Cambodia Complete Guide for Travel Agency

As a local Cambodia and Vietnam Travel Agency, Viet Vision Holidays is happy to present to you all the best things to do and see in Cambodia as a complete guide for you to send to your customers who are planning to visit this great Khmer Empire.

Must-see Attractions in Cambodia

Temples of Angkor

Bayon Temple

At the heart of Angkor Thom is the 12th-century Bayon, the mesmerising, if slightly mind-bending, state temple of Jayavarman VII...

Banteay Srei Temple

Considered by many to be the jewel in the crown of Angkorian art, Banteay Srei is cut from stone of a pinkish hue and includes some of...

Beng Mealea Temple

A spectacular sight to behold, Beng Mealea, located about 68km northeast of Siem Reap, is one of the most mysterious temples at Angkor...

Angkor Wat Temple

The traveller's first glimpse of Angkor Wat, the ultimate expression of Khmer genius, is matched by only a few select spots on earth...

Ta Prohm Temple

The so-called 'Tomb Raider Temple', Ta Prohm is cloaked in dappled shadow, its crumbling towers and walls locked in the slow muscular embrace of vast...

Koh Ker Temple

Abandoned to the forests of the north, Koh Ker, capital of the Angkorian empire from 928 to 944 CE, is within day-trip distance of Siem....

Preah Khan Temple

The temple of Preah Khan is one of the largest complexes at Angkor, a maze of vaulted corridors, fine carvings and lichen-clad stonework. It is a good…

Angkor Thom South Gate

The south gate of Angkor Thom is most popular with visitors, as it has been fully restored and many of the heads (mostly copies) remain in place. The gate…

Angkor Thom East Gate

The east gate of Angkor Thom was used as a location in Tomb Raider, where the bad guys broke into the ‘tomb’ by pulling down a giant polystyrene apsara…

Phnom Kulen

Considered by Khmers to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia, Phnom Kulen is a popular place of pilgrimage on weekends and during festivals. It played…

Terrace of the Leper King

The Terrace of the Leper King is just north of the Terrace of Elephants. Dating from the late 12th century, it is a 7m-high platform, on top of which…

Preah Neak Poan

The Buddhist temple of Preah Neak Poan is a petite yet perfect temple constructed by Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. It has a large square pool…

Phnom Bakheng

Located around 400m south of Angkor Thom, the main attraction at Phnom Bakheng is the sunset view over Angkor Wat. For many years, the whole affair turned…

Baphuon Temple

Some have called Baphuon the 'world's largest jigsaw puzzle'. Before the civil war the Baphuon was painstakingly taken apart piece by piece by a team of…

Bakong Temple

Bakong is the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group of temples. Built and dedicated to Shiva by Indravarman I, it’s a representation of Mt Meru…

Banteay Kdei Temple

Banteay Kdei, a massive Buddhist monastery from the latter part of the 12th century, is surrounded by four concentric walls. Each of its four entrances is…

Terrace of Elephants

The 350m-long Terrace of Elephants was used as a giant viewing stand for public ceremonies and served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall. Try to…

Prasat Krahom

Prasat Krahom, the second-largest structure at Koh Ker, is so named for the red bricks from which it is constructed. Sadly, none of the carved lions for…

Preah Palilay

Preah Palilay is located about 200m north of the Royal Enclosure’s northern wall. It was erected during the rule of Jayavarman VII and originally housed a…

Prasat Thom

The principal monument at Koh Ker is Prasat Thom. The staircase to the top is open to a limited number of visitors and the views are spectacular if you…

Phnom Penh

Royal Palace

With its classic Khmer roofs and ornate gilding, the Royal Palace once dominated the skyline of Phnom Penh. It's a striking structure near...

Silver Pagoda

Within the Royal Palace compound is this extravagant temple, also known as Wat Preah Keo or Temple of the Emerald Buddha...

National Museum of Cambodia

The National Museum of Cambodia is home to the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture: a millennium’s worth and more of...

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

In 1975 Tuol Svay Prey High School was taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison known as Security Prison...

Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

Between 1975 and 1978, about 20,000 men, women, children and infants who had been detained and tortured...

Psar Thmei Market

A landmark building in the capital, the art deco Psar Thmei (literally 'New Market') is often called the Central Market, a reference to...

Wat Phnom

Set on top of a 27m-high tree-covered knoll, Wat Phnom is on the only ‘hill’ in town. According to legend, the first pagoda on this site was...

Wat Ounalom

This wat is the headquarters of Cambodian Buddhism. It was founded in 1443 and comprises 44 structures. The wat received a...

Independence Monument

Modelled on the central tower of Angkor Wat, Independence Monument was built in 1958 to commemorate the country’s...

Siem Reap

Angkor National Museum

Looming large on the road to Angkor is the Angkor National Museum, a state-of-the-art showpiece on the Khmer civilisation and the majesty of Angkor…

Artisans Angkor

Siem Reap is the epicentre of the drive to revitalise Cambodian traditional culture, which was dealt a harsh blow by the Khmer Rouge and the years of…

Apopo Visitor Center

Meet the hero rats that are helping to clear landmines in Cambodia. Apopo has trained the highly sensitive, almost-blind Gambian pouched rat to sniff…

Sihanoukville

Peam Krasop Wildlife

Anchored to alluvial islands – some no larger than a house – this 260-sq-km sanctuary’s magnificent mangroves protect the coast from erosion, offer…

Long Set Beach

Past the Koh Tuch Beach headland (near Treehouse Bungalows) is Long Set Beach. Walk another half-hour along the sand and encounter little more than hermit…

Sokha Beach

Midway between Independence and Serendipity Beaches lies Sihanoukville’s prettiest stretch of sand, 1.5km-long Sokha Beach. Its fine, silicon-like sand…

Otres Beach

Past the southern end of Ochheuteal Beach, beyond the Phnom Som Nak Sdach (Hill of the King’s Palace) headland, lies stunning Otres Beach, a seemingly…

Lamherkay Beach

About 1.5km southwest of Victory Beach, next to a shady grove, is Lamherkay Beach, also known as Hawaii Beach. Koh Pos (Snake Island), the island 800m…

Ochheuteal Beach

This 4km-long beach qualifies as Sihanoukville’s main beach, but it's no place to swim these days as the rapid development of high-rise casinos along its…

Independence Beach

Northwest of Sokha Beach, much of Independence Beach (also known as 7-Chann Beach) has been taken over by a gargantuan new property development, but a…

Wat Leu

Spectacular views of almost every casino (finished and unfinished) in Sihanoukville and gorgeous sunset panoramas await at Wat Leu, situated on a peaceful…

Kep City

Sothy Pepper Farm

One of the friendliest farms to visit, Sothy is passionate about his product and will gladly elaborate on the history and process behind the 'champagne of…

Kep National Park

The interior of Kep peninsula is occupied by Kep National Park, where an 8km circuit, navigable by foot, mountain bike, or motorbike, begins behind…

Koh Tonsay

If you like the rustic beachcomber lifestyle, Koh Tonsay's 250m-long main beach is for you. This is a place to while away hours or days doing little but…

Northwestern Cambodia

Banteay Chhmar

Beautiful, peaceful and covered in astonishingly intricate bas-reliefs, Banteay Chhmar is one of the most impressive temple complexes beyond the Angkor…

Prasat Preah Vihear

The most dramatically situated of all Angkorian monuments, Prasat Preah Vihear sprawls along a clifftop near the Thai border, with breathtaking views of…

Preah Khan of Kompong Svay

For tantalising lost-world ambience, this remote temple complex about 90km south of Preah Vihear City can't be beaten. It's wrapped by vines and trees,…

Sambor Prei Kuk

Cambodia’s most impressive group of pre-Angkorian monuments, Sambor Prei Kuk encompasses more than 100 mainly brick temples scattered through the forest,…

Phnom Sampeau

This fabled limestone outcrop 12km southwest of Battambang along NH57 (towards Pailin) is known for its gorgeous views and mesmerising display of bats,…

Prasat Banan

It's a 358-stone-step climb up Phnom Banan to reach Prasat Banan, but the incredible views across surrounding countryside from the top are worth it…

Wat Ek Phnom

Hidden behind a colourful modern pagoda and a gargantuan Buddha statue is this atmospheric, partly collapsed 11th-century temple. Wat Ek Phnom measures…

Prasat Tor

The largest of the Sambor Prei Kuk temple complexes, Prasat Tor has excellent examples of Chenla carving in the form of two large, elaborately coiffed…

Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the last places on earth where you can see Cambodia’s national bird, the critically endangered giant ibis. Trips here are run by the Siem Reap…

Eastern Cambodia

Boeng Yeak Lom

At the heart of the protected area of Boeng Yeak Lom is a beautiful, emerald-hued crater lake set amid the vivid greens of the towering jungle. It is one…

Wat Hanchey

This hilltop pagoda was an important centre of worship during the Chenla (pre-Angkorian) period, when, as today, it offered some of the best Mekong views…

Virachey National Park

This park is one of the largest protected areas in Cambodia, stretching for 3325 sq km east to Vietnam, north to Laos and west to Stung Treng Province…

Must-try Dishes in Cambodia

Samlor Korkor

The ingredients list for this nourishing soup is versatile and easily adapted to whatever is seasonal and abundant; it often includes more than a dozen vegetables.

Nom Banh Chok

The dish consists of fresh noodles laboriously pounded out of rice, topped with a fish-based green curry gravy made from lemongrass, fingerroot ginger, turmeric, and garlic.

Amok

The curry is made with fresh coconut milk and kroeung. Traditionally the dish was made with either fish or snails, but now you can find chicken and even vegetarian versions.

Bai Sach Chrouk

Thinly sliced pork is marinated in palm sugar and fish sauce, then slow-grilled over warm coals to impart a smoky sweetness. It’s served over a hearty portion of white rice

Kari Sach Moan

The curry contains chicken, white radish, sweet potatoes, fresh coconut milk, and kroeung. Cambodian red curry is Less spicy than the curries of neighboring Thailand.

Bok Trop Pgnon

Trop pgnon are small, bitter pea eggplants, which grow wild in Cambodia. They are grilled and pounded with garlic, shallots, chilies and just enough sugar to take the edge off their bitterness.

Kha Sach Ko

Every restaurant has its own recipe, but most start with beef stewed with kha base and galangal, chilies, garlic, black pepper, and star anise. The broth is coconut water.

Prahok Ktis

A mash of salty fermented fish is cooked with fresh coconut cream, palm sugar, and minced pork, the pungent prahok becomes mild enough for even trepidatious visitors to enjoy.

Sngor Chruak Sach Trei

The fish is cooked in a light lemongrass broth that’s seasoned with lime juice and fried garlic, making for a wholesome soup served with local herbs, including Asian basil and sawleaf coriander.

Kari Saraman

Beef saraman curry is redolent with spices, with star anise and cassia bark most prominent. The curry is braised with whole peanuts and is most often served with sliced baguette.

Nhoam Krauch Thlong

In this delicious and refreshing dish, the giant pomelo is paired with pork belly, toasted coconut, and small dried shrimp and garnished with mint and fried shallots.

Tuek Kroeung

Tuek kroeung is a thin but pungent dipping sauce made from fresh river fish and fermented fish, served with an array of fresh seasonal vegetables and herbs.

Kha Trei Svay Kchai

Striped snakehead fish is placed in a pot of bubbling, caramelized palm sugar, garlic, and fish sauce, plus plenty of locally grown ground black pepper. Quartered red tomatoes are often added.

Kangkep Baob

Frogs are stuffed with minced pork, roasted peanuts, red chilies, frog meat and fresh kroeung made from lemongrass, garlic, galangal, turmeric and the zest of makrut limes then grilled.

Mee Kola

Rice noodles are garnished with dried shrimp, hard-boiled egg slices, cucumbers, peanuts, and fresh herbs and mixed with a tangy lime-garlic-shallot dressing.

Chrok Krao Chhnang

The main ingredients are smoked or dried freshwater fish, hard-boiled eggs, shallots, and green tomatoes. The soup gets additional flavor from fresh herbs, sugar, and a squeeze of lime juice.

Plea Sach Ko

Thinly sliced beef is dressed with lemongrass, shallots, garlic, fish sauce, Asian basil, mint, green beans, and green pepper.

Chha Trop Dott

Eggplant is grilled over an open flame or hot coals, then topped with minced pork fried in garlic and oyster sauce. Herbs are sprinkled over the top, sometimes Asian basil or spring onions or coriander.

Chaa Kdam Meric Kchai

Local crab is a specialty of the Cambodian seaside town of Kep. Its lively crab market is known for fried crab prepared with green, locally grown Kampot pepper.

Samlor Machu Kroeung Sach Ko

The soup’s base is prahok and a kroeung made of sliced lemongrass stalks, galangal, makrut lime, turmeric, and garlic. When coconut milk is omitted, fresh curry leaves that have been brushed over hot coals are used.

Maam Chao

a dish made with a type of raw, fermented fish known as maam. Roasted rice, galangal, and sugar are added to freshwater fish and left to ferment for at least a month.

Somlor Proher

Pumpkin, taro, and luffa gourd are common ingredients, and lemon basil is such an important part of the dish, that in Cambodia its name translates as “the herb for somlor proher.” The soup usually contains fish, fermented, dried, and fresh

Ang Dtray Meuk

The squid are brushed with either lime juice or fish sauce and then barbecued on wooden skewers and served with a spicy chili sauce originally from the seaside province of Koh Kong, made from garlic, fresh chilies, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar.

Nhoam Svay Kchai

This salad is often made with unripe fruit and usually contain smoked fish and small dried shrimp. Green mango salad is a classic whose flavors of sour fruit, salty smoked fish, and sweet palm sugar form a beautifully harmonious whole.

Aluek Trei Ngeat

In this dish, snakehead fish, abundant in the country’s waterways, are salted and dried, then grilled over charcoal and served with thick chunks of sweet ripe watermelon, for a perfect sweet-and-umami contrast.

Chaa Angrong Sach Ko

The tree-dwelling red weaver ant, some barely visible and others almost an inch long, are stir-fried with ginger, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, and thinly sliced beef.

Kuy Teav

This is Cambodia’s, a flavorful pork-bone-and-squid broth most often served with pork or beef, fish balls and fried garlic.

Sngor Ngam Nov Sach Moan

Pickled limes give this chicken soup a unique flavor evocative of Moroccan cooking. Limes are packed in salt and left to dry in the sun, or boiled briefly and soaked in salt water for several weeks or months.

Num Ansom

This sticky rice cake is wrapped in banana leaves. It can be sweet or savory, filled with bananas and coconut or pork and mung beans

Trei Boeng Kanh Chhet

“Fried fish in the lake” is a party dish, often eaten at restaurants in a special fish-shaped dish. A whole fish is deep-fried and then finished on a hotplate at the table in a coconut curry made from yellow kroeung and chilies.

Must-visit Activities in Cambodia

Phare the Cambodian Circus

Cambodia's answer to Cirque du Soleil, Phare the Cambodian Circus is so much more than a conventional circus, with an emphasis on...

Apsara Dance

The setting for this Cambodian classical-dance show is a striking wooden pavilion finished in the style of a wat. The price includes dinner. It tends to…

Phare Ponleu Selpak

Battambang's signature attraction is the internationally acclaimed circus (cirque nouveau) of this multi-arts centre for Cambodian children. Although it…

Cambodian Living Arts

For this must-see performance, put on daily by Cambodian Living Arts, artists come from CLA's incubator program and work on specific shows for up to two…

Must-come Shopping Centers in Cambodia

Artisans Angkor

On the premises of Les Chantiers Écoles is this beautiful shop, which sells everything from stone and wood reproductions of Angkorian-era statues to…

Russian Market

This sweltering bazaar is the one market all visitors should come to at least once during a trip to Phnom Penh. It is the place to shop for souvenirs and…

Angkor Night Market

Siem Reap's original night market near Sivatha St has sprung countless copycats, but it remains the best and is well worth a browse. It's packed with…