Greetings
The history of Buddhism in Cambodia is seen most clearly in the way that Cambodians interact with each other and their national festivals.
Similar to the Thai wai, the Cambodian sampeah is used both as a symbol of prayer and as a greeting. A sign of respect and politeness or a way to say thank you or to apologise, the sampeah can be seen all across Cambodia.
When greeting someone who is considered a peer, hands are pressed together in prayer in front of chest. The higher your hands are in relation to your forehead and the lower you bow the more respect you are showing.
These days, except when greeting elders or public officials, the sampeah has largely been replaced by a handshake.
In Cambodia it is not acceptable to make eye contact with anyone who is older or who is considered of a higher social status that you.