(Siem Reap): On July 17, 2026, APSARA National Authority said it had examined a Khaosod English article titled “Angkor Wat bans inauthentic Khmer costumes” and found that it departed from the facts, substance and original purpose of the authority’s outreach, guidance and training for vendors. The authority said this work aims to improve understanding and participation in the proper use, preservation and appreciation of traditional Khmer clothing, which represents national identity and intangible heritage in the Angkor World Heritage area.
APSARA National Authority stressed that protecting Khmer culture is a shared and continuing responsibility requiring cooperation across sectors, including state institutions such as the police and relevant ministries, as well as the private sector. Since 2016, the authority has issued the Angkor Code of Conduct to guide appropriate dress at Angkor’s sacred sites and promote visitor safety. Traditional Khmer clothing has a distinct identity and characteristics documented in research available from the Ministry and provincial departments of Culture, the National Museum, the Asian Traditional Textiles Museum, and the official websites and Facebook pages of the Ministry of Culture and APSARA National Authority.
The authority said outreach and guidance on clothing and visits to Angkor are intended to preserve original cultural values, strengthen national pride and respect sacred sites. Vendors remain free to conduct business, while the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and APSARA National Authority have a duty to guide participation so that vendors do not sell poor-quality products, charge excessive prices or rent or sell clothing that departs from its original form. All visits in appropriate clothing, whether modern or traditional, demonstrate respect for ancestors and national heritage.
Source: APSARA National Authority
By: ធី លីថូ
