Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northern Cambodia, and it is a major tourist destination as the entrance to the Angkor area.
In the Old French Quarter and surrounding the Old Market, Siem Reap contains colonial and Chinese-style buildings. Museums, traditional Apsara dance performances, a Cambodian cultural village, souvenir and handicraft stores, silk farms, rice terraces in the countryside, fishing villages, and a bird sanctuary near Tonle Sap Lake may all be found in the city.
Siem Reap literally translates to “Siam Defeated.” The only rampaging hordes these days are visitors visiting the Angkor Archaeological Park. This once-quaint hamlet has grown into Cambodia’s biggest boom town and building zone. It is a relaxed and lovely location to stay when seeing the temples. Because of the big expatriate population, it is a good balance between seeing Cambodian life and enjoying the conveniences of contemporary services and entertainment. Because Siem Reap is a popular tourist destination, costs in certain cases are higher than in other parts of Cambodia. Expect virtually frequent offers for motodop and tuk-tuk rides, as well as anything else that drivers may be able to give you.
Make sure to pick up your complimentary Siem Reap Angkor Visitors Guide as well as the equally helpful Siem Reap Pocket Guide from your hotel/guesthouse. It has a lot of information on Siem Reap and the Angkor Archaeological Park, including hotel/bar/restaurant/shop information, travel information, and maps. Stay Another Day: Cambodia is a complete guide featuring local sites that help the environment and community for eco-conscious tourists. Another location is the ConCERT tourist office, which is a local NGO dedicated to promoting the standards of responsible tourism and eco-tourism operations, as well as offering information on the causes and consequences of poverty in Cambodia, as well as volunteering opportunities and eco-tours.
As a major tourist destination, Siem Reap now features a significant number of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and companies associated to tourism. This is mostly due to its closeness to the Angkor temples, Cambodia’s most renowned tourist destination.