Capital: Phnom Penh.
Time: GMT + 7.
Tel. Code: 00 855 + 62 Kampong Thom, 23 Phnom Penh, 63 Siem Riep, 34 Sihanoukville.
Official Language: Khmer is the official language and spoken by 95 per cent of the population. Chinese and Vietnamese are also spoken. French was widely spoken until the arrival of the Pol Pot regime and is still taught in schools, but English is now a more popular language to learn among the younger generation.
Currency: Riel (CRl) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of CRl100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500 and 100.
Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz.
Religion: 90 per cent Buddhist (Theravada), the remainder Muslim and Christian. Buddhism was reinstated as the national religion in 1989 after a ban on religious activity in 1975.

Climate: Tropical monsoon climate. Monsoon season is from May to November. The most pleasant season is the dry season, from November/December to April. In the north, winters can be colder, while throughout most of the country temperatures remain fairly constant.
Required clothing: Lightweight clothing and cottons are worn all year. Rainwear is essential during the rainy season.

Pochentong (PNH) is 8km (5 miles) from Phnom Penh. A bus service (travel time – 15 minutes) and taxis (travel time – 10 minutes) to the city are available.
Departure tax: US$25 levied on international departures at Phnom Penh and Siam Reap International Airports; US$20 elsewhere; US$15 for holders of Cambodian passports. Children less than 4 years of age are exempt.