Cambodia's Tourism and Investment Potential in 2025
Cambodia is located in Southeast Asia, occupying the southern part of the Indochina Peninsula. The country borders Vietnam to the east, Laos to the north, and Thailand to the northwest. In 2025, Cambodia offers three of the most promising areas for real estate investment: Phnom Penh, the economic and business centre of the country, Sihanoukville, located on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand, and Siem Reap, the centre of Cambodia’s cultural heritage.
Cambodia’s strategic location within ASEAN, its proximity to major tourist destinations and transport hubs in Thailand and Vietnam, along with a relatively young real estate market and consistent economic growth, make it a promising investment destination in Southeast Asia in 2025.
The main advantages of Cambodia’s real estate market:
- Unlike in some neighbouring countries, foreigners can own up to 100% of companies and real estate in Cambodia.
- Several large groups of developers have already developed projects for the construction of hotels on the beaches and islands of Sihanoukville, including the international Marriott hotel chain.
- Condominiums in Cambodia with full ownership rights for foreigners cost from 50,000 dollars.
- A simple visa regime without the need for border runs.
- To open a company in Cambodia, regardless of whether it is owned by foreigners or not, it only takes from 800 to 3,000 US dollars.
From $82,000
Completion in: 2027 Total of 700 apartments
From $275,000
Completion in: 2026.II Total of 138 apartments
From $391,000
Completion in: 2028 Total of 360 apartments
From $95,000
Yield 8.0% Completion in: 2025.I
From $153,000
Completion in: 2024.IV Total of 1184 apartments
From $126,000
Completion in: 2026.I Total of 591 apartments
From $100,000
Completion in: 2027 Total of 360 apartments
Cambodia History
In ancient times, Cambodia’s territory significantly exceeded its current borders, encompassing the lands of modern Vietnam, Laos, most of Thailand and Malaysia. The period of its greatest power on the Indochina peninsula occurred in the 9th—15th centuries. During this period, the capital of the Khmer Empire was Angkor, one of the greatest cities in the pre-industrial world (the period before the 18thI century). It was the largest urban agglomeration of its time (1,000 square kilometres), comparable in scale to modern Singapore. With the decline of the empire, the city was abandoned and partially absorbed into the jungle.
Since the middle of the 19th century, Cambodia has been under the protectorate of France, which it adopted to confront neighbouring Siam (Thailand) and Dai Viet (Vietnam). Since 1887, the kingdom has been part of the Indochina Union, the French colonial possessions in Indochina. French influence can be traced in the establishment of administrative and legal institutions, the strengthening of the role of international trade, and the development of urban and transport infrastructure. During the colonial period, the modern borders of the kingdom were also formed.
The second half of the 20th century in Cambodia, after gaining independence from France in 1953, was accompanied by civil war, frequent changes of power and political trends, and the establishment and fall of one of the most repressive communist regimes in history, the Pol Pot social experiment. Communist ideas, which initially spread in the colonies of French Indochina, were used as an ideology for the national struggle against the former colonial empires and neighbouring Asian states.
Since the end of the 20th century, the monarchical state system has been restored in Cambodia, and the country’s constitution was adopted in 1993. During this period, the economy began to grow, largely due to the help of foreign investors, the development of the textile industry, international tourism, and the 2001 land reform, which opened the way for private land ownership.
Cambodia’s Economy
Cambodia’s economic development since 2000 has been a story of impressive growth in the context of post-conflict transformation. The country has gone from one of the poorest in Southeast Asia to one of the fastest growing economies in the region. According to the World Bank, Cambodia moved from the category of least developed countries to the category of lower-middle-income countries in 2015.
In 2000–2019, Cambodia’s GDP grew at an average annual rate of 7%, ranking among the highest globally during that period.
The main driver of Cambodia’s growth since the early 2000s has been textiles and clothing production. Cambodia has become a key player in global supply chains, offering cheap labour to textile companies in the United States, the EU, and Japan. More than 80% of the country’s exports are made up of clothing, shoes and accessories.
Agricultural exports to China, the EU and the ASEAN countries have played a significant role in the kingdom’s economy since the beginning of the 21st century. Currently, agriculture accounts for up to 20% of the country’s GDP. Cambodia exports rice, corn, mangoes, and bananas.
In 2024, the number of foreign tourists rose to 6.7 million, marking a 22.9% increase compared to 2023 and surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 6.6 million. Citizens of Thailand, China and Vietnam accounted for 64.7% of all international arrivals in 2024, and international tourism revenue in 2024 amounted to about 3.6 billion US dollars.
Cambodia has seen a boom in construction in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville over the past decade, as investors are attracted by favourable real estate conditions in the country compared to neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the rapid development of the tourism sector.
From $82,000
Completion in: 2027 Total of 700 apartments
From $275,000
Completion in: 2026.II Total of 138 apartments
From $391,000
Completion in: 2028 Total of 360 apartments
From $95,000
Yield 8.0% Completion in: 2025.I
From $153,000
Completion in: 2024.IV Total of 1184 apartments
From $126,000
Completion in: 2026.I Total of 591 apartments
From $100,000
Completion in: 2027 Total of 360 apartments
Vladimir Palanchika, co-owner of Time Square Cambodia
Cambodia is a country with a complicated past: a multi-year civil war that brought great destruction and, as a result, a lack of new modern buildings. Therefore, today the construction sector plays an important role in the development of the country, providing modern comfortable housing and creating new jobs. Rising real estate prices contribute to the fact that the well-being of the population is growing, they can afford to create families with several children, buy more modern housing with large areas.
In 2020, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) launched the Bakong system, developed jointly with Japanese fintech company Soramitsu. Bakong is a digital platform that combines e-wallets, mobile payments and online banking in one application. Users can make instant transfers of funds in riels or US dollars using QR codes or phone numbers. QR payments are gaining popularity, as well as digital platforms such as Pi Pay, Wing, and TrueMoney.
Vladimir Palanchika, co-owner of Time Square Cambodia
Significant investments from private, public, and external sources are being made in all sectors of the economy today.
Cambodia Nature
Cambodia’s nature is one of its main treasures. The country is rich in tropical forests, mountain ranges, lakes, rivers, mangrove swamps, and coastal islands. There are still preserved corners of wildlife, almost untouched by humans, which makes Cambodia an important part of the biodiversity of Southeast Asia.
The Cardamom and Elephant Mountains stretch in the south-west of the country, one of the largest and most poorly studied tropical forests in the region. In the northeast of Cambodia is the Virachey National Park, a remote and sparsely populated region on the border with Laos and Vietnam.
Cambodia’s largest inland body of water is Tonle Sap Lake, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This is a unique ecosystem, where during the rainy season the river changes direction and the lake increases almost fivefold. The lake plays a key role in agriculture and fishing, and also serves as a habitat for thousands of species of birds, snakes, crocodiles, and fish.
Cambodia’s coastal area, including the provinces of Kampot, Kep, and Sihanoukville, as well as Koh Rong and Koh Tonsei Islands, is known for its white sandy beaches, mangroves, and coral reefs.
Vladimir Palanchika, co-owner of Time Square Cambodia
Cambodia is a country with a humid tropical climate. These conditions dictate certain construction rules in this region: moisture-resistant materials are used for interior and exterior decoration, antiseptic impregnations to protect against mould and insects, as well as air conditioning systems for cooling the air.
Cambodia Regions
Cambodia’s main centres of attraction are the seaside resort of Sihanoukville, the historic religious centre of Angkor Wat, the capital Phnom Penh, and the largest national parks — located equidistant from the centre in the south, north and east of the country.
Vladimir Palanchika, co-owner of Time Square Cambodia
Cambodia is a safe region for the construction of high-rise buildings, even on the seashore at a distance of 50 metres from the water line. As in many countries, there are restrictions on construction, but there are not many of them, because Cambodia is a country that is not subject to natural disasters. There are no earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, or large landslides.
Southern Cambodia
Southern Cambodia faces the Gulf of Thailand and includes provinces such as Sihanoukville, Kampot, and Kep. It is one of the most picturesque and diverse regions of the country. It combines the seaside, quiet coastal towns, mangrove forests, hills with French colonial heritage, and countryside with rice fields and coconut palms.
This region offers the perfect balance between beach holidays, cultural attractions, nature, and gastronomic delights. It will be interesting for tourists seeking relaxation by the sea, as well as for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the traditional rhythm of Khmer life and the richness of natural landscapes.
South Cambodia is actively developing as a tourist destination. In recent years, there has been increasing attention to ecotourism.
Northern Cambodia
Northern Cambodia is a region of ancient history, unspoilt nature, and cultural heritage. The most important archaeological sites, dense forests, mountain plateaus, and ethnic diversity are concentrated here. This is a less touristy, but incredibly saturated and authentic part of the country.
The main point of attraction in the north is the city of Siem Reap, which serves as the gateway to Angkor, the capital of the Khmer Empire and one of the greatest archaeological complexes in the world.
When planning a tourist route through the northern part of Cambodia, it must be coordinated with an authorised travel agency, since Cambodia is one of the most «mined» countries in the world. As of the beginning of 2025, about 1,576 square kilometres of its territory remains contaminated with mines and other explosive objects. The areas along the Thai border remain the most affected, especially in mountainous and inaccessible areas. According to the Land Mine Museum, there were between 3 and 6 million active mines in the Siem Reap area of Cambodia in 2010.
In 2025, China provided Cambodia with a $4.4 million grant for mine clearance after the temporary suspension of U.S. assistance.
The provinces of Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri, and Mondulkiri are located in the northeast, characterised by a diverse landscape.
Eastern Cambodia
Eastern Cambodia is a little-known but truly fascinating region of the country, located along the border with Vietnam and Laos. It is famous for its hilly landscapes, dense forests, waterfalls, rivers, and ethnic diversity. Unlike the tourist centres, the east of Cambodia remains the least explored and urbanised, but at the same time «wildly beautiful» region of the country.
Eastern Cambodia covers provinces such as Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, and Mondulkiri. These lands are distinguished by hills, waterfalls, red soils, jungles and rivers crossing them.
How to Get to Cambodia
As of 2025, Cambodia maintains direct flights to Vietnam, Thailand, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, India, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, Macau, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the United Arab Emirates.
In addition, Emirates and Turkish Airlines are planning to open new routes in 2025, which will expand the geography of direct flights to Cambodia.
Cambodia Visa
Cambodia offers a simplified visa regime for tourists, businessmen, and those planning a long stay. Most foreigners can obtain an entry visa on arrival or apply for it electronically in advance (e-Visa).
Tourist visa
The tourist visa (T-class) is valid for 30 days with the possibility of a one-time extension for another 30 days. The cost of a visa is $30 (an electronic one may cost a little more — with a fee of about $36). It can be obtained:
- Upon arrival at the international airports of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville.
- At land border crossings with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.
- Online — through the official website www.evisa.gov.kh.
Cambodia Business visa
An E-class business visa is also issued for a period of 30 days, but it can be extended for longer periods (up to 6 or 12 months) if there is proof of employment or business purposes by applying for an Extension of Stay (EOS) at the Cambodian Immigration Department. The cost of an E-class business visa to Cambodia is $35. It can also be obtained:
- Upon arrival at the international airports of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville.
- At land border crossings with Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
- Online — through the official website www.evisa.gov.kh.
Cambodia Holidays
A holiday in Cambodia offers a chance to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an ancient civilization, enjoy the tropical nature, delicious cuisine, and the warm welcome of the locals. The country is ideal for travellers who want to combine culture, nature enjoyment, beach holidays, and exoticism at affordable prices.
Cambodia Beaches
Cambodia is gradually strengthening its position as a promising beach tourism destination in Southeast Asia. The main beach recreation centres are concentrated in the southern provinces and on the islands bordered by the Gulf of Thailand.
Ochheuteal Beach
Ochitel is one of the longest and most popular beaches in Sihanoukville. It actively developed in the 2010s as a centre of budget tourism, but with the beginning of large-scale Chinese development, it acquired a more urbanised appearance. Today Uchitel combines large hotel complexes, restaurants, casinos, and access to the sea, attracting mainly tourists from China and Southeast Asia.
Sokha Beach
Sokha is a private, well-maintained white sand beach, partially controlled by the 5-star Sokha Beach Resort of the same name. Admission is free for hotel guests, and paid for everyone else. This place is characterised by a cleaner coast, a calm atmosphere, and a high level of service, which makes it attractive for a family and respectable holiday.
Lazy Beach
One of the most picturesque and secluded beaches in Cambodia. Lazy Beach is located on the western side of Koh Rong Samloem Island, a 20-minute walk from Saracen Bay. The coastline here is almost undeveloped — only a few bungalows, a restaurant, and a wild jungle. The beach is famous for beautiful sunsets, clear water, coral reefs, and perfect silence.
Long Set Beach
Also known as 4K Beach, Long Set is one of the most attractive beaches on Koh Rong Island, with a length of about 4 km. The beach has preserved its natural aesthetics and at the same time offers a moderate infrastructure: eco-hotels, bungalows, cafés, and diving centres are located here. It is popular among European tourists and digital nomads.
Kep Beach
A small beach in the resort town of the same name in the south of Cambodia. The coast here is partially artificially fortified and covered with sand, but it is popular among locals and visitors looking for peace. The main feature of Cape Beach is seafood cuisine and crab market, as well as proximity to Koh Tonsai National Park and Rabbit Island.
Cambodia Resorts
The country offers a wide range of destinations, from the coast of the Gulf of Thailand with islands to mountainous areas and lakes, as well as the opportunity to visit ancient cities such as Siem Reap with Angkor. In 2025, Cambodia’s resort infrastructure is actively developing, especially in the southern and coastal provinces.
Siem Reap
Cambodia’s main tourist destination is due to its proximity to Angkor, the largest temple complex in the world. The city offers a well-developed infrastructure: hotels, restaurants, night markets, museums, craft workshops, and cultural shows. With the opening of the new international airport in 2023, the city has become even more accessible to foreign tourists.
Sihanoukville
The main port and beach resort in the south of the country with access to the Gulf of Thailand. After large-scale Chinese investments, the city became a centre of construction, casinos and gambling establishments. Sihanoukville serves as a transportation hub for trips to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem Islands. Despite the strong urbanisation, the resort potential remains, especially due to its access to sea transport and yachting infrastructure.
Phnom Penh
Cambodia’s largest city, a political, financial and cultural centre with a population of over 2 million people. It combines modern skyscrapers, shopping malls, historic buildings from the colonial period and traditional Khmer architecture. The city is home to the Royal Palace, the National Museum, memorials, markets and embankments along the Tonle Sap River.
Phnom Penh is focused on urban tourism, business trips, gastronomy and cultural tours. It also serves as the starting point of routes across the country — to Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Kampot, and to the northeast. The city is actively modernising its transport and tourism infrastructure.
Battambang
Battambang is Cambodia’s second-largest city, which has preserved its authentic atmosphere and French heritage. It is known for its bamboo train, modern galleries, historical temples, and provincial silence.
Banlung
is the centre of Ratanakiri province in northeastern Cambodia. This is the starting point for trips to the jungle, to the Yeak Laom crater lake, waterfalls, and ethnic villages.
Kampot
Kampot is a city at the foot of the Cardamom Mountains, located on the riverbank. It is famous for its peaceful atmosphere, French colonial architecture and the world’s most famous pepper plantations. Kampot is not so much a seaside resort as a resort with a special rhythm of life, where the main values are silence, nature, delicious food, and leisurely walks.
Popular activities here include river tourism, kayaking, sunset cruises, and scooter rides in the countryside. From Compote, you can easily reach Bokor National Park, salt fields, and Kepa beaches.
Kep
Kep is a small coastal town popular among the Khmer elite since colonial times. Today it is once again becoming a resort for those who seek solitude, sea air, and fine cuisine.
The beach in Kepa is small but neat. The main attractions are the crab market, seafood restaurants, Koh Tonsai Island, the Botanical Garden, and Kep National Park with hiking trails.
Koh Kong
Koh Kong is located near the Thai border and serves as the gateway to the Cardamom Mountains, one of the largest areas of impenetrable rainforest in the region.
The mass infrastructure is poorly developed here, but ecotourism, kayaking, wildlife watching, and trekking through the jungle are actively developing. Koh Kong is also interesting from the point of view of border tourism, logistics, and sustainable development.
Cambodia Attractions — What to See
Cambodia is a country with a unique cultural and natural heritage that combines the grandeur of the ancient Khmer civilization, the French colonial past, and the unique nature of Southeast Asia.
Angkor Wat
Cambodia’s most famous and grandiose monument is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The complex includes Angkor Wat (the main temple), Bayon, Ta Prom, Banteay Srei, and dozens of others.
It is the largest religious temple complex in the world and a symbol of Cambodia. Built in the first half of the 12th century, Angkor Wat was the centre of the vast capital of the Khmer Empire and an essential element of a complex hydraulic system that provided life for hundreds of thousands of people.
Today, the temple attracts millions of tourists and researchers every year, remaining Cambodia’s main attraction and a unique monument of engineering and spiritual thought.
Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm is one of the most mysterious and picturesque temples of the Angkor complex, known for being partially left in the form in which it was discovered by European researchers: overgrown with the roots of giant trees. The temple was built at the end of the 12th century under King Jayavarman VII and was originally called Rajavihara Monastery of royal patronage. Ta Prum served not only as a temple, but also as a university, where thousands of monks, students and workers lived.
The main feature of Ta Prohm is the impressive fusion of architecture and nature. Huge tree roots (most often ficus and tetrameles) penetrate stone walls, wrap around columns and collapsed galleries, creating a unique atmosphere. It was in this temple that the scenes of the movie «Lara Croft: Tomb Raider» were filmed, which made it even more popular among tourists.
Banteay Chhmar
Banteay Chhmar is one of the largest and little-known temple complexes in Cambodia, located in the province of Banteay Chhmar in the north-west of the country, near the border with Thailand.
The temple complex occupies a vast territory surrounded by a system of moats and walls, the length of which exceeds 1.5 kilometres. Today, Banteay Chhmar remains little-known to mass tourism due to its remoteness, but this is what makes it especially attractive for lovers of history, archaeology and travellers seeking authenticity. The place is still in a dilapidated state, preserving the spirit of the «lost temple» and allowing you to see Angkor beyond the crowds and noise. This is one of those places where you can feel the grandeur of the Khmer Empire without modern decorations.
Phnom Kulen
Phnom Kulen is a sacred mountain and one of the most significant natural and cultural sites in Cambodia, located about 50 kilometres north of Siem Reap. It is considered the cradle of the Khmer Empire: it was here in 802 that King Jayavarman II proclaimed himself a «chakravartin» — a godlike ruler — and founded an independent Khmer state. This place has great historical, religious and symbolic significance for the Cambodian people.
One of the main attractions is the river with lingams (Kbal Spean), the «river of a thousand lingams», where the bottom is decorated with stone carvings in the form of Hindu fertility symbols. You can also see a huge statue of the reclining Buddha, carved right into the rock at the top of the hill, and visit the waterfalls, which have become a popular holiday destination among locals.
Bokor National Park
Bokor National Park is one of the largest and most picturesque national parks in Cambodia, located in Kampot Province in the south of the country. The park covers an area of more than 1,500 square kilometres and includes part of the Elephant Mountains (Damrey), towering over the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Its highest point is Mount Phnom Bokor (1,081 m), which offers stunning views of the ocean, coastal islands, and even the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc.
Bokor is known not only for its natural wealth, but also for its colonial history. In the 1920s, the French authorities built a resort for the colonial elite on top of the hill, including the Bokor Palace Hotel and Casino, a Catholic Church, a royal summer residence, and other buildings. Today, some of these buildings are in a dilapidated state and give the place the atmosphere of a «forgotten city in the clouds». There is also a majestic 29-metre statue of Lok Yei Mao, the mythological patroness of mountains and travellers.
Virachey National Park
The largest and one of the most poorly studied protected natural areas of Cambodia, located in the northeast of the country, in the provinces of Ratanakiri and Stung Treng. The park covers an area of about 3,325 square kilometres and borders Laos and Vietnam, being part of the Annamite mountain system. It was founded in 1993 and was granted the status of an ASEAN Natural Heritage Park in 2003.
The Royal Palace of Cambodia
The Royal Palace of Cambodia is the official residence of the King and one of the main architectural symbols of Phnom Penh. Built in the 1860s, the palace reflects the grandeur of the Khmer tradition mixed with French colonial influences. The complex includes several pavilions and gardens, and its pearl is considered to be the Silver Pagoda, so named because of the floor, lined with more than five thousand silver slabs. Inside are sacred Buddha statues, including the famous Emerald Jade Buddha and the Golden Buddha decorated with diamonds. The palace is partially open to the public and is considered not only the political, but also the spiritual centre of the nation, embodying the continuity and cultural heritage of Cambodia.
National Museum of Cambodia
The National Museum of Cambodia is the country’s leading historical and archaeological museum, located in the centre of Phnom Penh next to the Royal Palace. Opened in 1920, it is an outstanding example of Khmer architecture with exquisite pavilions and an internal garden.
The museum’s collection includes more than 14,000 exhibits covering the period from prehistoric times to the post-Angkor era. Among them are sculptures, ceramics, bronzes, and ethnographic objects reflecting Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage.
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