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Sightseeing in Phnom Penh - what to see. Complete travel guide

KDs World Tour: Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is a capital and the most populated city in Cambodia. This is a large political, cultural and historical center that has long started to attract attention of inquisitive travelers. According to one of the beautiful legends, the first settlement was established here in 1372. The name of the city can be literally translated from Khmer as “Hill of Mother Penh”. The founder of the first settlement was exactly nun Penh.
Excursion over cultural sights of Phnom Penh - 'must visit' points of interest
Phnom Penh is a trove of unique historical attractions with their fascinating history. The must-see of all sightseeing tours is The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, one of the most symbolic … Open
When she walked along the bank of the Mekong and saw a tree trunk sailing down the river. Something was sparkling in the branches. It was five statues of Buddha, four of which were bronze and one was wooden. Nuns created a high hill near the house and installed an altar with statues. A little later, the monastery of Wat Phnom was founded on this place. Remarkably, all these interesting events had taken place. The scientists have found quite a logical explanation of such unusual find. According to them, the sacred statues belonged to one of the Lao temples and were washed away by the river current during one rite.
Since its founding, the settlement has had a beneficial strategic position. In its territory, there is the junction of three rivers – Bassac, Mekong and Tonle Sap. At the beginning of the 15th century, the king of Cambodia decided to establish a new capital and chose Phnom Penh. According to available data, Phnom Penh gained an official city status in 1432 and had been a capital of the kingdom for more than 70 years. At the beginning of the 16th century, the city lost this significant status and restored it only in 1866. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Your active city break in Phnom Penh. Attractions, recreation and entertainment - best places to spend your day and night here
After walking along historical places of the Cambodian capital, you should drop in the popular entertainments venues. Nature admirers should certainly visit the zoo Phnom Tamao Wildlife … Open
Startling simplicity and authenticity are some of the distinguishing features of the modern city. Just as many years ago, the rhythm of life here is unhurried and sedate. The Cambodian capital is not full of vehicles. There are a few noisy entertainment venues. Nightclubs of the city do not destroy its harmonious atmosphere. Some main values of the city are unique historical monuments, picturesque streets with a long history and religious monuments. Several interesting museums work in Phnom Penh. They acquaint guests of the city with its fascinating history and culture. But do not limit your leisure program with sightseeing tours.
Egg-Yolk Yellow Deco | Phnom Penh Central Market | Cambodia The Cambodian capital has long been a large center of silk production. On local markets, you can buy high-quality clothes, shoes and hand-made accessories at attractive prices. Electronic goods that are recommended to be bought with extreme caution are manufactured here too. One of the city distinguishing features is a great number of antique shops and markets. One of the largest markets is Hidden Treasures.
Top hotels in Phnom Penh for business trip or short vacation
Phnom Penh grants you a wide choice of great hotels with different design and themes. The main leader among upscale venues is Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra. This fashionable hotel is located … Open
Despite the fact that it is prohibited to export antique items under the existing laws, there are a lot of buyers in such markets. The matter is that the significant share of all products on markets is ordinary souvenirs that have no historical value. When you go shopping, you should remember that a “genuine” piece of art can be purchased at an unreasonably high price. The enchantingly beautiful capital with its marvelous historical monuments and incomparable national coloring attracts more foreign guests every year.
Phnom Penh - guide chapters 1 2 3 4

Sightseeing in Cambodia: things to see

Cambodia is home of the largest lake in South East Asia. This is Tonle Slap, which is located in the central part of the country. The lake is very shallow, only 1 metre deep, but during the rainy season waters of the Mekong River make the lake grow and it becomes 9 metres deep. Mekong River is also famous for one more thing – the Mekong Dolphin, one of a few species that live in fresh water. The highest chance to see the dolphins is in a protected area near Kratie. During a boat ride, you will also enjoy magnificent views of the river and its banks. … Open
Reference information
Map of all parks
National and city parks around Phnom Penh
♥   National Park 'Kirirom' , 97.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   National Park 'Lo Go-Xa Mat' , 107.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   National Park 'Tram Chim' , 112.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   National Park 'Kep' , 135.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   National Park 'Phu Quoc' , 166.5 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sights around Phnom Penh from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Fried Tarantulas in Phnom Penh Restaurants

From the series “The Most Disgusting Dishes in the World”
Check on the map:   Distance from Phnom Penh center - 2 km.
Ping, which is the local name of fried spiders, reached a huge popularity in 60s of the last century, when Cambodia suffered from a mass starvation. Local residents could do nothing, but catch spiders crawling all over the place, fry them, and eat. Today, tarantulas are cooked in a more complex way. Beforehands, they are soaked in the marinade of salt and sugar. Before frying, a little garlic is added to oil. These simple seasonings gives the dish juicy shades, as tarantulas cooked without spices are completely tasteless. … Read further

Sightseeing in regions nearby Phnom Penh

Phu Quoc Island
Phu Quoc National Park located in the northern part of the island is another popular hiking destination. It was founded in 1986; there are over 150 animal species and thousands of various plants in it. Exciting and educational excursions run in park on daily basis, ... Open »
Ho Chi Minh City
Among the distinguishing features of the city there is the abundance of electronics stores that can be found literally at every step. This fact will certainly please tourists who prefer to buy the new state of the art gadgets from their holiday. Ho Chi Minh City is the ... Open »
Siem Reap
Another unique national symbol that has not been affected by the rapid development of the city industry is tuk-tuks. You can find these amazing carriages everywhere. Some of them really surprise with their unusual look and so-called “tuning”. Carriage drivers ... Open »
Ko Chang
You should definitely visit the village of Bang Bao inhabited by fishermen. You can rent a boat and fishing equipment from locals; nearby coves and bays are the richest fishing places of Koh Chang. Another popular entertainment option is elephant ride around the ... Open »
Pattaya
The resort is very popular among young people and it is not surprising because you will not find so many discos and night clubs in any other city in Thailand. The beaches of Pattaya are simply perfect for unhurried rest. Here you will find simply everything for ... Open »
Nha Trang
Hon Chong-Hon Vo is an unusual place that is particularly suitable for couples. The park’s name can be roughly translated as “husband stone – wife stone”. This place is often considered a stone garden, but stones form a big pile in Hon Chong-Hon Vo. What is so ... Open »
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