This introduction provides background information on the Ratanakiri province of Cambodia. It notes that Ratanakiri has a population of over 145,000 people and covers an area of 14,500 square kilometers, with over 45% of the land classified as state forest land. The province has a diverse landscape and supports various economic activities including farming, fishing, and ecotourism. Ratanakiri first began developing its tourism industry in the 1980s. The introduction provides a brief history of Ratanakiri, noting it was part of Vietnam from 1835 to 1841 before becoming part of Cambodia. It describes how the province supports various ethnic minority groups and their traditions.