General Information on Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital city of Cambodia as well as its largest city. This city was once called the “Pearl of Asia” is now a commercial, cultural and political hub that offers an exceptional blend of urban bustle and traditional charm. Phnom Penh is a city with diverse urban and economic growth. It may not have glistening shopping malls like Bangkok; but its laid back charm and interesting history have established this city to become a popular destination in Southeast Asia.
A new wave of development has brought about new high-rise buildings; this includes a 30 storey business centre, modern hotels that offer all forms of luxury, and restaurants that cater to different palates. Those who visit the city expecting to experience a post Khmer Rouge feeling will be wonderfully surprised. While sites like the killing fields and S-21 detention facility still fascinate many tourists, Phnom Penh is creating a name for itself as a colonial chic that is unlike any other in the region, for its great bars and good food.
Phnom Penh has indeed come a long way from the dark period between 1975 and 1979 when the Khmer Rouge made the capital to become a ghost town. The city is rapidly moving into the 21st century, with electricity supply getting better each year and internet cafes becoming available all over. The city is being transformed at lightening pace because of the money it earns from tourism and wholesale foreign investment. In the past, the city was considered to be a Wild West style city meaning you were never far off from a gun, but those days are long gone. While gun crime is still a bit high, tourists coming to Phnom Penh rarely experience any crimes, except for odd minor crimes once in a while.
This appealing city offers a wide array of cultural and historical attractions, and visitors will have numerous occasions to sample Cambodian culture. In this capital city, classic colonial facades exist alongside buzzing markets, golden-spired pagodas, and new stylish eateries; giving evidence of the dynamic energy that abounds in the city’s streets. Phnom Penh’s riverfront is popular worldwide and is lined with restaurants, trendy pubs and bistros. Beautiful Cambodian silk can be easily obtained from any of the trendy galleries and numerous stores that dot the streets. All this combined with a thriving arts scene and a bustling nightlife makes it easy to understand why Phnom Penh is a much loved tourist destination.
History of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh became a major settlement after the Angkor period when Angkor Wat and the neighboring cities rose to prominence. Cambodia was under the full control of France from 1863 to 1953 and greatly prospered during this period as France developed the riverfront in Phnom Penh. In 1975, the communist Khmer Rouge forces took over Phnom Penh led by Pol Pot and turned the city into a desolate capital for the subsequent 4 years which left more than 2 million inhabitants dead.
The communist guerilla Khmer Rouge were eventually forced out in 1979 and peace slowly returned to Cambodia. The international community gave aid to help rehabilitate both the people and the country and full stability was restored when the Paris Peace Accords were put in place in 1991. In 1999, Cambodia joined ASEAN, which is the regional Southeast Asian Grouping. This further helped to boost foreign investment to Phnom Penh, and opened a new positive chapter for the city.
Around Town
Phnom Penh has vibrant streets that are full of attractive sights. There are numerous cultural and historical attractions you can visit, and myriad restaurants and nightspots. If you want to experience Cambodian interesting history and royal life, the ideal place to visit is the Royal palace and also the Silver Pagoda which is situated next to the palace. The national museum offers an array of appealing Khmer sculptures, bronzes, ethnographic objects and ceramics. If you want to taste Phnom Penh food, Sothearos Boulevard offers some of the best local food. There are also many antique shops that sell betel boxes, silver trays, ancient coins, belts, wooden and silver statutes, and the popular marble carvings created in the Pursat province. Phsar Toul Tum Poung, also referred to as the Russian market, has sundry souvenir items and unique antique pieces. The city has modern shopping complexes for those who want to do their shopping in air conditioned comfort such as the City Mall, Sovanna Center, and Sorya Shopping Center.
If you want to take a stroll and explore the city on foot, you will see the boulevards that have stylish colonial structures as well as the bustling riverfront that has many appealing cafes and restaurants. To end an activity-filled day in style, take a cruise along Phnom Penh’s Tonle Sap’s river to experience the warm river breeze and relax as you watch as the city begin to light up for the evening
Phnom Penh Nightlife
The nightlife in this city is very vibrant and there are many bars you can choose from. Live music venues are few, but some international hotels have bands from the Philippines that come to play. The most vibrant nightlife in Phnom Penh was before located on street 104 along Sisowath Quay, and also on street 51, known as “The Strip.” But this days the whole riverside offer fantastic nightlife. The Phnom Penh music culture mostly revolves around Aspara dancing, which is the traditional Cambodian dancing style. It is very slow and has graceful movements and many people in the city are familiar with it.
Phnom Penh Real Estate
Many new investors have started investing in Phnom Penh real estate. In areas like Sen Sok, many residential buildings are coming up every day and it is a great place for any investor looking to invest because it has an international hospital, an international school, and good infrastructure.
Cambodia has experienced a booming economy since the 1990s and western style malls have come up as well as many new shops. The current tallest building is in Phnom Penh is Vattanac capital Tower, at 200 meters tall, which will get completed in late 2012.
All of this Phnom Penh information portrays how this city is simply spectacular with its rich culture, amazing history and many investment opportunities.