Truly Discover Cambodia

The only way to truly get to know Cambodia is to embrace it completely—and the kingdom’s dark and haunting history, not too far in the past, defines it just as much as its exuberant culture does. While the awe-inspiring temples of Angkor near Siem Reap embody the pinnacle of the Khmer empire, the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, just outside the capital of Phnom Penh, bear the memory of mass genocide from the time of the Khmer Rouge’s despotic reign in the 1970s. The National Museum of Cambodia, also in the capital, preserves a fantastic collection of bronze, ceramic, stone and wooden objects from the ancient Khmers, many reflecting strong influences from Indian culture. Contemporary galleries and art cafés are also part of the city scene, with Battambang displaying some of the best examples of French colonial architecture. Another way to get to the heart of Cambodia is by exploring its countryside and coastal fishing villages, replete with rural tradition, local food and warm Cambodian smiles.