A member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodia is a tiny country, which is in the continental territory of Southeast Asia. It is located geographically between the 10th and 15th parallels north latitude and the 102nd and 108th parallels east latitude. It dominates an area of 181, 035 square kilometers with over 13 millions population of many various races.
Cambodia takes in a boundary of 2,600 kilometers, among of which one-sixth is sea coast and the other five-sixths are land. Cambodia extends 440 kilometers from north to south and 560 kilometers from west to east. It is bordered on the east and southeast by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on the north by the People’s Democratic of Laos, on the west and northwest by the Kingdom of Thailand, and on the southwest by the 440-kilometer coast. Because of its geographical location and its shape, Cambodia has its own natural potentiality for tourism.
Topography of Land
Because it is enfolded by plateaus and chains of mountains, the territory surface of Cambodia is profound and plain at the middle. These natural features of land make the middle area of Cambodia abundant in natural watery systems that favor to its own economy. As considers tourism development, Cambodia is categorized into four sorts of geography.
1. Plain Area
Plain Area is wrapped on a quarter of 25,069 square kilometers. It concludes the capital city of Phnom Penh and other five provinces such as Kandal, Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng, Prey Veng and Takeo.
The area is the most populous quarter of the country. According to census record in 1998, the section is populated with 5,898,305 people; that is, means 51.6 percent of complete population. Evaluated with the area’s territory, the population density is 235 persons per square kilometer.
The most inhabitants who make their home in this section are Khmer, while the rest are Vietnamese, Chinese, Cham, Thai, Lao and westerners. In addition, Krek and Memut district of Kampong Cham Province is the home of ethnic groups taking account of Kuoy and Steang. Because this flat land is copious with communication infrastructure and irrigation systems, its citizens are farmer, fisherman, businessmen, employees, NGOs’ staffs and government official, etc. So their standard of livings is better than other populations who live other areas of the country. For that reason, this section is considered by the government as the heart of Cambodia economy.
2. Surrounded Great Lake Tonle Sap Area
This area covers up s an 67,668 square kilometers. It takes account of all provinces and town around Tonle Sap and Tonle Sap Lake. Those are Kompong Thom, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang and Oddar Meanchey provinces and Pailin city.
In accordance with the 1998 census record, overall population of this section is 3,505,448 with 57 persons per square kilometer. This amount of number is about 30.7 percent of the total population of the Country. The surrounding Tonle Sap area is populated by several races such as Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cham. In addition, the mountainous area of the section is the settlement of a few ethnic groups of Steang, Samre and Sa Och. Most of its occupants are farmer and fisher.
The Surrounding Great Lake Tonle Sap Area is also so important for the economy of Cambodia too because every year it produces thousand tones of fish and rice that provide surplus food needs for Cambodians, and can be supplied to it neighbor countries.
3. Coastal Area
The Coastal Area is at the southwest of Cambodia that is a part of Thailand Gulf. It dominates over a region of 17,237 square kilometers, concluding Koh Kong provinces, Sihanoukville, and Kampot, and Kep city. The landscape of the region is mountainous, highland, plain, coast, seaside and gulf. The coast of the area extend about 440 kilometer from west to east with Sihanouk in the middle. There are approximately 845,000 dwellers living in this part of the country (1998 census).
Calculated with its territory size, there are about only 49 persons inhabited. Among of the, about 80 percent of region’s complete population is Khmer, while the other 20 percent is the combination of Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Cham, and tribal minorities, particularly Sa Och. Most of people living along the coast have a good life. They earn their living by farming fishing and making business in tourism.
Naturally this area offers a good condition for farmer to grow palm oil, rubber, coconuts, pepper, durian and other crops. Along the seaside there are the varieties of mangrove growing almost everywhere.
The bottom of the sea is plain. The depth of the sea is not so deep; its average is only regarding 50 meters with 81 meters in maximum. Because of the sea’s shape and monsoon climate, Cambodian sea is wealthy in aquatic creatures, beautiful unpopulated islands, and gorgeous beaches with white sand and fresh air.
Coastal Area contains three main destinations for tourists which are based in Kep city, Sihanouk Ville, and Koh Kong town. It is a quiet attraction with beautiful white beaches and landscape.
Tourists can buy fresh sea creatures such as: fish, shrimp, ray, crab, lobster, oyster…, etc. with low price. Moreover, Sihanouk Ville is more active, more civilized, and more attractive than Kep because it is the international sea port city of Cambodia. The site concludes many beautiful beaches, hotels, night clubs and casino. In the sea, there are a lot of lovely small islands. Sihanouk Ville, along with Kep city, is the best place in Cambodia for tourist to have a holiday and relaxation from their busy lives or a long traveling. In addition, Koh Kong is a new tourist attraction.
Visitors go there for sightseeing, gambling, trekking, boating…, etc. It is accessible through Thai border with a cheap taxation (about USD20 to USD30 only for 30-day visit).
4. Plateau and Mountainous Area
Plateau and Mountainous Area of Cambodian covers up over the territory of 68,061 square kilometers and dominates inhabitants about 1,189,042 (about 10.3 % of the country's whole population) with 17 persons per square kilometer, as said by 1998 census. This area is originally the home of 18 tribal groups.
Those 18 groups are know as Ar Norng, Bruy, Charay, Kavet, Kachok, Kha, Kraol, Kreung, Kuoy, Lun, Pnong (45%), Roder, Ro Oung, Sa Och, Smil, Steang, Tmuon and Tumpun.
However, many other races of people have settled in the area too; those are Khmer, Laotian, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese. The area includes Kampong Speu, Kratie, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Rattanakiri, and Mondulkiri provinces. Although people have a low standard of living, this region is mainly under the development program of the government, especially in tourism and communication infrastructure.
