Cambodia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture

Don't just see the sights—get to know the people.

Say "Cambodia," and two associations often come to mind: the lost glories of Angkor, and the horrors of the Khmer Rouge. Any understanding of Cambodia today, however, must embrace these opposites, as well as the changing attitudes within the country caused by something of a demographic revolution—today, close to seventy percent of Cambodians are under thirty.

In the past, Cambodia was the center of the Khmer empire. For six hundred years it ruled much of what is now Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand from its capital at Angkor. The ruins of the Khmer palaces, temples, and cities testify to its power, wealth, high culture, and engineering prowess, while their subsequent abandonment and long obscurity provide a sobering example of civilization's fragility. Today, Cambodia is negotiating its rich and complex past with the challenges of modernity in a globalized world.

Culture Smart! Cambodia is for all those who want to do more than just scratch the surface of this fascinating country. Thoroughly updated, this new edition will enrich your understanding of the land and its people. It explains the key values, attitudes, customs, and traditions that you need to be aware of and provides practical tips and vital information on how to make the most of your time in Cambodia.

Have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on history, values, attitudes, and traditions will help you to better understand your hosts, while tips on etiquette and communicating will help you to navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

Kate Reavill is a Cambodia-based writer, teacher, and travel photographer. Originally from Leicester, England, she is a graduate of the University of Warwick with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and trained as an English teacher at Oxford University. Kate has lived in Cambodia since 2018; today she is resident in the southern city of Kampot, where she teaches English and is an occasional presenter on Radio Oun, one of Cambodia’s national radio networks.