A trip to Cambodia is best experienced when you understand where this people comes from — its ancient greatness, recent tragedy, beliefs, and daily joys.
Cover your shoulders and knees (a sarong is often rented at the entrance). Remove your shoes before entering the inner sanctuaries. Avoid turning your back to a Buddha statue when taking a photo. Do not touch the sculptures — the wear on the reliefs of Angkor is already advanced. Keep your voice low in active places of worship.
Yes, with tact. The vast majority of Cambodians over 50 have lived under the regime or lost loved ones. Some speak freely about it, while others prefer not to revisit it. Listen rather than question directly. Guides at memorial sites are often survivors or children of survivors — their testimony is invaluable.
The sampeah is the traditional greeting gesture: hands together at chest height, a slight bow of the head. The higher the hands, the greater the mark of respect. Cambodians do not expect tourists to do it, but the effort is always appreciated — especially in pagodas, with local families, or when greeting a monk.
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