At the National Museum, a guide named Butay, 30 years old, described in good English the extraordinary collection of Khmer art.

The history of visual arts in Cambodia stretches back centuries to ancient crafts; Khmer art reached its peak during the Angkor period.

This mission would have a dual purpose: to map Vietnam's Red River and to bring back Khmer art for exhibition in France.

Graceffo is largely credited by himself as revitalizing the lost Khmer art of Bokator by being the first to report on it.

In 2005 Antonio was the first foreign student of the Khmer martial art of Bokator.

But in Europe during those years there were not many dealers selling Khmer art.

The museum houses one of the world's largest collections of Khmer art, including sculptural, ceramics, bronzes, and ethnographic objects.

Only comprehensive government-sponsored training programs can insure the longevity of Khmer arts.

The height of Khmer art occurred during the Angkor period; much of the era's stone carving and architecture survives to the present.

A common misunderstanding is that bokator refers to all Khmer martial arts while in reality it only represents one particular style.