If you paid attention in history class during high school, it’s probably difficult to hear the word “Cambodia” without thinking of the Khmer Rouge period in the 1970s, when dictator Pol Pot murdered millions of his own people in a series of brutal purges. Seasoned travelers, on the other hand, may lament what’s become of the country since Angkor Wat became a must-visit tourist attraction.
Whatever your thoughts about Cambodia, they’re probably at least somewhat influenced by misconceptions about the country that others have wrongfully circulated. Cast aside these preconceived notions about Cambodia before your next visit to ensure you enjoy everything this amazing country has to offer.
While Cambodia isn’t rich, Cambodia’s citizens are far from starving or destitute.
1. Cambodia is the poorest country in the world
The first time I visited Cambodia I was shocked by how modern certain aspects of Cambodian society were, from well-designed and placed advertisements, to working crosswalks and stoplights, to the sheer number of languages Cambodians can speak on account of all the tourists. While it’s true that Cambodia’s annual per-capita GDP is just a hair over $1,000, Cambodia is rapidly emerging from the third world, something the recent discovery of oil off the Cambodian coast is sure to accelerate.
2. It’s difficult/impossible to reach Cambodia
As you know if you’ve read my article about how to travel from Thailand to Cambodi a, visiting Cambodia requires either that you sacrifice your time or your money. If you travel overland, you’re looking at a minimum of nine hours travel time, which thankfully comes at almost no cost to you. Flying costs an arm and a leg, but takes just over an hour from nearly anywhere in Southeast Asia. The bottom line is this: Cambodia only seems difficult to reach for the most spoiled, entitled travelers.
The only assault with which you’re likely to be met in Cambodia is a smile.
3. Cambodia has no infrastructure
I heard this one verbatim from an annoying girl I met on New Year’s Eve 2009. “I thought I was going to vomit on the way from the border to Siem Reap,” she said. “The road was so rough!” Although Cambodia’s infrastructure indeed leaves something to be desired when compared to most of its Southeast Asian neighbors, most of the main tourist routes have been paved, affording for smooth, vomit free navigation. Although no metros or public buses exist, Cambodia’s large cities are small enough to navigate on foot.
4. Cambodians are liars and cheaters
If you frequently travel in developing countries, it is easy to become suspicious and even paranoid of local people who randomly approach you, even if they seem to be perfectly nice. In Cambodia, it doesn’t take long to realize that the vast majority of locals are simply intensely curious about foreigners. Do many of them have products or services they’d like to sell you? Of course. But I never once experienced the kind of aggression or deceit I’ve seen in places like Egypt or India while in Cambodia.
No number of tourists can make sights like this tree growing out of a temple at Ta Prohm less cool.
5. It isn’t safe to travel in Cambodia
Cambodia has a reputation as being dangerous, both because of land mines left behind by the Vietnam War, as well as volatile relations with its Western neighbor, Thailand. I won’t attempt to say that either of these concerns aren’t valid, but what I will say is that crossing the Cambodian doesn’t place you in any particular danger, except maybe falling for a fake Cambodian visa scam if you aren’t vigilant. As far as land mines, you won’t encounter any as long as you stay on well-traveled paths.
7. Throngs of tourists have ruined Cambodia
A couple years ago, upon spending my 25th birthday at Angkor Wat, I got into an argument with a “more experienced” traveler than myself who asserted I was stupid for having enjoyed myself at the temple. A few years ago, he wrote, Angkor Wat was nothing short of an archaeological dig. Now, it might as well be Disneyland. Is Cambodia filled with tourists? In some places, absolutely. But who cares? That doesn’t erase the fact that a massive, ancient, moat-surrounded city sits in the middle of the jungle just a few miles from Siem Reap, does it?
Cambodians are just as curious about you as you are about them.
7. Cambodians hate Westerners
It is tempting to think that Cambodians would be disdainful of Westerners, be it because of how nonchalantly European and later, American armies have marched back and forth over their land throughout history, or because of the huge numbers of tourists who continue to do so. As I alluded to above, the simple fact is that Cambodians are curious about Westerners, particularly Cambodian children, who are some of the most intelligent kids I’ve met anywhere. The girl who tried to sell me a DVD at Siem Reap’s Mexican restaurant spoke four European languages fluently!
Robert Schrader is a travel writer and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications such as “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” along the way. His blog, Leave Your Daily Hell, provides a mix of travel advice, destination guides and personal essays covering the more esoteric aspects of life as a traveler.
