• 1 Full name on passport
• 2 Passport numbers
• 3 Validity of passport (date issued, date of expiration)
• 4 Nationality
• 5 Gender
• 6 Date of birth
• 7 Arrival date

Be advised that if you enter Cambodia via land border, from Thailand via Poi Pet, Banteay Meanchey Province, or Kok Kong Province, you should to obtain a visa in advance. If travel overland from Laos and Vietnam you must obtain a visa in advance as they cannot be obtained at the border.

Climate and Best Time to go:
The best time to visit Cambodia is between November and February. There are 2 monsoons in the country. From November to February the cool, dry northeastern monsoon carries relatively little rain whereas the southwestern monsoon brings up to 80% of the country’s rainfall from May to October. Maximum daily temperatures range from 20s in January to more than 40 C in April. Daily minimum temperatures are usually not less than 10 C.

People:
Cambodia’s Population at present is around 12 million. Among them, the Khmer people account for between 90%- 95%. The rest include Chinese-Khmers, Khmer Islam or Chams, the Khmer Loeu, and Vietnamese.

Vaccinnations:
No vaccinations are officially required in Cambodia but you should consider some, especially if you plan to travel to rural and remote areas. Some to be considered are: Hepatitis A, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis, Anti- Malarials... You should consult with your doctor or health department about these precautions before you travel to Cambodia

What to take:
Bring light luggage with necessary items. Plan to dress relatively casual. Formal attire is the exeption. Take comfortable and light clothing. Laundry services are quick and cheap. Also bring your passport ( valid six months from the date of entry), and copies of some essential documents such as your driver's licences and passport. You will also want to bring sunglasses, light shoes, sandals for touring and trekking shoes for treks, insect repellent, personal first aid kit....and your camera.

Water and Food
You absolutely must not drink water from the tap nor ice because it is not safe. Botled water is plentiful and there should be no difficulty finding it except on treks into the remote areas where you are relying on boiled water. In regard to food, the two most important precautions are to eat at places that are busy and look clean and to stick to fresh, thoroughly cooked foods. Native Cambodian food is very similar to Thai food but less spicy. Curries, soups, rice and noodle- based dishes, salads, fried vegetables and sliced meats are all featured in Khmer cooking. A typical Cambodian meal consists of a bowl of fried or steamed rice, mixed with bits of fish and seasoned with chillies, mint and garlic. Most of the fresh fish comes from The Tonselap Lake. Other popular and favorite Cambodian foods are: An sam chruk, pong tea kon and Amok....


Currency and Exchange
The Riel is the offical currency and it is relatively stable. The current exchange rate is 4000 Riel to 1 USD and 6000 Riel to 1 EURO. The notes in circulation are 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000 Riel. American Dollars are accepted widely, especially in Phnompenh and Siemreap, while in other areas such as Poipet, Pailin and KohKong, the Thai Baht is widely used. You can exchange travellers cheques only in Phnompenh and Siemreap and the commission for the exchange varies from 1% to 3%. Exchanging currencies should be done at banks or hotels but the rate is different between banks and hotels. Credit cards have not yet gained popularity and are accepted only at the very top-level hotels, banks and some big restaurants in Siemreap and Phnompenh. Generally speaking credit cards are not accepted at most locations in Cambodia

Language:
The nation’s offical language is Khmer. Its only close relative is the language of the Mon, a Burmese minority. Khmer is only distantly related to Thai and to some Indonesian languages, with some borrowed words from Vietnamese, Chinese, Pali, French and English. The script is related to Devanagari and looks a bit like Thai script at first glance. An increasing number of urban Cambodians speak English, especially young people, and some (mostly older) Cambodians can speak French. Though its grammar is quite straight forward, Khmer is a fairly difficult language for most English speakers to learn because of its pronunciation.

Local Customs
You should always remove your shoes before entering temples. Small donations are highly appreciated - You should offer a small gift when invited into a private home for a meal. - Tipping is not part of Cambodian culture, but is always greatly appreciated. As with everyone, good services should be rewarded.- Do not express your anger or exasperation because it reflects badly on an individual. - Do not pat children on the head- Do not point at any one because it is consided rude. To beckon someone, use your hand with the palm facing downwards.

Tele and Post Communications:
In Siemreap, Phnompenh and Sihanouville, you can access internet at your hotels but it is more expensive than other locations and it is usually very slow speed. International Post Service is slow but resonably priced and reliable. International telephone and fax (internal or international) is very expensive. Around 7 USD to fax a page. You should use cell phone to call both inside or outside the country cause landline service is very poor as well as being very expensive. Cambodia International Dialing Code: 855Outgoing international code: 00

Business hours:
For all offices, business hours are from 7.00 am until 5.00 pm with 1-2 hours siesta in between, daily from Monday to Saturday. Banks are open from 8.30 am until 3.30 pm. All offices and banks are closed on public holidays or festivals.

Holidays and Festivals:
There are around 30 public holidays, incredible numbers! On these days, all goverment offices, schools, embassies, companies... closed. Most of the holidays are observed depending on the lunar calendar so the dates vary from year to year. Here's a listing of some famous holidays and festivals:

• January: New years Day ( 1st of Jan), National Day and Victory over Pol pot ( 7th of Jan in 1979)
• Jan/ Feb: Chinese and Vietnamese New Year ( for Vietnamese and Chinese community)
• April: Cambodian New Year or Bonn Chaul Chhnam ( 13-15) this is public holiday.
• May: Labour Day 1st, public holiday
• June: International Children’s Day ( 1st, public holiday)
• July: Chol Vassa The start of the rain season retreat- A Buddhist “lent”- for mediation
• September: End of Buddhist “lent”, public holiday.

October/November:
Water Festival, Bon Om Tuk, public holiday to celeberate the movement of the waters out of the Tonle Sap, boat races in Phnompenh, the festival dates back to the 12th century when King JayavarmanVII and his navy defeated water- borned invaders, most wats have ceremonials canoes which are rowed by the monks to summon the Naga King. Boat races extend over three days but the highlight is the evening gala in Phnompenh when a fleet of boats, studded with lights, row out under the full moon. November: Independence Day (9th,public holiday), marks Cambodia’s independence from French colonial rule in 1953.

December: Human Rights Day ( 10th, public holiday).