For people in rural areas, over the new year celebrations, there will be cultural dancing in many different locations.

Dances are performed by Cambodian people for Cambodian people. It is not promoted to foreigners.

I suggest, anyone outside Phnom Penh ask when and where dancing will occur.

If you ask at your hotel or guest house, they may not know.

I suggest going to temples in the area, and asking people at the temples. They may not speak English, so you may need a translator.

I think most people would find it very interesting to watch.

See real Cambodian culture.

Some nice photos from last year - ceremonies and games: Khmer New Year Traditional Ceremonies (photos and videos)
cambodian-culture-and-language/khmer-ne ... ar%20games

Username Taken wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:35 pm You forgot to mention watching them play traditional Khmer New Year games. Possibly more interesting than the dancing.

For PP Expats best to nip along to “Bon Phum”, it’s down down towards Takhmao this year, 250k Khmer doing their thing. #Khmerstock

Username Taken wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:35 pm You forgot to mention watching them play traditional Khmer New Year games. Possibly more interesting than the dancing.

Like school sports day, only with adults
WHolesome fun but apsara dancing and lakhon is more interesting

For the newcomers.

If you see a festival going on, feel free to walk in and watch, or join in. If there are a lot of people, there may even be some who speak English.

The same with Buddhist temples. Feel free to walk in and around the temple grounds. You even can go inside the temples, but take your shoes off.

If there are a large group of people sitting under a house in a village, you can even go and say hello to them. Avoid places where there are only a few people, in case they are scared of you. Avoid groups of drunk men.

If you see any kind of home business, you can also go and have a look. There are many different ones. Recently I stopped at a place where they thread tobacco leaves onto sticks so they can hang them up for drying. After meeting me, they actually wanted me to come to the village and teach English. On another occasion, I went into a place where they grow mushrooms. I helped them for a short time. They wanted me to come back every day. On very rare occasions, some people may not want you to see how something is made, as they may be concerned you may start up a competing business. Most people are happy to show you.

I went to one of these events yesterday. They had a cooking competition, a singing competition, many games, dancing, then the water pistols and water balloons came out, and the people dancing enjoyed getting saturated while they danced.

Some dancing is Cambodian style disco dancing, which is what this was, not traditional dancing. So if someone tells you there will be dancing, you may ask what kind of dancing.

A Westerner walked past not long after they started. I was a long way from the road when I saw him, or I would have invited him in. Some people just walk around, not knowing what is in the area. If they see something like this, some people may think they are not welcome, so they dont come in. The Cambodians dont know they may think they are not welcome, so they dont invite them in. Most tourists would have found it very interesting.