museum
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
A former high school turned Khmer Rouge interrogation center, now a museum documenting Cambodia's tragic genocide.
1 km · about 5 min drive
AsiaCambodiaPhnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh, Cambodia · Asia
About Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Mean Chey, 1km from Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21).
Phnom Penh is in Cambodia, with about 1.6 million people. The nearest town is Mean Chey, about 4 km away.
Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since 1865 and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its political, economic, industrial, and cultural centre. The city's name derives from Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple, and Lady Penh, the city's founder. It sitsRead more
at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers, and is the start of the Bassac River. It is also the seat of Cambodia's monarchy, based at the Royal Palace.
Founded in 1372, Phnom Penh succeeded Angkor Thom as the national capital in 1434 following the fall of Angkor, and remained so until 1497. It regained its capital status during the French colonial era. It underwent a period of investment and modernization during Cambodia's independence period, earning the nickname the "Pearl of Asia" for its colonial French, New Khmer and Art Deco architecture. The city's population swelled in the 1960s and 1970s as refugees fled from civil war and American bombing during the Vietnam War. Phnom Penh's entire population was forcibly evacuated in 1975 by the Khmer Rouge, and faced persecution, forced labour and genocide. Phnom Penh remained largely uninhabited during the Democratic Kampuchea era until Vietnam-backed forces took the city in 1979. The city was reconstructed and infrastructure improved in the modern era with the support of international investment and aid. By 2009, it was home to more than 2 million people, approximately 14% of the Cambodian population.
The Greater Phnom Penh area includes the nearby Ta Khmau city and some districts of Kandal province. The city formerly functioned as a processing center, with textiles, pharmaceuticals, machine manufacturing, and rice milling. Its cultural institutions and events have made it a hub for domestic and international tourism. The city has hosted regional and international events, including the 2002, 2012, and 2014 ASEAN Summit, the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, and the 12th ASEAN Para Games. Phnom Penh will be the first Cambodian city and the second city in Southeast Asia to host the Asian Youth Games in 2031.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Phnom Penh?
Within an hour or so of Phnom Penh: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21) (1 km), Choeung Ek Killing Fields (9 km).
Are there any good drives near Phnom Penh?
The nearest famous roads are Bokor Mountain Road.
Where is Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh is in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, about 4 km from Mean Chey.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 1,573,544
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Cambodia
- Region
- Phnom Penh
- Timezone
- Asia/Phnom_Penh
- Coordinates
- 11.5625, 104.9160
Tags
Worth the detour from Phnom Penh
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Choeung Ek Killing Fields
The most well-known of the Khmer Rouge execution sites, now a memorial with a glass stupa filled with thousands of skulls.
9 km · about 15 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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