Tourist Info
Culture
Identity
The inhabitants of the Kingdom of Cambodia generally identify as Khmer (this noun and adjective can refer to the language, the people and the culture).
Khmer traditions and culture are largely defined by their religion, an amalgamation of indigenous animism and the Indian religions of Buddhism and Hinduism.
There are significant populations of ethnic Khmer in Thailand (‘Khmer Surin’) and Vietnam (‘Khmer Krom).
Religion
Roughly 90% of Cambodians practice Theravada Buddhism (‘school of the elder monks’), following the teachings of Buddha as preserved in the first known complete collection of Buddhist scriptures known as the Pali Canon.
One respects Monks and elders, pagodas are dotted around the country, daily offerings are made, and religious holidays are of great importance.
The remaining population follow Cham (‘Khmer Islam’), Animism, Christianity and Atheism.
???? At the end of a visit to a wat, especially if you have been blessed by monks or have been shown around, it is considered good manners to leave a small donation in the contribution box at the wat.
Social
Family
In Cambodia, life revolves around home and family comes first. Families tend to be large and gather for important celebrations.
Aged parents usually live with their adult children and tend to bring up the grandchildren while the children provide for the family.
Greeting people
Cambodia’s hierarchical society shows in the way you greet and address people.
The greeting is done with a ‘sampeah’, which differs depending on who you greet:
A certain level of respect is shown by choosing the way they address someone, depending on the age (or rank) relation to this person.
???? Greet someone with a smile and a nice sampeah, head slightly tilted down to show your respect.
Confrontations
Khmers will try to avoid aggression and confrontation. ‘Face’ is a very important concept, which is your reputation in front of others.
???? ‘Save face’. Use humour to defuse situations. Keep smiling.
❌ ‘Lose face’ or cause someone to lose face. Avoid raising voices or losing your temper.
Public Affinity
Compared to Western countries, same-sex touching is more accepted, but there is a much stronger taboo against public touching between men and women.
❌ Avoid public displays of affection (holding hands, kissing, hugging)
Other public behaviour
???? Ask for permission before taking someone’s photo
???? When invited to dine at someone’s home, bring a gift (fruit or desserts)
???? Give items with both hands
❌ Do not touch someone’s head
❌ Do not point your feet at someone: this is disrespectful
❌ Avoid being loud, being rude, being drunk in public and brawls
❌ Avoid sensitive conversation topics (politics, religion, genocide etc)
Weddings
Cambodia is a conservative country, the social pressure to marry and have children is strong.
Traditionally, the wedding proposal is done by the parents of the groom, aimed at the parents of the bride, who will ask the girl if she is interested in marrying.
Monks (or his assistant, sometimes a fortuneteller) will decide a lucky wedding date based on their year of birth. Rarely, in case of an unlucky paring, the monk may advise against the marriage.
The groom’s parents pay a dowry to the family of the bride; this money is usually used to cover the cost of the wedding.
The weddings are long, busy, colourful and noisy affairs. A day and a half (sometimes up to three days) packed full of rituals such as ‘hair cutting’, ‘gift giving’ are followed by an evening of lush banquets, drinking, live music and lots of dancing.
Bride and groom have several spectacular traditional Khmer outfit changes, ideally 8, in a variety of colours for a variety of good luck and prosperity.
Guests, usually 100s, sometimes over a 1000, are expected to bring along a cash gift. The money is used to further cover the cost of the wedding.
Death
Buddhists believe in reincarnation; as such, death is viewed as the end of this life and the beginning of a – hopefully better – new life.
The dead are usually cremated and memorial ceremonies are held on the 7th and 100th day after passing away. The spouse and children wear white clothing and shave their heads to show their mourning.
Superstition
In Cambodia, superstition and religion go hand in hand. Belief in spirits (ghosts) is very strong.
Cambodian houses usually feature a spirit house and daily food and drinks are provided to keep the spirits in their spirit houses and away from the family home. Newborns are required to wear a woollen beanie to ward off spirits.
For a dose of good luck monks are visited for a blessing, caged birds are released and people offer fruit on a weekly basis, both at home and to the monks. These are mere examples, the list is much longer.
Khmers put value in the meaning of their dreams, when dreaming about snakes, you will find a partner and if you dream about diamonds or gold you can expect a baby.
Clothing
Khmers are modest and this shows by their conservative dress. Revealing clothes are avoided in general and unacceptable in pagodas, wats and certain ancient sites.
The traditional dress is a ‘sompot’, a looped sarong wrapped around one’s body. The younger generation has taken on a more Western sense of dress including jeans, printed t-shirts and shorter skirts.
???? Cover up your shoulders, torso and legs including your knees especially when visiting religious sites.
???? Take off your shoes when entering a religious building or someone’s home.
❌ Bikinis are shocking enough, but topless and naked sunbathing is a big no-no.
Cuisine
The Cambodian kitchen was influenced by the Chinese (noodles, rice, soy sauce) 1000s of years ago, and later indirectly influenced by India (turmeric, black pepper, curries).
Staple foods are rice and fish, often in combination with a vegetable broth and stir fried vegetables. The quintessential condiment is prahok; rather pungent fermented fish paste. Fruits are eaten throughout the day and rice porridge is a popular breakfast dish.
During festivals and ceremonial occasions, more elaborate dishes are prepared. At ceremonies, families present food offerings to monks.
Language
The only official language in Cambodia is Khmer.
English is the most common second language, some speak Chinese and, a leftover from the colonial times, some of the older generations speak French.
Check out our ‘Learn Khmer’ page for more info & pick up a few phrases in the meanwhile.
Public Holidays
Cambodia is the country with the largest number of public holidays: 28.
During these holidays, schools, banks and government offices are closed. If a holiday is on a weekend-day, the holiday is usually caught up the Monday after.
January 1
International New Year’s Day
January 7
‘Prampal Markara’ (literally 7 January)
Victory Day over the Genocidal Regime. Celebrates the liberation of Phnom Penh in 1979 from the Khmer Rouge.
January or February (variable)
Chinese New Year
Widely celebrated in Cambodia, but the festival is not granted a public holiday.
February (variable)
Meak Bochea Day
This important Buddhist celebration marks a spontaneous gathering of 1,250 Buddhist monks to listen to Buddha’s teachings on the third lunar month’s full moon. During this holiday, the monks gather and pray at their temples. Cambodians visit the temples and participate in traditional religious ceremonies, such as pray and make offerings. The spiritual goal of this day is to purify your mind.
March 8
International Women’s Rights Day
April 14–16
Bonn Chaul Chhnam (Bonn Pimai). Khmer New Year
The New Year’s Festival spans three days following the end of the harvest season. Khmers clean and decorate their houses with an altar for offerings. Offerings are made at temples and traditional games are played.
May 1
International Labour Day
May 13-15
King Norodom Sihamoni’s Birthday.
May 20
National Day of Remembrance
A day to remember the massive genocidal killings that took place in Cambodia during the bloody days of the Khmer Rouge regime.
May/June (variable)
Visakh Bochea.
Commemorates the birth of Buddha.
May (variable)
Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal, the “Royal Ploughing Ceremony”
The Royal Ploughing ceremony, or the opening of the Sacred Furrow, is the first of the traditional agrarian festivals. In times past, on an auspicious day determined by palace astrologists, the King traced the first furrows in the Capital’s sacred rice field, thus inaugurating the ploughing season.
Today, the ritual is performed by a man, King of Meakh, who leads the yoke and plough, followed by a woman, Queen Me Hour, who sows seeds. After thrice circling the rice field, the procession stops at a chapel where Brahmins invoke the protection of the Gods. The sacred cows are unharnessed and guided to seven silver trays containing rice, corn, beans, and other edibles and drinks. Based on their choice, predictions are made for the coming year. If they choose the cereals, harvest will be good. If they eat herbs, cattle diseases are to be feared. If they drink water, rain will be abundant and peace will reign; but if they drink alcohol, trouble will break out in the Kingdom.
June 1
International Children’s Day
June 18
King’s Mother Birthday (Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk)
September 24
Constitution Day, which celebrates the signing of the constitution in 1993
Late September, begin October
Bonn P’chum Ben
This Spirit Commemoration Festival is held for the spirits of the dead. Bonn Dak Ben – the offering of food to the monks – lasts for 15 days. The 15th day of the ceremony – the full moon – is called Bonn P’chum Ben, the collection of the bens (offerings). During this celebration, if departed souls do not find their family making offerings at a wat, it is believed that the soul is cursed and will bother the descendent throughout the year.
October 15
Commemoration Day of King’s Father, HM Norodom Sihanouk, who passed away on 15 October 2012
October
Bonn Kathen
This religious festival lasts for 29 days. The monks come out of their retreat. Town and country folks march in a procession to the wat, where the monks are waiting to change their old saffron robes for the new ones offered during the festival. The ceremony brings spiritual merit to both lay people and the monks.
October 23
Paris Peace Agreements Day.
Commemorates the 1991 Paris conference on Cambodia
October 29
King Norodom Sihamoni’s Coronation Day (29 October 2004)
November 9
Independence Day
The 9th of November 1953 is the date Cambodia achieved independence from France. The occasion is marked each year by a gala parade in front of the Royal Palace, which includes floats, marching bands and other spectacles highlighting the nation’s achievements.
November
Bonn Om Tuk
The three-day Water Festival celebrates the river’s changing flow by watching a festive cavalcade of competitive boat races. The finish line symbolises a gate that retains the water. Once the line is cut, water flows down the Mekong, commencing the fishing season. Other traditional ceremonies are the midnight meals of pounded rice and full moon celebration, with lighted flotillas and fireworks in the evening. It is held at full moon at the end of October or in November.
December 10
UN Human Rights Day