Situated at the confluence of three rivers—including the mighty Mekong—at the heart of Cambodia is the changing capital of Phnom Penh, once considered as the ‘Pearl of Asia’. It offers one of Southeast Asia’s preserved French remnants amid widely-held images of the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Museum. Since the Khmer Rouge rule in the 1970s, Phnom Penh has been slowly rising up and trying to keep pace with its bigger neighbors, Saigon and Bangkok, even with smaller Siem Reap to the west, where more tourists flock to see Angkor Wat.
Phnom Penh has benefited from the influx of tourists, mainly backpackers, who chase the Southeast Asian trail from Vietnam to Thailand. As a result, various types of accommodation have sprung up—from budget guesthouses to mid-range inns and luxury Phnom Penh hotels.
How to Arrive and depart from Phnom Penh
There are three ways to arrive and depart from Phnom Penh: by air, land, and boat. Of all of these, getting there by air is by far the best and most practical option.
Travel to Phnom Penh by Air
There are a number of carriers flying to Phnom Penh direct from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. This includes Bangkok Airways, Silk Air, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and Shanghai Airlines, among others.
Phnom Penh’s Pochentong International Airport is around 8 kilometers from town. Arriving international passengers who have no visa should proceed to the visa-on-arrival counter in the airport with a filled-up visa application form, a passport-sized photo, and their passports.
Departing international passengers must pay the departure tax. Past immigration, there are a few shops selling souvenirs and duty-free items. The selection, however, is very limited.
Travel to Phnom Penh by Land
Buses are still the most popular way to travel to Phnom Penh from neighboring countries. The national road has been improved considerably and the buses are air-conditioned and comfortable.
There are many bus companies serving in the city, and a lot of them are located near Psar Thmei or Sisowath Quay. Some of the best bus companies include Capitol Transport, Phnom Penh Sorya Transport, Paramount Angkor Express, and the luxury bus RAC Limousine serving Siem Reap from Phnom Penh. Two bus companies also travel to Phnom Penh (and onwards to Siem Reap) from Vietnam: Mai Linh and Mekong Express.
Tickets are bought in advance to get the best seats.
Travel to Phnom Penh by Boat
Phnom Penh has a boat dock for tourists called the Sisowath Quay. However, the boats only go to and from Siem Reap via the Tonlé Sap River and the Tonlé Sap Lake. A five to six-hour ride to Siem Reap costs up to US$20-25, making it a less popular choice since a bus ride is just around US$5. The boat ride through the Tonlé Sap River can be scenic, but the lake ride can be a bit boring because there is nothing to see aside from the water.
For those who would like to sit on the roof of the boat, wear a lot of sunscreens and headgear. Reconsider taking the boat during the dry season, though, as the boats used are usually small and oftentimes overcrowded.
Things to do and see
- With an area of 678 square kilometers and home to more than two million inhabitants, there is still a host of things to do in this city other than drinking Angkor Beer at Sisowath Quay. After paying a customary visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, you may proceed to the prominent Wat Botum and Wat Phnom (from which the city took its name) as well as the other temples at the Royal Palace to gaze at the imposing stupas.
- The Independence and Liberation memorials will give you a glimpse of Cambodia’s bitter tied history with Vietnam. If you are in for a bit of adventure with a philanthropic heart, then head to the Stung Meanchey Garbage Dump.
- After a whole day of walking around the city, you may proceed to the Olympic Stadium to take a dip or join hordes of people participating in an exercise or dance lessons. Or you may just go to the Riverside to get a massage in one of the spas and right after watch people go by while taking a swig at one of the pubs.
- You can do shopping at the local markets. These markets are choked-full of local goods such as textiles, silk, furnishings, carvings and jewelry, enough to satisfy your Asian aesthetic needs. If it’s Asian craftsmanship you want, these markets can surely provide.
Getting around to see the sights above will require you to hire a car, as buses serve only long-distance routes.
If you want to join in the rush of things along Norodom Boulevard, hire a motordop (motorbike taxi) from one point of the city to another. If you prefer to take it slow while spotting wats and colonial buildings, take the reumork (motored tricycle).
So, keep these things on your checklist when planning to visit Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
