Chinese lion dances performed at Cambodia to celebrate Spring Festival

Chinese traditional lion and dragon dances were performed at Cambodia's Royal Palace and the Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh on Wednesday morning to celebrate the Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) starting Feb. 3.

Six groups of lion and dragon dances from Chinese community in Cambodia performed at the Royal Palace in order to bless King Norodom Sihamoni and his subjects with happiness and prosperity in the Lunar New Year, Lao Shi Heng, vice-president of Chinese Association in Cambodia, said.
The groups were welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Kong Sam Ol, minister of the Royal Palace.

Then, the groups performed at the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh.

The ambassador Pan Guangxue said that the Lunar New Year is the most important festival in China. In Cambodia, most people also celebrate it.

"It reflected good linkages of people and cultures between Cambodia and China," he said.

Chinese New Year is one of the largest festivals in Cambodia, up to 80 percent of Cambodian people celebrate it every year, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said recently.

According to the figure from the Chinese Association in Cambodia, there have been some 700,000 Chinese-blood descendants living in Cambodia.

Traditionally, Lion Dance is invited by traditional Chinese families to perform as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Spring Festival and to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. (Xinhua)

(Cambodia Tours)

Congratulations Cambodia

A visitor travelled to Cambodia 4 years ago, and now he makes a comeback and admired the development of the country. On the occasion of the trip, he noted some words titled “Congratulations Cambodia” for the complete hospitality.

Suat Tore, the name of the visitor who wrote some words about the innovation and development in Cambodia as well as the development of its tourism services.

He noted that he came to Cambodia last time in 2007 and visited glorious Angkor Wat in Siem Reap city that is also listed by UNESCO. Besides, “I noticed only some hotels in capital Phnom Penh, lack of road and transportation, almost no dining and touristic attractions”.

“Cambodia made big progress in the last 4 years. International hotel chains opened properties in these two cities. Transportation grew with new roads and vehicles. Number of touristic facilities increased and Las Vegas style hotels & resorts already opened. This development in tourism also reflected number of tourist arrivals that reached 1,5 million in 2010 with an increase of almost 100%.”, Suat Tore told.

The tourist also hope that Cambodia will name itself one of the leading tourism destination in the region with its increase of tourism professionals, growing incoming tourism and outgoing tourism with its increased income.

(www.cambodiatours.com)

2010: Visitors to Preah Vihear increase

The thousands years old Preah Vihear temple in Cambodia, a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, increased by 3.6 folds in 2010. To get the result, it is up to good security and better infrastructure in the area, according to cambodia.org.

Preah Vihear temple

The number of tourists increased 80,356 in 2010 and grew up 3.6 folds to the amount of 17,174  people in 2009. Especially, foreign tourists grew up 1,937 from 769 people in 2009.

"It's a huge increase of the tourists to the temple in 2010 due to better security and stability as the border tension with Thailand has been eased, and the good condition roads--easy to travel,"said Kong Vibol, adding "so visitors feel safe and more confidence to visit the temple."

Preah Vihear province has three attractive ancient temples for tourists. They are Preah Vihear temple, Koh Ker temple and Preah Khan Kampong Svay temple.

According to the Cambodia.org, in 2010 the province as a whole received 135,657 tourists, up 119 percent from 61,903 in 2009. Of the figure, foreign tourists were up 32 percent to 11,249 from 8,512 in 2009.

(www.cambodiatours.com)

Chinese art performances in Cambodia to celebrate Chinese New Year

A free concert performed by an art delegation from China's Shanxi University was held here on Sunday evening at the Southeast Asia Television (SEATV) and it was live televised across the country.

It's the first Chinese art performance that live-televised in Cambodia.

The concert, featuring musical and cultural shows by Chinese artists, has also been joined by Cambodian artists, who dressed in Chinese costumes and performed in Chinese traditional dances and songs.

The event was also attended by secretary of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Kao Kimhuon and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue as well as Chinese people living in Cambodia and thousands of Cambodian viewers at the SEATV station.

Yu Guodong, director of the university's foreign affairs office, who led the Chinese art delegation consisted of 24 artists, said that the concert was to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year.

"Moreover, China wishes to make closer cooperation in cultures with Cambodia and wants Cambodian people to learn more about Chinese traditional arts," he said.

The group arrived in Cambodia on Jan. 25 after their performances in Laos from Jan. 15 to 24.

Preir to Sunday's event, the group had performed twice in Cambodia, on Jan. 26 at Meanchey University in Banteay Meanchey province and on Jan. 29 at Prime Minister Hun Sen's Bodyguard Unit.

President of the Royal Academy of Cambodia Khlot Thyda said " the visiting art delegation was essential to strengthen and expand cultural cooperation between Cambodia and China. Through their art performances, Cambodians would learn more about Chinese richness in culture."

The shows in Cambodia are organized by the China's Confucius Institute.

(khmerization.blogspot.com)

A gift to you!

Vietnam Today Travel give all of travelers a tour to Vietnam - Cambodia on the occasion of Lunar new year- the traditional holiday in Vietnam.   
This program combines the hidden charm of Vietnam and the mystical treasures of Angkor in Cambodia with a unique opportunity to experience the natural beauty and traditional lifestyle found throughout the Mekong Delta.

(www.cambodiatours.com).