Random Cambodian Facts

TravelPod
Sunday, Jun 08, 2008

Here are a couple random facts from Cambodia that you might be surprised to learn:

1) Cambodians do not know their birthday. Due to the turmoil and poverty caused by the Cambodian revolution, individual birthday celebrations do not exist in Cambodia. As a result, I have not met a single Cambodian that knows what day or even what month they were born. Instead, to keep track of their age, Cambodians coincide their birthday with the Asian New Year which occurs every April and designates the start of rainy season. So, on Asian New Year, everyone turns one year older and celebrates together!

2) Cambodia uses American dollars as their currency. American dollars are accepted around the world, but this is the first place I have been where dollars are the main currency. ATMs dispense American dollars, prices are quoted in American dollars and it is definitely the preferred currency. Cambodia does have its own currency, the Rhiel, but this is only used to make change (in place of American coins); for example if something costs less than a dollar change is given in Rhiel. Right now it is 4,000 Rhiel to one USD, so 50 cents is 2,000 Rhiel. I doubt this practice will continue if the dollar continues to fall. Maybe euros are the new dollar...