Cambodia

Cambodia is home to over 15 million people, and an overwhelming 90% are ethnic Khmer, the heart and soul of the nation. You’ll also find Khmer communities beyond the borders—in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta and across Thailand, where more than a million Khmer are believed to reside. On most Cambodia tour packages, visitors will find themselves interacting with Khmer people at every turn—welcoming, resilient, and proud of their culture.

🌏 Khmer Origins

The Khmer people are believed to have migrated from the west—possibly as far back as Iran and India during the Iron Age. They settled in what is now Cambodia, eventually building one of Southeast Asia’s greatest civilizations: the Khmer Empire (9th–15th century). The legacy of this empire, from the stunning temples of Angkor Wat to an elaborate writing system inspired by Indian scripts, is something travelers will explore through any well-designed Indochina tour package.

🕌 Religion and Way of Life

Early Khmer civilization was heavily influenced by Hinduism, later transitioning to Mahayana and finally Theravada Buddhism, which remains the dominant faith today. However, Khmer people still hold strong beliefs in ancestral spirits and the supernatural, which are deeply woven into rural life.

Festivals such as Choul Chnam Thmey (Khmer New Year in April) and Pchum Ben (Ancestor Day) are central to Cambodian culture, and experiencing them offers a unique window into local traditions.

🛶 Khmer in the Mekong Delta

Many Cambodia–Vietnam tours include the Mekong Delta, a region still home to Khmer communities. A river cruise from Phnom Penh into southern Vietnam lets you witness how Khmer traditions persist outside Cambodia.

🗣 Language and Culture

The official language is Khmer, but regional dialects do exist. French colonization in the 19th century introduced new elements of order, education, and architecture, some of which still influence Cambodian life today. Despite the tragedies of the Khmer Rouge era, the Cambodian people have shown remarkable resilience and optimism.

🌄 Ethnic Minorities

Beyond the Khmer majority, Cambodia is also home to Chinese and Vietnamese minorities, as well as indigenous hill tribes whose lives remain closely tied to nature and animistic beliefs. These groups often reside in more remote regions and offer a glimpse into Cambodia’s deep-rooted diversity.