Theravada Buddhism is woven into daily life across Cambodia, practised by roughly 95% of the population and visible everywhere — from saffron-robed monks on their morning alms round to the small spirit houses standing outside homes and shops.
The pagoda as community centre
Nearly every village has its own wat (pagoda), which functions as far more than a place of worship — it's a school, a meeting hall, a site for festivals, and often the physical and spiritual heart of the community. Cambodia has thousands of active pagodas, from modest village temples to the grand complexes of Phnom Penh.
Merit-making and daily practice
Making merit — through offerings of food to monks, donations to the temple, or acts of kindness — is a central part of Buddhist practice in Cambodia, believed to bring good fortune in this life and the next. Many young men spend a period as ordained monks at some point in their lives, a tradition still widely respected today.
Religious diversity
Alongside Buddhism, Cambodia is home to a Muslim Cham minority concentrated mainly along the Mekong and Tonle Sap, as well as small Christian and animist communities, particularly among highland ethnic groups in the northeast — a reminder that Cambodia's spiritual life is more layered than it first appears.
Visiting a pagoda respectfully
Cover your shoulders and knees, remove your shoes before entering the main hall, and keep your voice low. Monks generally shouldn't be touched by women, and it's customary to sit with your feet pointing away from any Buddha image. A donation left at the entrance is always welcomed, never expected.