Customs and Etiquette
Greetings
Greetings in Cambodia are more than just a way
of saying "Hi". Known as "Sompeah", it involves holding your
hands together as if praying and slightly bowing the head at the same time.
The "Sompeah" is appropriate for both sexes.
The height at which the hands are held depends on the social status
of the person being greeted. With equal social standing, the hands are held near the mouth.
When greeting
someone of higher social status or a monk, for instance, the hands are held higher, signifying greater respect,
and can be at the level of the nose or even the brow.
The bow will also be correspondingly lower.
When greeting someone younger or of inferior social status, the hands are held at the level of the chin.
It is not necessary to "Sompeah" taxi drivers or waiters in a restaurant or other workers in shops, etc.
After the
initial introduction when you "Sompeah", it is not necessary to repeat it each time you meet afterwards, especially
with friends or colleagues at work.
However you greet, you should not forget to smile -:)).
Communication Style
To the uninitiated, communicating verbally in Cambodia can be confusing
and sometimes even frustrating. This is due to the typical non-confrontational and indirect approach that distinguishes
the Cambodian communications style.
They will tell you what they think you want to hear rather than telling you the "truth". This often results in
getting contradictory information to the same question from different sources.
As always, stay calm in such situations and do not aggravate them by pointing out the obvious.
Their motivation is not malicious and they do not intend to cause you harm; rather, they aim to be polite and do not wish to bother
you with their problems. The easiest way to ask questions then is to ask those that have a simple yes/no answer and to try and piece
together the information thus gleaned into a bigger picture. Avoid the how/why questions that can cause discomfort
and even irritability.
In the event of a conflict, do not try to resolve the situation directly with the other party concerned. Rather,
use a third party,
an intermediary trusted by both sides, to resolve the conflict. The conflict itself may never get mentioned. The aim is to re-establish
congenial relations and once this has been achieved, it is better not to bring up the contentious issue again.
The world is not as black or white for Cambodians as it is for many Westerners and therefore "yes" may not always
mean "yes" and "no" can
also have different meanings, even "yes". Therefore, a clue to the correct interpretation is often found when observing the body language
rather than the actual words. While Cambodians always smile, their smile can mean either pleasure or embarrassment, so other non-verbal
communications, such as giggling nervously, especially when bringing negative news, will assist in understanding the real message that is
being communicated.
Making Eye Contact in Cambodia
Unlike in the West, Cambodians tend to make indirect eye contact only in most social situations.
When talking to a superior, like a manager for instance, direct eye contact is usually avoided. The same applies when speaking to an older person. However, you can follow their lead and if they look directly at you, it is fine to reciprocate but not to initiate.
Conversely, when you are talking to a younger person or one of equal social standing, they will follow your lead as far as eye contact is concerned.
It is common that when a man is talking to a woman, especially a much younger woman than the man, that the woman will tend to look at the ground and not at the person speaking.
Touch and Personal
Space in Cambodia
It is recommended in a formal or business setting
to always keep
at arm's length from the next person, whether male or female.
Physical contact between men and women should be avoided.
In a social setting, follow what the others do but keeping an arm's length distance is always safe. If you are meeting
with close friends of the same sex, physical contact, including hugging and holding hands, is acceptable and there are
no sexual connotations associated with such behaviour.
However, when meeting with people of the opposite sex, one should always be careful and remain at a safe distance.
physical contact, especially in public places, is deemed to be inappropriate and any displays of affection in public should be avoided.
Economy
Since 2004, garments, construction, agriculture, and tourism have driven Cambodia's growth.
GDP climbed more than 6% per year between 2010 and 2012.
The garment industry currently employs more about 400,000 people
and accounts for about 70% of Cambodia's total exports.
In 2005, exploitable oil deposits were found beneath Cambodia's
territorial waters, representing a potential revenue stream for the government, if commercial extraction becomes feasible.
Mining also is attracting some investor interest and the government has touted opportunities for mining bauxite, gold, iron
and gems.
The tourism industry has continued to grow rapidly with foreign arrivals exceeding 2 million per year since 2007
and reaching over 3 million visitors in 2012.
Cambodia, nevertheless, remains one of the poorest countries in Asia and long-term
economic development remains a daunting challenge, inhibited by endemic corruption, limited educational opportunities, high income
inequality, and poor job prospects.
Approximately 4 million people live on less than $1.25 per day and 37% of Cambodian children
under the age of 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition.
More than 50% of the population is less than 25 years old. The population
lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the impoverished countryside, which also lacks basic infrastructure.
The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral donors, including the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and IMF,
to address the country's many pressing needs; more than 50% of the government budget comes from donor assistance.
The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private
ector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance.
Cambodia is concerned about Laos' extensive upstream dam construction; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary;
in 2011 Thailand and Cambodia resorted to arms in the dispute over the location of the boundary on the precipice surmounted
by Preah Vihear temple ruins, awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962 and part of a planned UN World Heritage site;
Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with
Vietnam is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands
Nokor Reach
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