Gift Song of Sin Sisamuth

Khmer Movie Part for Neang Kong Rey

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Khmer Movie and Song - Pheakdey Snae

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Khmer Song from 1980s

Google Translate for Khmer Language, Available Now! Congratulation!!!

Getting the local news on Khmer Language in Google Translate recently, the dream comes true now for everyone to translate from other languages to Khmer and vice versa. All Cambodian people are very happy to get this news and to use it more in the near future. Google Translate is already popular among Cambodian people for foreign language translate to English and vice versa; Khmer language available in Google Translate will make this Google Tool more popular inside Cambodia and around the world. More chat on Facebook with millions of likes shows the success of Khmer Language promotion in Google Translate for just the first start up. There will be more successful for more popularity throughout the world since Khmer is much more interesting among foreigners who wish to know about Cambodia's culture and to connect Cambodia to the outside world. Congratulation!!!! Thank you for Google Team including Cambodian Specialists involves in this project!

Son Sreypich - Thvay Preah Por to King Norodom Sihanouk - Orkun Thommacheat

Jayavarman VII

Khmer Kingdom and Her People

Smile! Smile! Smile! (Friendliness of Khmer People)

Khmer Village Along the River near Wat Phnom in 1866

Cambodia, Kingdom of Wonder, locates in the Indochina Peninsula of the Southeast Asia Area. Nowadays, Cambodia covers the area of 181,035 km² and her border is along with Thailand in the west and north, Laos in the north, Vietnam in the east and southeast, and the Gulf of Thailand in the southwest. Cambodia used to be the most powerful kingdom, “Angkor Kingdom”, in Southeast Asia Region from 9^th to 15^th century that covered all the territory of Cambodia, most of Thailand, Laos, & the South part of Vietnam (Kampuchea Krom); the Gulf of Thailand, some part of Andaman Sea, and some part of South China Sea today. After Angkor era, this Kingdom was also known for her strong power again in Longvek Era, but it was damaged again by Siam (Thai) in 1594. 

Khmer is people for this kingdom. However, today Khmer is separated between the lost and remained territory. Majority of Khmer people are living in their own country “Cambodia”. Anyway, there are also millions of Khmer remain in the former territory of Angkor Kingdom around Cambodia. 

First, millions of Khmer, called “Khmer Sorin”, are living in Southeast territory of Thailand today such as Sorin, Nakhon ratchasima, Chanthaburi, Trat, Rayong, Nakhon Nayok, Srah Keo, Sisaket, Burirum, Yasothon, Oubun rachathani, Roiet, Chonburi, Lopburi, chaiyaphum, Mohasarakam, Amnatcharoen, Saraburi, Nonthaburi, etc. In fact, there are Khmer living in other provinces in Thailand, but they absorbed into Thai people like Sukhothai as example. Actually, Khmer temples remain in such provinces that Khmer are living and some other provinces like Sukhothai, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Sakon Nakhon, Phetchaburi, Lamphon, Kamphaengphet, Phisanulok, Phichit, Singburi, Nakhon Phanom, Ayuthyea, Nakhon Sawan, Uthaithani, Suphanburi, Lampang, Phrae, Samut Songkhram, Nongkhai, Udon thani, Nongbua Lamprio, etc. 

Second, in Laos, there are also Khmer people living in the south provinces, especially in Champasak. The main famous Khmer temple in these provinces is Wat Phu Temple, “the former Khmer capital in Chenla Era”. Obviously, Angkor Kingdom used to control all the territory of Laos today with her strong power. 

Finally, around 8 millions (Statistics in 2009 from Khmer Krom Federation’s Website) of Khmer, called “Khmer Krom”, are living in their own territory under Vietnamese Government’s control in the south of Vietnam. Khmer territory in this area include Mesor, Kuohkaung, Prey Nokor (Hochiminh City today), Peam Banteay Meas, Kromuon Sor, Teuk Khmao (Chroy of Cambodia in the French Map during French Colonial), Moat Chruk, Khleang, Long Hor, Prek Reussey, Kompong Reussey, Ou Kab, Preah Suorkea, Preah Trapeang, Pul Leav, Tuol Tamouk, Kompong Srokatrey (Changva Trapeang), Rong Damrey, Phsa Dek, Svay Taung, Peam Bareach, Chmouh Thmey, most part of Kontum & Dalat Plateau, and other islands, especially two large islands include Koh Tral (in front of Kampot Province of Cambodia today) and Koh Trolach. Furthermore, there are many Khmer Temple through out this territory, but most of them are broken down gradually. However, until now Vietnamese government has changed these entire Khmer name into Vietnamese name instead. 

Additionally, besides these areas, there are also some Khmer people living in the rest of the world after they fled from their homeland during the war such as Khmer Community in USA, Australia, France, Canada, Malaysia, etc. Even though Khmer people are living in different places, they still firmly continue their ancestors’ culture, language, tradition, religion, lifestyle, food, songs & music, etc. Unfortunately, Khmer Krom people are facing the restriction from Vietnamese government in continuing their culture, tradition, religion, language, lifestyle, and education in the pagoda. And one more problem between Vietnamese government and Khmer Krom today is the land conflict caused by the Vietnamese government and Vietnamese people confiscating the land of Khmer Krom for agriculture in some provinces that have continued since the control of Kampuchea Krom by Vietnam in 1949. 

In Short, there is a hope that in the future Khmer people who are living in different places will keep the good relationship with each other to improve the culture of Khmer towards the development of the bright future. Finally, there is just a request to appeal the Vietnamese government not to restrict too much on Khmer Krom in practice what they want because Khmer Krom people need only high living standard, development, and peace as Vietnamese people.

By: POK Panhavuth