists amazed by these names of the golden pagoda and the silver pagoda. The reality is right. At the Silver Pagoda, visitors can pay with silver coins or admire a variety of huge statues created from different types of stone.
Note: when tourists come to visit the palace, they are not allowed to wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, and slippers. This expresses respect to the deceased king.
The colonial city of Battambang
It is the second most important city in the country but is a real unknown to the western traveler. To be honest, you can reach this city easily. And that is a beautiful city that can be seen with pleasure and, what is better, live with pleasure. From Battambang they will tell you that it is the ‘colonial city’ of Cambodia, due to a large number of French buildings that remain standing; But it also has an impressive collection of pagodas, historic buildings, and such special Cambodian markets. In addition, on the outskirts of the city the traveler can visit the Temple of Ek Phnom, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Khmer stage in the country (they say the second after Angkor) and also get on the curious Bamboo Train, Curious wooden platforms equipped with an engine that works like a taxi and run along the train tracks. And the best thing about this city is that you will not find almost tourists, which is something that is appreciated.
City of Siem Reap
Siem Reap is the capital of Siem Reap province in northwestern Cambodia and a popular seaside resort and is the gateway to the Angkor region. Siem Reap is growing faster than the country. The city is beautiful with many ancient temples, shopping centers, a large system of hotels and restaurants of varied quality. In addition, do not forget to book a little of your time to discover traditional Apsara dances, silk farms, rice fields, and souvenir and craft stores. Siem Reap is today a popular tourist destination of Cambodia.
Tonlé Sap Lake
A few kilometers from Siem Reap is this gift from the Mekong River which, in the time of the Monsoon, grows to almost ten times its size, watering the fields with silt-rich waters and minerals; In that sense, the Khmer Empire and Ancient Egypt shared the blessing of the floods. Tonlé Sap is surrounded by rainforest areas that form important natural reserves. The most accessible from the capital is the Roniem Forest Reserve (access from Pursat). Another place worth seeing is the Floating Village of Chong Kneas, a curious village of palafitos raised over the lake’s waters by Vietnamese refugees fleeing the war of the neighboring country. There is everything; a temple, a school, a market and even a community house that functions as a local government. The excursion is very worth it.
Port of Sihanoukville city
Sihanoukville is also called Kampong Som, which is a port city, a seaside resort in Thailand Bay. What attracts tourists here is the white sand beach and the tropical islands very suitable for short stay holidays. The sea is quite calm. And above all, the beach here has no rocks, no corals, no seashells on its coast. It is the most ideal and unique beach in Cambodia. In addition to taking a swim on the beach, tourists can also explore the Ream National Park with over 21,000 acres and the 60-meter high Victory Hill.
Preah Vihear
Preah Vihear is a very famous Khmer temple. It is located on a cliff of 525 meters from Dangrek Mountain between the border of Cambodia and Thailand. This is one of the remaining architectures of the 11-12th century. The temple is a complex and precise masterpiece of sculptural architecture. People come here for the worship of Shiva gods in Hinduism.
Cambodia is a city with many tourist attractions. So why not go on a combined Vietnam Cambodia trip now to explore this mystical country as well? We hope you will have an exciting Indochina trip. Cambodia is waiting for you!
