Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Situated at the crossroads of three great rivers – the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac – Phnom Penh is the heart of a country steeped in tradition, overflowing with rice paddies, jungles, and rural communities. Once a sleepy backwater, Phnom Penh now buzzes with commercial activity as the country develops after years of isolation. Old French colonial mansions stand alongside newly emerging designs, which make the city’s mixed architecture and communities fascinating to explore.

Population:

2.282 million (2019)

Currency:

Cambodian Riel (KHR): 1 KHR = 10 kak = 100 sen

Emergency Numbers:

Ambulance: +855 023 724 891 (or 119 if you have a Cambodian phone number).

Police: +855 023 366 841 - +855 023 720 235 (or 117 if you have a Cambodian phone number).

Fire: +855 023 723 555 (or 118 if you have a Cambodian phone number).

Opening Hours:

Most shops are open Monday to Sunday from 8am–7pm. Markets open from 6am–5pm. Stores and markets are only closed on public holidays.

Newspapers:

The Cambodia Daily
The Phnom Penh Post (bi-monthly)
The Southeast Asia Weekly

The City

Phnom Penh took its name from a legend after a woman called Penh, thought to have found four Buddha washed ashore by the great river.

The French took over in 1869 and ruled until King Norodom Sihanouk declared independence in 1953. The colonial regime left behind impressive villas and large avenues, which form today's city centre. By the 1960s, the town was swinging, and cafes were overflowing the streets.

April 17, 1975, is the day Phnom Penh changed. It emptied in one day as the Khmer Rouge took over the country. After four years Cambodians came back from across the country to reinvigorate their capital city. From a small riverside village, it grew to become the country’s commercial hub. Today it is a burgeoning Asian capital crawling with activity; the landscape is still void of skyscrapers. Phnom Penh remains an untouched Asian gem where cyclo drivers get lost in a sea of motorbikes.

Do & See

Spend a day walking through the historical streets surrounding the Royal Palace, ride a tuk-tuk hopping from market to market, and end your day gazing at the shimmering lights reflecting off the Tonle Bassac. The city’s life never ceases as the old and the new live alongside each other.

Dining

Composed by a mix of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, Cambodian cuisine is varied, simple and delicious. A diet is usually based on fish and soups while the local food offers healthy and abundant Asian surprises. Khmer highlights are fish amok (fish cooked in coconut) and barbecued beef, which can be found on most street corners in the early evening around the Central Market. As the city is made up of many communities including Vietnamese, Chinese and Expatriates, there is a variety of delicacies and restaurants catering to a large expatriate community.

Cafes

Just like Siem Reap, Phnom Penh is a haven for fruit lovers, from mangoes of all shapes and sizes to delicious mangosteens. All markets have a fruit section, and sellers walk along most main streets selling fresh papaya, pineapple, and whichever fruit is in season. However, you will still find cafes serving a strong cup of coffee and western-style pastries.