Starting with the Amok, the Cambodian delicacy, the dance, music, lifestyle and all other aspects of Cambodian life have deep cultural roots. The country’s strong and varied cultural inheritance dates back to many centuries and a major part of it is guided by religious principles, inspired from Hinduism and Buddhism.

The first few centuries saw these two major religions, the Sanskrit language and other aspects of the Indian civilization making a strong impact on Khmer culture. The way Cambodians greet others with a “sampeah” gesture, is similar to the “namaste” in India or the “wai” in Thailand. During different periods, Cambodian culture also absorbed the Chinese, Javanese and Thai influences.

Khmer culture strongly defines every aspect of living, such as child birth, death, childhood, marriage, divorce, food, dance, music and literature. It is based on hierarchy and the level of respect a person gets depends on their age; the older they are the higher the status. It is a patriarchal society where the father is the head of the family and one of the most noticeable things about Khmer culture is the fashion of the Cambodian people, which is dependant on the social status and caste of a person.

Cambodians have a strong belief in the spirits and this is the reason the birth of a child, in spite of being a happy occasion, is also believed to bring harm from the spirits because the woman and the child are exposed. Similarly, a woman who dies in childbirth is believed to turn into an evil spirit. One of the most surprising cultural beliefs is that death is not considered as an occasion of grief, as it is said to be the beginning of a better life.

Mention of Khmer culture inevitably brings to mind the exotic cuisine, which is well-known for a variety of delicacies, such as the prahok, is a fermented fish paste used to flavor several dishes or kapi, a fermented shrimp paste. Coconut milk is one of the main ingredients used in curries and in the preparation of desserts.

Visual arts, music and dance play a very important role in Khmer culture and have been prominent for many centuries. The Angkor period saw the peaking of Khmer art. Modern art made its way into Cambodia only in the mid 20th century. The pinpeat ensemble consisting of percussion instruments dominates the music scene in Cambodia. There are other popular music categories like the ritual music of the courts – phleng kar, and mahori, the secular entertainment music. Folk dances and Khmer classical dance are known for the use of hands and feet as a form of expressing emotions.

While the Khmer culture flourished until the 14th century; the Khmer rouge era saw the devastation of the culture, but the pieces have long been picked up, and the rich Khmer traditions of science, art, architecture and spirituality again resonate throughout Cambodia, an exotic region located at the crossroads of India and China.