Phnom Penh is certainly not a green city. However, it is possible to see monkeys, squirrels and hornbills roaming the tall trees surrounding Wat Phnom. Just opposite, the gardens of the Council for the Development of Cambodia are home to the only tree in the city where hundreds of bats are nesting. They fly away at dusk to feed on fruit.
Traditional Khmer dishes, lively barbecue joints, authentic street food and modern bistros — any mouth watering flavours you dream about will come to life in Phnom Penh and surrounding areas.
Start your day with nom banh chok, also known as Khmer noodles — a breakfast staple of fermented noodles in a light, flavourful broth (you might also enjoy it as an afternoon snack ). This satisfying dish is so linked to Cambodian culture you can also ask for it as Khmer noodles.
From Cambodia’s lively and chaotic capital city to surrounding regions, a journey to Phnom Pehn is enriched with modern and historical wonders.
Shadows of the nation’s turbulent past continue to linger, and the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime are on full display in memorial sites such as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Choeung Ek killing fields. As important as it is to visit these sites, it’s also worth dedicating time to explore other heritage attractions.
A city born at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers, Phnom Penh is defined by the water. In fact, the landscape here is so unique that in the summer monsoon season the powerful Mekong swells so dramatically that it forces the Tonlé Sap to flow backward instead of into the sea. It’s no wonder, then, that the nourishing rivers have shaped this region — like the fishing villages that sprung up by the water. Autumn ushers in Bon Om Touk (Cambodian Water Festival) — a joyful festival taking place as the monsoons subside and the river returns to its original flow — featuring colourful boat races and waterside festivities.
