Capital: Phnom Penh
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos (slightly smaller than Oklahoma)
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
All U.S. citizens in Cambodia are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh where they may obtain updated information on travel and security within Cambodia. The U.S. Embassy is located at no. 16, Street 228 (between streets 51 and 63), Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The telephone number is (855-23) 216-436 or 218-931;fax (855-23)-216-437. A recording of security information is available twenty-four hours a day at telephone (855-23) 216-805.
Background:
Following a five-year struggle, communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution or enforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside and touched off 13 years of fighting. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy, as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in the mid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national elections in 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender of remaining Khmer Rouge forces.
Ethnic Groups:
Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Language:
Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Currency:
KHR
riel (KHR)
riels per US dollar - 3,909.0 (January 2001), 3,840.8 (2000), 3,807.8 (1999), 3,744.4 (1998), 2,946.3 (1997), 2,624.1 (1996)
Climate:
Tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Population:
12,491,501
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Medical:
Medical facilities and services in Cambodia are not up to international standards.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/.
Safety:
The formation of a coalition government in 1998 has eased political tensions considerably. However, sporadic acts of violence have occurred, such as in late November 2000 when an anti-government group based in the U.S. led an early-morning attack against some government building in Phnom Penh. Grenade attacks and bombings have been used as a form of retribution to settle business and personal disputes. Therefore, the U.S. Embassy advises U.S. citizens to avoid political gatherings or demonstrations, and to be extra cautious in the vicinity of political party offices as well as military buildings or compounds in Phnom Penh and in provincial capitals.
The U.S. Embassy advises its personnel who travel to the provinces to exercise extreme caution outside the provincial towns during the day and in any place at night. Many rural parts of the country remain without effective policing and are subject to banditry.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Cambodia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
Poor
Driving at night in Cambodia is not advised. In both urban and rural areas, road maintenance is sporadic. Roads between major areas are adequate; however, those leading to more rural areas are poor. During the rainy season both urban and rural road conditions deteriorate considerably. Roadside assistance is nonexistent. The safety of road travel outside urban areas varies greatly. Even on heavily traveled roads there can be incidents of banditry, so all travel should be done in daylight between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. For specific information concerning Cambodia driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Washington, D.C. or via the Internet at http://www.embassy.org/cambodia.
