Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is a city in the midst of rapid change. But as skyscrapers rise and fast food restaurants multiply, the city still offers that traditional old mixture of Cambodian hospitality and Indochinese charm. Set at the confluence of three great rivers – the Chaktomuk or ‘four faces’ of the Mekong River – Phnom Penh is a city of more than 2 million people and the country’s commercial, economic and political hub. Though seeing significant development over the last 20 years, as a travel destination the city still has an adventurous air – from the historic sites and architecture, to the boutiques and bistros dotting the side streets, and the city’s legendary dusk-to-dawn nightlife.
Many of the tourist areas and sights are in the old central city near the river where you may notice classic old French buildings in classic colonial yellow amongst the Southeast Asian shophouses and traditional Khmer pagodas and markets. Sights in the area include the ornate Royal Palace, nearby National Museum, which is the most significant public repository of Khmer artifacts in the country, and the riverfront dining and shopping district. Khmer Rouge historical sites include the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek Memorial. outside the city.
