The official name of Cambodia is the Kingdom of Cambodia, which is a country situated in the southernmost portion of the Indochinese Peninsula. Spread across an area of approximately 181,035 square kilometers with Thailand and Laos as borders to the northwest and the north, while Vietnam and the Gulf of Thailand to the east and the southwest. Its capital city Phnom Penh is the largest city in Cambodia.
97% of the Cambodian population follows Buddhism and the minority groups include Vietnamese, Chinese, and 30 hill tribes. The climate of Cambodia is mostly tropical.
Cambodian culture has evolved under the influence of many factors such as Theravada Buddhism, Hinduism, Angkorian culture, French colonialism as well as Fine Arts. These factors jointly have contributed to the development of Cambodian culture.
Bon Om Touk is a Cambodian Water & Moon Festival that hosts an annual boating contest every year and is considered to be the most attended Cambodian national festival. It is usually held at the end of the rainy season. It is so because the water of the Mekong River where this event takes place remains above normal level during the rainy season. Couples can attend this festival to try out various fun activities such as playing games, watching fireworks, dine in a carnival-type atmosphere. Some of the popular games include soccer, kicking a sey (similar to a footbag, and chess.
One of the characteristic features of Cambodia is that the people of Cambodia visit pagodas across the country. It is a 15-day festival where Cambodians offer prayer and food to the spirits of their ancestors or dead relatives. It is that time of the year when the Cambodians remember their dead relatives who have lost their lives during the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime.
Considered to be the gateway to the ruins of Angkor, Siem Reap is situated on the northwestern side of Cambodia. Some of the major attractions of this place that the couples can visit are as follows:
This temple has been declared the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the presence of the remnants of the Khmer civilization here. There are five towers of this temple that end up culminating in an attractive central tower symbolizing the mythical Mount Meru. The wall space surrounding this temple also has an intricate carving that depicts scenes from Hindu mythology.
An inner royal city that was built by Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th century, Angkor Thom is home to many temples, especially the Bayon.
Couples who are interested in exploring the culture of Cambodia can visit this village.
Siam Reap is surrounded by four rivers- Kompong Khleang, Kompong Phluk, Chong Kneas, and Meychrey which is also home to a bird sanctuary. Out of the four rivers, Kompong Khleang is the largest and also the most primitive.
Tonlé Sap is a part of the Mekong River and is a lake located in the northwest part of Cambodia. It is considered to be the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia as well as the most diverse ecosystem across the globe. It has been declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in the year 1997 due to its richness in biodiversity. Honeymoon couples who are interested in exploring fishing and agricultural area can visit this lake and get mesmerized by its ecosystem. The most interesting fact about this lake is that here fishermen do not kill fish directly because Buddhism doesn’t support the killing of living species. Therefore, they wait for the fish to die naturally after leaving the water. Most of the fishermen here are of Vietnamese origin.
It is the largest museum in Cambodia situated in Phnom Penh having huge cultural importance. It came into effect in the year 1920 during the Khmer New Year (13th of April). Thus, couples who want to know more about Cambodian culture and history must visit this museum.
Moreover, Cambodia is a hub of National Parks and is a boon for couples who want to explore wildlife and nature. Some of the most popular national parks in Cambodia are mentioned hereunder:
Phnom Kulen National Park is one of the top national parks in Cambodia that comprises astounding tourist attractions that attract tourists like a magnet throughout the year. One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Preah and Thom statue (eight-meter tall Buddha statue). Kbal Spean is another major tourist attraction which is home to a few religious monuments that are carved into the rocks of a river bed. Apart from these, this national park is also full of varied species of flora and fauna
If honeymoon couples are looking out for some peace and relaxation, then Koh Rong Sanloem is the perfect destination for them. This island is situated at a distance of 4km to the south of Koh Rong island.
This island mainly comprises white sandy beaches and luxury resorts for couples where they can relax and enjoy the serenity of nature. However, there are accommodation facilities available for people with low budgets also. From cheap dorm beds to modern villas, this island has provisions for everyone. Some of the notable tourist destinations include Lazy beach, Sunset beach, and a little village called M’Pai Bai.
Just like in most Southeast Asian countries, rice is the staple food of Cambodia. Fish collected from the Mekong River is a rich source of protein and essential minerals as well as vitamins. Cambodians preserve some of the fish in prahok so that they can be stored for a long time. The cuisine of Cambodia mainly comprises tropical fruits, soups, and occasionally noodles. The key ingredients that Cambodians use to prepare their dishes are kaffir lime, lemon grass, fish sauce, soy sauce, tamarind, ginger, oyster, and many more. Cambodia is also popular for its street food.
The French influence is also quite prominent in Cambodian cuisine. One such dish that has been inspired by French cuisine is the Cambodian red curry with toasted baguette bread. This curry can also be consumed with rice vermicelli noodles. Honeymoon couples, however, cannot afford to miss the famous dine-out dish kuy teav (pork broth rice noodle soup with fried garlic, scallions, green onions with toppings of beef balls, shrimp, pork liver as well as lettuce.
Cambodian tea is also quite popular and honeymoon couples can give it a try. Tea plantation is found in Mondulkiri Province and also around Kirirom. Cambodians have a special way of preparing their tea by putting water and a mass of tea leaves into a small glass, placing a saucer on top, and then ultimately turning the whole thing upside down to brew. There are no coffee plantations in Cambodia. Thus, coffee beans are generally imported from neighboring countries such as Laos and Vietnam.
Another popular drink is rice wine, often infused with medicinal herbs and sometimes with fruits.6tsuch as Laos and Vietnam. Another popular drink is rice wine, often infused with medicinal herbs and sometimes with fruits.
The couples can book their tour package to Cambodia from November to April because this is the ideal period when Cambodian weather remains pleasant.