Cambodia Local Customs

  SOME OF THE REALLY LARGE TARANTULAS TO...
by DennyP
 
  • SOME OF THE REALLY LARGE TARANTULAS TO EAT
      SOME OF THE REALLY LARGE TARANTULAS TO...
    by DennyP
  • A LARGE PLATE OF FRIED TARANTULAS FOR SALE..
      A LARGE PLATE OF FRIED TARANTULAS FOR...
    by DennyP
  • HOW ABOUT SOME FRESHLY FRIED CRICKETS !!
      HOW ABOUT SOME FRESHLY FRIED CRICKETS...
    by DennyP
  • MAYBE SOME VERY SMALL FISH!!
      MAYBE SOME VERY SMALL FISH!!
    by DennyP
  • OR A TORTISE OR TWO!!!
      OR A TORTISE OR TWO!!!
    by DennyP
 

Most Viewed Local Customs in Cambodia

1.

Daily life   Phnom Penh

Daily life, Phnom Penh

 11 Reviews  Opposite the Royal Palace along the river is this small shrine which seemed to have some kind of ceremony happening when I was there. You'll also find people selling flowers, birds (which I think are... 

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2.

Useful informations   Phnom Penh

Useful informations, Phnom Penh

 7 Reviews  The traditionally greeting in Khmer culture is a bow with the palms placed together at chest level. To show greater respect, a person can bow lower and raising the hands higher. However, Cambodians... 

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3.

Mindset   Phnom Penh

Mindset, Phnom Penh

 3 Reviews  Cambodian people don't seem to have any manners. This can be observed daily. Of course this excludes the service people who are paid to be polite and nice (ie, hotel staff reception desk, waitress,... 

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4.

Religion   Phnom Penh

Religion, Phnom Penh

 6 Reviews  It’s a very common sight to see Buddha’s in local temples with money donations in plain view, something Westerns might find odd in such a poverty stricken country. But as is the case in most cultures,... 

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5.

Local Market   Phnom Penh

Local Market, Phnom Penh

 1 Review  The Olympic Market is a three story covered market near the Olympic Stadium which was upgraded and reopened in 1994 and now specialises in wholesale items. I went here with a Cambodian girl (who lives... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

I DIDN'T TRY THE LOCAL FAVOURITE DELACIES !!

by DennyP

CAMBODIA I watched as many travellers were trying the local delacies , but for me I passed on them. I watched the girl handling her many tarantula spiders at a bus stop Siem Reap and this I imagined was the normal procedure as she let them run up and down her arms.She held out her hand to offer me a few spiders...I reclined the offer..There were some very large plates of fried spiders by her side that she had for sale.Some German travellers on the bus I noticed that had purchased a bag of various insects and were eating them..I remember a man saying how good they were and they were just like " popcorn"..Then he started coughing and gagging and apparently had one caught in his throat and it was only after a few fellow travellers saw his predicament and came to his aid..luckily his throat cleared or otherwise he would have been in a really precarious position as we were really in the...

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Proper Dress in Temples

by Homanded

Proper temple ettiquette is something tourists often inquire about.I'm a firm believer that, before entering someone's country, it is the tourists sole responsibility to educate him/herself on the do's and don'ts of that country in order to avoid accidentally offending the host.Simple research through most guide books as well as "googling" the country usually ensures good results.Although we found Cambodia incredibly lax as to dress codes compared to other Asian countries, all attempts should be made to follow dress codes when visiting and entering temples or, greeting (especially elders or holy figures such as monks). For a more complete guide, please see link below.

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Khmer (Cambodian) Language

by JessieLang

The Khmer have had a written language since 156 A.D., but it has been modified a bit over the centuries . Their language has 33 consonants, 23 vowels, and 14 Sanskrit letters. Their computer keyboards have 4 letters per key, and they have to use a combination of shift and alt keys to get the right letter.

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The Krama

by JessieLang

Most Cambodians have an all-purpose checked scarf called a krama—it does everything. It’s a head cover, a baby sling, a dust mask, baggage carrier, whatever. Men wear it tied differently than women do when it’s a head covering. It comes in a variety of colors, but almost nobody wears red—that was the color of the Khmer Rouge.

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namasteh instead of shaking hands/silence

by zuhur

I felt culturally blind here without language! But all greetings were the namasteh pose from yoga and bowing the head. I also understood that when Cambodians were silent, instead of responding that was good, or OK. (I also earned a negative response) Khmer Buddhists as well as Khmer Islam and the Cham are modest! I did not wear Islamic dress, I should have. But even beyond that group, it is not a place for lots of skin, although I guess tourists have some leeway.

GIVE TO THE ELDERLY!

by le_routard

In Cambodia you will probably find yourself giving money to, or buying things from the small children. As much as they need it the charities in Cambodia recommend you try avoid this as it just encourages parents to keep them on the streets (and so to some extent out of school). After a while I realised it is better to give to the elderly, or disabled people. You can only imagine what they must have gone through bearing in mind the history of the country. And to top it off many are now forced to spend their days begging on the streets. So they deserve all the help they can get.It seemed to me that this is who cambodians themselves would direct their charity towards. After all there is no form of welfare system or government pension for the elderly in Cambodia. And what struck me most was the humility and gratitude they showed... they will likely not pressurize you to give money.

Khmer classical dance.

by cachaseiro

Khmer classical dance is often referred to as apsara dance and is a dance that dates back from the 7th century.It's a very slow and fine way of dancing where the dancers wear costumes and you can probaply say that is has some links to classical ballet.The dance was forbidden during the khmer rouge in the 1970's and almost all dancers were killed by the regime, but they have made a very good comeback in recent years and it looks like this facinating dance is set to survive.

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Have some home made rice wine.

by cachaseiro

Home made rice wine is a big passion in Cambodia and there is a good chance that you will be offerd some.It looks pretty unhygenic very often and not like something you wanna drink, but i have tried it and didn't get sick and i was able to drink it without looking too funny i think.Give it a go.When in Rome do as the romans.

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Have a spider or a cricket for lunch.

by cachaseiro

The camdodians love to eat spiders and crickets for lunch and you will see them selling by the side of the road and on the markets around Camdodia.I have tried both and find that they have little taste, but the cambodians are one big smile when you mention these funny animals, so i guess they are very tasty once you get used to the taste.

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Handy Customs we learned while visiting

by listenandlearn

It was a shock to us learning that the skull of the poor victims who were tortured till death where collected and presently desplayed in a pretty large glass tall container in the center of a religious or historic congregation. See photos attached.

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Local traditions and culture in Cambodia

Top 3 Hotels in Cambodia

Raffles Hotel Le Royal  Phnom Penh

 9 Reviews and 367 Opinions  Raffles Hotel Le Royal is the premier hotel in Phnom Penh. The hotel was first established in 1929... 

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La Residence d'Angkor  Siem Reap

 1 Review and 371 Opinions  The hotel is simply splendid. The spa is the ideal manner for relaxing after a long sightseeing of... 

 Hotels in Siem Reap

Au Cabaret Vert  Battambang

 56 Opinions

 Hotels in Battambang

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Local Customs: Cities in Cambodia
  1. Phnom Penh Local Customs
  2. Angkor Wat Local Customs
  3. Siem Reap Local Customs
  4. Battambang Local Customs
  5. Phumi Siem Reab Local Customs
  6. Kampong Saom Local Customs
  7. Angkor Thum Local Customs
  8. Prasat Preah Vihear Local Customs
  9. Phumi Tonle Sab Local Customs
  10. Kampong Chhnang Local Customs
  11. Kampong Kantuot Local Customs

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Popular Regions in Cambodia

Khett Siem Reab Local Customs  Khett Batdambang Local Customs  Khett Kampot Local Customs  Khett Mondol Kiri Local Customs  Khett Preah Vihear Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi, we will be in Siem Reap and Phnom penh for about seven days in total in March. What is the best currency to take. Many... 

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A: The best foreign currency to take is US dollars. You can use that in most places and easily exchange a few of them to riels. 

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