the country

Cambodia the Country and its People

Cambodia is situated on the southerly reaches of the Southeast Asian mainland. Vietnam lies to the east and the southwest, Laos to the north, and Thailand to the north and west. To the southwest along the Gulf of Thailand is Cambodia's short stretch of coastline.

Cambodia's geographical position places it in the midst of many rich and diverse cultures resulting in visibly strong influences, from Indian evident in the beautiful temples of Angkor in Siem Reap to the French easily spotted in Phnom Penh.

Indigenous Khmer people form the majority of Cambodia's population, most live in rural Cambodia, in the mountain areas or on the plains. The second largest group of Cambodians are those of Chinese heritage, followed by the Sino-Cambodians from frequent intermarriages between Chinese men and Khmer women. A significant proportion of Cambodia's population also descend from Cham, Malay, Lao-Thai and Vietnamese backgrounds.

Cambodia has a well-documented and tragic history. Since democratic elections in 1993 the country has slowly been rebuilding following the devastation of civil war and the rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1978. It is approximated that between 1 and 3 million people were killed or died from starvation during the Pol Pot era when family, social structure and infrastructure were completely destroyed. The result is a nation of deeply traumatised people.

In recent history Cambodia has been supported by an abundance of humanitarian aid to rebuild all infrastructures, from health and government to basic needs such as access to water. The development has been speedy but at the same time many people still live in absolute poverty and are still trying to survive day to day, from hand to mouth.

The development process has led to a renewal of traditional crafts such as silk weaving, stone carving, reed weaving, painting and woodcarving. Many of these crafts have been sponsored by non-government organisations and special projects to provide training and income sources for the people of Cambodia. It is through many of these projects that Cambodia house sources its products.