The Kingdom of Cambodia is not only rich in natural beauty and resources, it also a country of deep history, colorful culture, and interesting political structure. The Kingdom of Cambodia was once known as Kampuchea. Today, it is one of the most thriving countries in South East Asia. You can find it on the map very near the countries of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Its capital city is Phnom Penh, and has industries like clothing, construction and tourism making this country’s economy gain stability.

One of the places that really attract people to the Kingdom of Cambodia is the Angkor Wat. Foreigners and tourists had been visiting this place year in and year out. It is a famous temple built for King Suyarman II during the 12th century, and is a place of attraction with a deep religious significance for the Cambodians. Its structure is living proof of the grandeur of the Khmer architecture. It has been the symbol of the country’s art and appears on Cambodia’s national flag, however, Angkor Wat is only one of the tourist locations that you can find in this country. There are more architectural gems, beautiful landscapes and unique places that this country has to offer.

Looking back at the history of Cambodia, it first appeared in literature during the First Millennium AD. In the duration of the 3rd to 5th centuries, the state of Chenla and Funan merged with what is known today as the Kingdom of Cambodia. In the span from the 9th to the 13th century, the Khmer empire ruled over the country with their central power located at Angkor Wat. Cambodia was not free from war struggles during the 14th century, either, with the country in turmoil. They gained temporary independence over the Thais, and by 1867, King Norodom of Thailand decided to renounce power over Cambodia in exchange for the provinces of Siem Reap and Battambang. One of the most notable struggles of Cambodia began during the conquest of Khmer Rouge in 1975. Then, Cambodia’s name Democratic Kampuchea was changed to Pol Pot. Killings were rampant and genocide was a common thing. It was with the efforts of Vietnam that finally allowed Cambodia to gain independence. The Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese people had continued warfare until the 1980’s.

Finally, peace reigned during the treaty in Paris in 1989. The United Nations demanded ceasefire, and helped Cambodian refugees. After the 1997 coup, Cambodia finally started to initialize development and started building infrastructure for their country with the help of other nations including France, Japan, Canada, United States, and West Germany.

Just recently, in 2005, the Kingdom of Cambodia was found to have oil and natural gas deposits, making the country gain gradual stability within their economy. This country is also known for its rich culture. Cambodia has a very unique style of dance, sculpture and arts, and they share the same cultural roots with the countries of Thailand and Laos. Today, Cambodia is gaining grounds in the tourism industry, and is more open to diplomatic transactions from countries around the world.