The Land of The Temples of Angkor, The Royal Palace

& The Tonle Sap Lake

Information on Relocating to Cambodia

·         The capital city of Cambodia is Phnom Penh with about 1.2 million people. The political centre is also in Phnom Penh where the King resides. Cambodia is a Constitutional Monarchy.

·        Language: The language spoken is Khmer and spoken by 95% of the population. Chinese and Vietnamese are also spoken. French was widely spoken until the arrival of the Pol Pot regime and is still taught in schools, but English is now a more popular language to learn among the younger generation. The TV programs are mostly in Khmer, Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese, plus some English-language channels.

·        Population: The population is about 14.8 million people - 90% are Khmer, 5% Vietnamese, 1% Chinese, 4% other.

·        Expat areas: Popular area for Expat relocation is the city of Phnom Penh.

·        Housing: Houses are scattered throughout central part of city. All are detached houses surrounded by fences and patrolled by a 24-hour guard service. Houses generally have 3 or more bedrooms and bathrooms. A/C is in most rooms. Each house has a small compound within the fence, containing driveway plus either small area of grass and/or patio area for potted plants.

·        Cost of housing: Varies from area to area and the size of the house or apartment. You'll pay anything from  US$ 400 for a 2 bedroom apartment to US$ 3000 for a 5 bedroom house and even higher. The local currency is Riel (CRl).

·        Schools: We have the International school (with American and British/Australian curriculum) and the French school. Depending on the age we can tell you about waiting lists, etc.

·        Transportation: In Phnom Penh the "cyclo" or pedicab can be seen on every street corner. It costs a little less than a moto, but is not as quick. The cyclo has three wheels, and the driver sits behind the passenger. Cyclos can be hired by the hour or by the day and are a great way to see the sights (not applicable to Angkor). Agree a price in advance. Motorcycle taxis, or "motos", as they are known, can be found all over the country. The drivers are usually recognizable by the fact that they wear hats of some sort (crash helmets are not compulsory in Cambodia), and the motorcycles have larger seats than usual. Because taxis are sometimes hard to find in Phnom Penh the moto is the best way to get somewhere quickly. Many moto drivers speak some English. Always agree the fare beforehand. An International Driving Permit is not recognized in Cambodia, and as car hire does not exist, visitors are advised to hire a car with a driver.

·        Banking: The banking hours are generally from Monday-Friday 8.00 am - 3.30 pm. Some banks are open on Saturdays.

·        Shopping: Is generally done from Monday-Friday from 8.00 am - 8.00 pm. The markets in Cambodia are always a great source of souvenirs. Try the Central Market, in Phnom Penh, which is well worth a visit as it sells clothes, gifts and gems. Bargaining is expected in the markets, which are open daily from around 0700 am to 5.00 pm.

·        Climate: The annual monsoon cycle dictates the climate. Between May and October the southwest monsoon carries heavy daily rainfall, usually for a few hours in the late afternoon. The coolest months are between November and January, though even then temperatures rarely fall below 20ºC (68ºF); overall, this is the best time of year to visit Cambodia. The driest months are January and February, when there is little or no rainfall, and the wettest months are usually September and October. April, which can be furnace-like, is definitely a month to avoiding coming to Cambodia.

·        Culture: The major hotels offer entertainment, and weekly Apsara dance performances are often held from November to March in some hotel gardens. The Holiday International Hotel is a popular nightclub which also offers a karaoke bar and casino.

·        Public holidays: January 1st-New Year's Day; January 7th-Victory Day (celebrating liberation of Phnom Penh and overthrow of the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979); March 8th-International Women's Day; April 13th-16th-Khmer New Year; May 1st-International Labour Day; May (date varies)-Bon Choat Preah Nengkal or Ploughing of the Holy Furrow; May 17th-Visaka Bhucha Day; May 21st-Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal; June 1st-International Children's Day; June 18th-H.M. Queen's Birthday; September 24th-Constitution Day & Re-Accession Day; Late September (date varies)-Bon Dak Ben or "Spirit Commemoration Festival"; October 23rd-Paris Peace Agreement (commemorates the 1991 Paris conference on Cambodia); October 31st-King Norodom Sihanouk's Birthday; November9th-Independence Day from France in 1953; December 10th-UN Human Rights Day.