Cambodia — country of Angkor Wat, 16 million inhabitants. Most spectacular reminder of Khmer civilization.
- Angkor Wat — world's largest religious temple 162 hectares. Built 12th c. by King Suryavarman II. UNESCO 1992. Symbol on Cambodia's flag.
- Khmer Empire 9th-15th c. Capital Angkor — one million inhabitants (12th c.). Larger than London then. Hindu/Buddha, temples to this day.
- Pol Pot — Khmer Rouge 1975-1979 Genocide of 2 mn Cambodians (25% of population). Liquidated intelligentsia, cities, religion. Choeung Ek - 'Killing Fields'.
- Tonle Sap — Southeast Asia's largest lake Seasonal — in monsoon 4× larger than in dry season. Floating fishing villages.
- Cambodia has 4 UNESCO sites Angkor, Preah Vihear (temple on mountain top), Sambor Prei Kuk, Koh Ker.
- Official language: Khmer Oldest Austroasiatic language (20th c. BC). Khmer script also oldest (7th c.) — model for Thai, Lao.
- Riel — national currency But 80% of transactions in USD. Hence Cambodia 'dollarized' practically.
- Phnom Penh — capital destroyed by Pol Pot Khmer Rouge evacuated everyone to the countryside. After 1979 Phnom Penh had to rebuild from scratch.
- Theravada Buddhism — 97% of inhabitants Monks wear saffron robes. Monasteries in every village. After Pol Pot — Buddhist revival.
- Krong Siem Reap — Angkor's tourist base Airport + 200 hotels. 2 mn tourists annually (pre-pandemic). Small village earlier, today a metropolis.
Sources: National Institute of Statistics Cambodia, Ministry of Tourism, UNESCO World Heritage.