Cambodia is a small country, but it is a gem in Southeast Asia with a lot to offer for everyone, including a diverse culture, a rich history, deep-rooted colonial influences, gorgeous landscapes, the innate hospitality of its people, and so much more. Having spent the past 14 years as expats living and working in Phnom Penh, we believe we know enough about this beautiful nation. Hence, I decided to share our list of the top 14 reasons why you ought to visit Cambodia at least once in your life.
- The charm and genuine hospitality of the people
The people of Cambodia make the country more special. With their friendliness, profusion of smiles, generosity, kindness, and genuine hospitality, they entice visitors and tourists to return time and time again. We have traveled from north to south and east to west, and we have received the same consistent warm welcome and kindness from the locals. It’s a smiling country; everyone welcomes you with a big smile on their faces and greets you with “Sous Dai, Bong!” The locals always wear their smiles, making Cambodian people quite fashionable.
- Incredible amount of history
The ancient Angkor Temples in Siem Reap provide a magnificent insight into the past of the great Khmer Empire, a time of national pride that endures to this day. One of the temples in Angkor is Angkor Wat, which was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarnam II. It is a symbol of Cambodia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, classified by the Guinness World Records as the largest religious monument in the world, and before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it was visited by two million tourists every year. It is fascinating to wander around the ancient temples of Angkor and learn more about the kings who built them and the conversion from Hinduism and Buddhism.
The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh was established in 1866, and it showcases Khmer architecture and gives you a peek of Cambodian culture and heritage. It is wonderful to wander around the complex and explore every building inside. The Silver pagoda on the south side of the palace features a royal temple and houses many national treasures such as gold and silver Buddha statues encrusted with diamonds.
The Ancient City of Odong is located in Kandal province, about 35 km northwest of Phnom Penh via National Road Number 5. The Mountain of Oudong (Phnom Oudong) consists of many archaeological findings from pre-Angkor, Angkor and Post-Angkor periods such as sandstone architectural elements and artifacts resulting from the worship of Animism, Hinduism, Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism. It is also a site where the kings were buried.
Both the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Killing Field are in Phnom Penh and provide detailed information on the Khmer Rouge, a communist political group in Cambodia. The four-year period of the Cambodian Genocide, which took place between 1975 and 1979 after the Khmer Rouge came to power in the nation following the Cambodian Civil War, killed 3 million people. However, on January 7, 1979, Vietnamese troops seized Phnom Penh, overthrowing the brutal regime of Pol Pot. I believe it is a must-see for everyone (at least 16 years old and above) to hear the heartbreaking and horrendous stories in order to understand Cambodia and to stop this kind of atrocities from repeating in the future.
- Natural beauty and inspiring landscapes
Cambodia has beautiful mountains such as Bokor Mountain and Cardamom Mountains with deep jungles that are ideal for hiking. The Cardamom Mountains are Southeast Asia’s largest remaining rainforest and home to a number of endangered species, including the gibbons, elephants, clouded leopards, pangolins, sun bears, and many more. Also, it is home to ethnic minority groups.
It also has several stunning tropical islands with beautiful beaches on Koh Rong, southwest of Cambodia. Koh Rong has white beaches, clear turquoise sea, and a leisurely pace of life. The surrounding coral reefs make for excellent snorkeling all day long. This small paradise is perfect if you are looking for idyllic beaches and want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and work.
Cambodia also has great lakes and rivers including the Yeak Laom Lake, the Tonle Sap Lake, the Mekong River, the Tatai River in Koh Kong, and the Teuk Chhou River in Kampot, that are ideal for kayaking and sunset boat cruises.
Furthermore, it also has scenic wooded hills in Mondulkiri, eastern region in Cambodia, tremendous tumbling waterfalls in lush forest in Ratanikiri, northern Cambodia, and wonderful parks in Kirirom, southern part of Cambodia.
- Family friendly activities
All throughout the country, Cambodia provides safe family-friendly activities suitable for kids and offers families the ideal mix of exploration activities, from exploring the world-famous ruins at the Angkor Temples to jungle trekking to paddling up and down the winding scenic rivers to enjoying the tropical islands to learning about arts, and so many more. It offers a variety of activities and experiences that will amuse visitors of all ages, including zip lining, kayaking, caving, rock climbing, bicycling, quad biking, scuba diving, art classes, cooking classes, the Cambodia acrobat circus, cultural villages, nice swimming pools at distinctive resorts, and a lot more.
- Varied cuisine
Cambodia is a paradise for food lovers. Every dish is an explosion of flavors between sweet, spicy, and bitter, salty and sour, fresh and cooked. They love contrast on their plates, and every meal includes a variety of sauces such as sour fish sauce, chili, and lemon with salt and pepper. They love noodle soup, baguettes, and wine. Some of our favorite dishes are fish amok, beef Loklak, vegetable soup, and many more.
- Wildlife and biodiversity
Everyone can enjoy Cambodia’s diverse wildlife and biodiversity, which range from the mighty Mekong to tropical paradises, waterfalls, birdlife, and mountain ranges. For all animal lovers, you can enjoy a full-day behind-the-scenes tour of the Phnom Tamao Rescue Center, which nurses and rehabilitates wild range animals that have been rescued from the clutches of poachers and the illegal trade before being released back into the wild. When we went there, we had a close-up look at the animals, such as gibbons, pangolins that were eventually released into the wild, Lucky the female elephant, one tiger that was a zoo rescue from a safe distance, and many more. Besides a tour at Phnom Tamao Rescue Center, you can enjoy bird watching on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, wildlife tour in Siem Reap, the elephant sanctuaries in Mondulkiri, and various treks through the Cardamom Mountains. All these will undoubtedly give you a WOW experience.
- Innovative accommodations
Across the country, Cambodia provides safe and innovative accommodations. Wherever you go, if you are looking for some rest, relaxation, and downtime, you can find chic and stylish hotels within your price range for travelers looking for some time off.
- Excellent value for money
All over Cambodia, hotels, dining options, attractions, nightlife, and more are reasonably priced, especially if you go local, which you really ought to do.
- Sustainable initiatives
The government and the private sector of the nation are both making investments in green, sustainable, and environmentally conscious travel initiatives, from hotels and resorts to activity options.
- Authentic travel
Nowadays, travelers prefer more genuine experiences, and Cambodia has a lot of these, including lounging on a secluded island, trekking through the jungle, taking in the rare flora and fauna, cycling through undeveloped countryside, staying in a community homestay, learning how to cook traditional Cambodian food, immersing yourself in one of the many festivals, and many others.
- Rich culture
Cambodia is dubbed the “Kingdom of Wonder.” Cambodian people are infused with the rich culture and heritage of their country. They provide opportunities for the visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant local scene, which includes stage performances, elaborate ceremonies, magical Apsara dance, traditional music, etc. You may also check out Cambodian Living Arts, which offers a series of traditional dance shows.
- Celebrations
Numerous public holidays and festivals are observed throughout the year in Cambodia. Some of the major celebrations include Khmer New Year in April, and in November is the Water Festival, where a large crowd gathers at the Tonle Sap River to watch the colorful spectacle of boat races. In addition, the religious celebration of Pchum Ben during which Cambodians remember the departed loved ones takes place in October.
- Art
Many young contemporary artists are leading the way in Cambodia’s thriving art scene. The cities of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Kampot all have galleries. In Phnom Penh, you can see the creations of emerging artists in Sa Sa Bassac, Java Cafe, and the Gallery. You can also stroll around Boeung Kak Lake in Phnom Penh for beautiful street art.
- Great access to neighboring countries
If you have extra time to explore South East Asia, you could always visit its neighboring countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, which are equally fascinating regions with tons to offer. In fact, the Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam trip is the most popular combo itinerary for a couple, group of friends, or family traveling to Southeast Asia because it includes almost all of the region’s distinctive attractions such as incredible temples, food, scenery, and architecture. If you are on a budget or if you wish to see the countryside, you can explore these places by bus (the buses are nice and comfortable), otherwise there are direct flights available.
You illustrate beautiful examples of the then and now, Lilly.
Thank you, Mark! Certainly, Cambodia is a charming nation! 🙂
I would love to visit Cambodia someday. There’s so much history and charm. You had me convinced after the first reason! I can’t even imagine how much time and how many people it must have taken for the Angkor Temples to be built. It’s quite remarkable.
Thanks for your lovely comment, Linda. Hopefully you’re able to see this beautiful nation for yourself one day. The Angkor temples are amazing. They were built without using any sophisticated tools, and the logistics used to build the temples are mind-blowing. If you visit Cambodia one day, let me know, I would love to show you the place.
Lilly, what a beautiful country. I haven’t been there, but your photos and narrative make it sound wonderful. I agree with you about your favorite temple, Bantey Srei. With all the green around it, it looks gorgeous. I love the color of the rocks. The water there looks super inviting, too. I can tell you had a fabulous time. 🙂
Thank you, Marsha! I hope you can visit here one day.🙂
You are so kind. I’ll be in touch if I come over!
I enjoyed this overview of solid reasons to check out Cambodia. My wife and I were ‘stuck’ there for 6 months during the pandemic and really fell for the country and its people. Your article brings back memories of familiar sights and a few new angles, thanks for that 🙂 I still often get a craving for Beef Loklak.
Hello Leighton. I’m glad my post brought back fond memories of your time in Cambodia, and it’s a shame that we dint bump into each other while you and your wife were here. If you want to visit Cambodia in the future, let’s meet up so you can try my homemade beef loklak.🙂
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