Everything you Need to Know about Phnom Penh The biggest city in Cambodia, also its wealthiest, Phnom Penh is the cultural, commercial and political centre of the country and is home to more than one million of Cambodia's population of over 14 million.Covering an area of 345sqk Phnom Penh is located in the south-central region of Cambodia, at the confluence of the Tonle Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers.The city offers extensive cultural and historical attractions, including temples, museums, the Royal Palace and also has accommodation from simple guesthouses to five-star hotels. Phnom Penh also features good dining facilities as well as a vibrant and varied nightlife.

Phnom Penh Activities

As a capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has a lot to offer the tourist. Here are some ideas of how much fun one can have in the capital. (Read More)

Phnom Penh Restaurants

In Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, there are countless good restaurants to satisfy all tastes and budgets. Many of them have unique designs and fascinating decor. The variety is enormous; it would be no exaggeration to say that you can find almost all the cuisines of the world in Phnom Penh - French, Mexican, Italian, German, Greek, English, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Thai. (Read More)

Phnom Penh Nightlife

Early evening in Phnom Penh you can visit establishments like the Australian-owned Rubies Bar, frequented by young and well-heeled expats or the FCC on Sisowath Quay which has great views and good, if somewhat over-priced, food. The California 2 Café and Guesthouse is where expats and travelers meet and exchange information. These are generally quieter establishments. (Read More)

Phnom Penh Shopping

You'll find Cambodian silk for sale in Phnom Penh at the Russian Market (a Cold War era goods depot) and silk shops and boutiques across town, many specializing in silk creations such as tailored Asian and Euro-Asian fashions, accessories and soft furnishings. (Read More)

History

Phnom Penh's history begins with the Lady Penh who discovered five Buddha images concealed in a tree, had a pagoda named Wat Phnom Don Penh built on the same spot. The city was founded nearly a century later, taking its name from the pagoda, that became the capital in 1866. Following its recent traumatic history, parks, gardens and elegant villas are now being restored, tree-lined boulevards still reflect the elegance of the city's French colonial past, and camera-clicking tourists sit in pedicabs ("cyclos") which weave their way leisurely through the increasing numbers of cars and motorcycles. This pleasant scene, coupled with the current bustle of optimistic commerce, belies the chilling fact that the city stood abandoned and empty from 1975-1979 during the forced evacuation by the detested Khmer Rouge.