Phnom Penh

Hotels In:

• Strung Treng
• Angkor
• Battambang
• Ko Kong
• Kompong Cham
• Kratie
• Phnom Penh
• Siem Reap (Angkor Wat)
• Sihanoukville

A capital city once deserted in a matter of hours, Phnom Penh has a history unlike any city in the world. It is a city which has seen the greatest of good, and the blackest of evil. Founded in the middle of the 14th century by the Khmers as a monastery, Phnom Pehn later replaced Angkor Thom the following century as the new capital. A Buddhist trading hub at the confluence of the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap and the Basac rivers, until 1975 when under an order from Pol Pot to vacate, the city was left in silence. It was the epicenter of the killing fields, where the countries main mass graves were located a convenient trip from the the tourcher prison where residents suspected of being anti-regime activists, or deemed educated and therefor a potential threat, were tortured to death until namelessly buried in a mass grave just outside of town. Nearly all of Phnom Penh's residents left within hours, and the city lay silent from 1975 until 1979 under authority of Vietnamese troops.

Today, Phnom Penh is still on its road to recovery. Many years of anarchy and tribal style warfare while the government's seat remained unoccupied, followed by mafia dominated local economies in violence, drugs, and prostitution, have plagued efforts to rebuild. The city has been left as a downtown of crumbling French colonials, but has seen drastic improvement over the last five years. Among the chaos, there is a saddening beauty that can be found if seen with the right eye. There have been generations of people who have lived through horrors so graphic and unsettling that bearing witness can't help to add perspective.

Although devastated by multiple regimes, Phnom Pehn is one of the most intriguing cities in the world. Its expansive boulevards and narrow alleys posses charm. Visitors can see remains of the atrocities perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge as well as beautiful antiquities from Cambodia’s imperial past–-both very much part of the country’s modern identity.

What to see & do

Phnom Penh has many attractions which are of great historic interest to visitors. There is the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, many Buddhist temples with resident Monks, and the remains of French colonization. On the darker side there is Choeung Ek, otherwise known as the Killing Fields, and the infamous Tuol Sleng, a school house turned torture prison which later became the Museum of Genocide, make Phnom Penh a city worthy of brief exploration.

Sisowath Quay is one of the nicest areas of Phnom Penh, with a beautiful riverfront boardwalk which is very lively and colorful at night, especially during the weekends. Here you can find many of the city’s best restaurants (both for local and international food) and bars, as well as shops, internet cafes, and reasonably-priced hotels. Meanwhile, just a short walk away you can find Cambodia’s Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, fascinating places which have recently been renovated. The National Museum is also not far and features a great collection of Khmer antiquities.

The dark side of Cambodia’s history is not far away. Just outside of town rest the aptly named Killing Fields, which show the full extent of Khmer Rouge brutality. Some of the displays and signs are truly bone-chilling and form an accurate image of what the country went through during those years. Equally disturbing is the former political prison known as “S21”, where opponents of the Khmer Rouge were tortured and killed on a daily basis. Both sights can be covered in one day, but it would surely be one of the more depressing experiences for any traveler.

Phnom Penh is also known for its buzzing nightlife and there is a large assortment of bars which cater to all types of people. There are also many poorly-lit areas after dark, so it’s best to exercise caution when going around the city at night.

Getting Around

The best way to get around Phnom Penh is by one of the many motorcycle tuk-tuks, which are so cheap and convenient that the locals have long opposed the establishment of a bus system! It is also possible to get fixed-fare taxis from the airport, useful for getting to your hotel or later chartering for the longer trips to places like the Killing Fields (providing a much smoother ride for the latter than a dust-raising tuk-tuk). Many roads are unpaved, though, so expect a bumpy experience all the way.

  Favorite Nighlife in the Area

  Favorite Events in the Area

Cambodia Travel Guide Angkor Wat is just the beginning. If you want to dig deeper into the real Cambodia, this guide is your key. Unlock the mysteries of the sacred temples, share the Mekong with endangered dolphins, and eat with pythons and cobras by your side.