Travelers to Cambodia should best proceed directly to Angkor to explore a selection of the fabulous Khmer temples there. After years of external and internal war, Cambodia now has a tenuous measure of stability.
Cambodia still faces severe economic difficulties (international aid is helping to build roads and improve health care), political infighting (that sometimes turns violent) and danger from undetonated bombs (which minesweepers are seeking out). The country seems stable enough for visits to Angkor Wat and many of Cambodia's other ancient sites that highlight its long cultural history.
Phnom Penh is a city revitalized, and the intriguing capital has enough of interest to hold visitors for several days. It is also an important business destination, and is becoming a popular port of call for Mekong River cruises. Sihanoukville, four hours south of Phnom Penh, offers decent beaches and a sleepy atmosphere. For the more adventurous, there are the remote and hilly provinces of Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri, close to the borders with Laos and Vietnam.
The recent discovery of substantial oil and natural gas reserves will likely improve Cambodia's overall economic position.
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