Phnom Penh is the sixth capital after Nokor Phnom, Angkor Wat, Longvèk, Srei Santhor, and Udong.

The Phnom Penh capital, stretching north to south on the west side of the confluence of four-faced rivers “Chatomuk” including the Upper Mékong, the Lower Mékong, the Tonlé Bassak and the Tonlé Sap, favors farming and fishery.

The Phnom Penh Capital with over two million inhabitants covers an area of 290 square kilometers. It is seriously considered the capital city’s getaway of Cambodia and the major center of administration, commerce, communication, culture, economy, education, industry, policy, and tourism for home and world services. The city offers tourists a lot of modern hotels and restaurants with diversified services.

Valuable tropical products that can be found here include seafood, freshwater food, fresh fruit, traditional handicrafts and artistic articles.

Not visiting Phnom Penh, tourists will probably be filled with remorse. The Phnom Penh capital, being the heart of Cambodia and becoming one of the most charming cities in Asia, absolutely enthralls tourists of all ages due to its natural beauty, administrative gathering, and economic growth. It extraordinarily has tourist attractions such as Wat Phnom, Royal Palace, National Museum, Independence Monument, markets, and its surroundings.

Royal Palace
First the Royal Palace was erected in the reign of King Ponhea Yat (1434), and secondly it was erected in the reign of King Norodom (1866). The Royal Palace was formerly called “Preah Barom Reach Veang Chatomuk Mongkul” that meant it was conveniently located at the confluence of four rivers (the Upper Mékong, the Lower Mékong, the Tonlé Bassak and the Tonlé Sap). Nowadays it is only called “Preah Barom Reach Veang”.

The Royal Palace is 402 meters by 435 meters, and its complex is surrounded by a high pagoda-styled compound decorated with the boundary strings.

The Royal Palace is a royal residence now where His Majesty, the King of Cambodia, and the royal families live. In a common word, it is like a small town of royal dynasties.

The Royal Palace is regarded as the symbol of the whole nation, and all the pavilions are adorned and painted with yellow and white colors. The yellow represents Buddhism and the white represents Brahmanism.

Preah Tineang Tivea Vinichhay (The Throne Hall)
Situated in the Royal Palace, the throne hall was erected in 1917 and inaugurated on 16 June, 1919 by His Majesty Preah Bat Sisowath. It is 60 meters long, 30 meters wide and 59 meters high.

It is used for various purposes as follows:
-   The Royal Coronation;
-   Tveatuosmeas Ceremonies (twelve months ceremonies);
-   The audience granted by His Majesty, the King of Cambodia, on national and religious days; and
-   The presentation of credentials by foreign envoys and formal receptions to distinguished guests – both national and international.

Silver Pagoda or Emerald Pagoda
Situated in the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda was erected in the reign of King Norodom in 1892 and inaugurated in 1903.
King Norodom’s successor, King Sisowath, who was his younger brother, kept reigning and decorating the inner wall. And then, Prince Norodom Sihanouk restored it in 1962.

Exhibition of Artistic Objects
-   Emerald Buddha: Made of emerald, the Buddha sits on a gold throne and wears a gold sash set with diamonds across his both shoulders. 
-   The Standing Buddha: The statue including the pedestal and parasol were made of 90kg of gold, which is adorned with 2,086 diamonds, rubies and emeralds. That Buddha was called “Preah Chin Reangsei Reachika Norodom” in the reign of King Sisowath (1904).
-   Burmese Marble Buddha: The Buddha stands in a gesture of walking across a river.
-   Gold Palanquin: With wooden handles covered in carved silver, the palanquin was made of 13kg of gold.
-   One Buddha’s Statue: Set with diamonds, the statue was made of 103 Dam Loeung of gold.
-   One Buddha’s Statue: Set with diamonds, the statue was made of 1.5kg of gold.
-   One Buddha’s Statue: The statue was made of 80kg of bronze.

There are many magnificent artistic objects on exhibition made of gold, silver, copper, copper alloy, marble, glass and ivory.

Wat Phnom
The Wat Phnom, situated on the top of Phnom Daun Penh, is considered a secret monastery for housing the sacred relics. The Vihara (sanctuary) was rebuilt in 1434, 1806, 1894, and 1926. West of the Vihara is an enormous stupa containing the ashes of King Ponhea Yat reigning from 1405 to 1467.

Wat Phnom is a familiar landmark on the Phnom Penh skyline, and it is also a main center of recreational activities.

National Museum
The Cambodian-styled building was erected in 1917 and inaugurated in 1920. It is located to the north of the Royal Palace. A rich collection of Cambodian national art has been shown since ancient times.

You will find here the original features of Cambodian art (wood, sandstone, marble, silver and bronze statues). Ancient bronze houses contain articles, pottery, carved wood, silver work, etc. It is open from 8AM to 5PM everyday.

Independence Monument
Erected in 1955, the Independence Monument symbolizes Cambodian Independence regained from French colonialism in 1953. This monument is a copy of Bakong temple (the group of Roluos in the 9th century). The one hundred Nagas and snake motif can be seen in historical, cultural, archeological, and business contexts.

The Independence Monument is today used to commemorate the souls of combatants and heroes who laid down their lives for freedom of the country.

Markets
Phnom Penh has many markets to go shopping. The huge yellow domed market (Phsar Thmei) is a good place for seeking bronze ware, ceramic ware, cottons, folk handicrafts, jewelry, Khmer silks, pewter ware, pottery, precious stones, and silver ware.

Tuol Tom Pong Market and Olympic Market have an antique collection of genuine articles. They can hear bargain in delicate stone, bronze, marble and wood carvings. The Cambodian hand-woven silk and silversmith expertise date from the 11th century. When bargaining, visitors should carefully think about it and thoroughly enjoy it. They will get memorable souvenirs.

Phnom Penh Surroundings

Tonlé Bati Resort
The Tonlé Bati Resort, a place of worship, is located in Bati District, Takeo Province, and 35 km south of Phnom Penh. One can reach it by National Road No 2.
It boasts Ta Prohm Temple and Yeay Poev Temple.

    1. Ta Prohm Temple

Dedicated to Brahmanism and Buddhism, the Ta Prohm Temple was erected in sandstone and laterite by King Jayavarman VII between the late 12th century and the early 13th century.

    2. Yeay Poev Temple

The Yeay Poev Temple is just behind the Tonlé Bati pagoda and 100 meters from the Ta Prohm Temple. It was constructed in sandstone by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century.

Neang Khmao Temple
The Neang Khmao Temple, accessible by National Road No 2, is situated in Samraong District, Takeo Province, and 52 km south out of Phnom Penh Capital.
In the Koh Kèv style, it was constructed of brick and sandstone by King Jayavarman IV in the early 10th century.

Phnom Chiso (also Surya Parvata)
The Phnom Chiso, accessible by National Road No 2, is beautifully situated in Samraong District, Takeo Province, and 62 km away from Phnom Penh Capital.

Dedicated to Brahmanism, the mountain temple was erected in sandstone and granite by King Suryavarman I in the first half of the 11th century. The Chiso Mountain that is 380 meters high is accessible only by the western stone stairs with 206 steps and by the northern ones with 434 steps. One can climb up the western stairs and climb down the northern ones.

Phnom Udong
It was formerly used as a Khmer capital during 1618-1866.
Phnom Udong, accessible by National Road No 5, is situated in Ponhea Leu District, Kandal Province, and 45 km north of Phnom Penh Capital.

Phnom Udong is also called Phnom Preah Reach Trap, Phnom Athareus and Phnom Preah Chetreus. It is a mountain rich in cultural patrimonies. For tourists, Udong is not only a fantastic cultural site but also a charming natural one.

Koh Dach
Koh Dach located 20km northeast of Phnom Penh has an area of 30 square kilometers. One can reach it by National Road No 6A and by boat along the Mekong River.
It boasts a traditional silk weaving village in which local craftsmen are skilled at spinning and weaving for their livelihood. It also boasts fishing villages on the bank of the river.

One can enjoy their skill in weaving and the superb scenery of fishing there.

Mekong River

The Mekong River crosses Cambodia from North to South about 600 km and has its source in Tibet, China. The Mekong River is a lifeline for Cambodia due to the movement of freshwater fish to the Great Lake.

In Phnom Penh, it bursts into 4 branches:

-    The Upper Mekong or Tonlé Thom
-    The Lower Mekong or Tonlé Toch
-    The Tonlé Bassak
-    The Tonlé Sap

This four-way division is called “Chatomuk” because the river seems to have 4 faces. In the rainy season, water flows from the Mekong River into the Tonlé Sap Lake. In the dry season, the water flows back from the Tonlé Sap Lake into the Mekong River and then to the sea.
At that time, Cambodian people celebrate the water festival in Phnom Penh.

…back

Siem Reap Province

The Siem Reap Province is the cradle of Angkorean civilization and it is a province that offers plenty of opportunity to tourists enthralled by the cultural patrimony. Siem Reap-Angkor is the most attractive landmark in Cambodia in term of cultural tourism in the Southeast Asia.

Siem Reap is 314km northwest of Phnom Penh Capital. It can be reached all year round by direct flights from many major cities in the region such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Vientiane, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Yangon, etc. Nowadays, there are around 10 direct flights per day and there will be more direct flights from the world to Angkor in the future.

Siem Reap can be reached by domestic flights from Phnom Penh; it takes about 40 minutes with many types of air crafts including the Boeing 734. There are five daily flights between Phnom Penh Capital and Siem Reap Province with three domestic airline companies. The Siem Reap Province can also be reached by boat along Tonlé Sap and its lake from Phnom Penh Capital and by car from Battambang Province. The travel is popular with tourists by the national road from Phnom Penh Capital and from Poipet Border Checkpoint to Siem Reap Province.

Angkor (in Siem Reap Province)
In the Angkorean era, the ancient Khmer Kingdom dominated most of present Southeast Asia from 800 to 1430 AD.

The Angkor complex is the soul of Khmer people (90% of Cambodian population). Angkor accurately represents Khmer fine art, great civilization, spiritual heart, national identity, and political power.

The Angkor complex consists of more than 100 monuments, which spread over an area of 400 square kilometers. Angkor Wat is the most famous and largest ancient temple and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Khmer temples were built between 7th and 13th centuries by Khmer kings when the Khmer civilization was at its height of the extraordinary creativity. The Angkor architecture serves as the evidence of the strong Khmer religious beliefs – Hinduism and Buddhism. King Jayavarman VII was one of the powerful Khmer kings in that period.

The most popular temples in the Angkor area are Angkor Wat (World Heritage), Angkor Thom-Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Takeo, Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Prè Roup, East Mebon, Prasat Kravan, Preah Khan, Neak Poan, Ta Saom, Banteay Srei, Roluos Group, etc.

Angkor Wat: ‘the city, which has a temple’
Angkor Wat, in its beauty and state of preservation, is unrivaled. Its mightiness and magnificence bespeak pomp and luxury surpassing that of a Pharaoh or a Shah Jahan, impressiveness greater than that of the Pyramids, and artistic distinctiveness as fine as that of the Taj Mahal.

It is located six kilometers north of Siem Reap Town and south of Angkor Thom. You can enter and leave Angkor Wat from the west.

Angkor Wat was erected in sandstone and laterite by King Suryavarman II in the first half of the 12th century (1113-50). In the Angkor Wat style, it was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Vishnu). Perhaps it is a shrine and mausoleum of King Suryavarman II who ordered its construction before his death. It is a fine example of classical Khmer architecture that combines Indian and Indo-Chinese culture.

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is undeniably an expression of the highest genius. It is, in three dimensions and on a scale worthy of an entire nation, the materialization of Buddhist cosmology, representing ideas that only great painters would dare to portray.

It is located 1,700 meters north of Angkor Wat. You can enter and leave Angkor Thom by the south, north or Victory gates.

Angkor Thom was erected by King Jayavarman VII between the late 12th century and the early 13th century. In the Bayon style, it was consecrated to Buddhism.

Bakheng (Phnom)
It is a testimony to the love of symmetry and balance, which evolved its style. In pure simplicity of rectangles, its beauty is achieved. It is a pyramid mounting in terraces, five of them. Below Bakheng lies all the world of mystery, the world of the Khmer, more mysterious than ever under its cover of impenetrable verdure.

Phnom Bakheng is located 1,300 meters north of Angkor Wat and 400 meters south of Angkor Thom. You can enter and leave Phnom Bakheng by climbing a long steep path with some steps on the east side of the monument (height: 67 meters).

Arrive at the summit just before sunset for a panoramic view of Angkor and its environs. The golden hues of the setting sun on this vista are a memorable sight.

Phnom Bakheng is erected by King Yasovarman I between the late ninth century and the early tenth century. In the Bakheng style, it was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Siva).

Baksei Chamkrong (Prasat): ‘the bird who shelters under its wings’
This little temple with its four square tiers of laterite, crowned by a brick sanctuary, might serve for a model in miniature of some of its giant neighbors, and is almost as perfect as the day it was built.

Baksei Chamkrong is located 150 meters north of Phnom Bakheng and 80 meters from the road leading to the south gate of Angkor Thom. A visit to Baksei Chamkrong can be combined with a stop at the South Gate of Angkor Thom. You can enter and leave the temple from the east entrance.

Baksei Chamkrong perhaps began by King Harshavarman I, and it was completed by King Rajendravarman II in the mid-tenth century (947). Baksei Chamkrong was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Shiva); it may have been a funerary temple for the parents of the king. Its style is transitional between Bakheng and Koh Kér.

Banteay Kdei: ‘the citadel of the cells’
In the ruin and confusion of Banteay Kdei the carvings take one’s interest.
They are piquant, exquisite, and not too frequent. They seem meant to make adorable a human habitation.

Banteay Kdei is located south of Ta Prohm. You can enter the monument from the east and leave at the west or vice versa; either way, also visit Srah Srang.

Banteay Kdei was erected by King Jayavarman VII between the mid-12th century and the early 13th century. Banteay Kdei consecrated to Mahayana Buddhism has its style between Angkor Wat and Bayon.

Banteay Srei: ‘the citadel of the women’
Banteay Srei, “the citadel of women”, is an exquisite miniature; a fairy palace in the heart of an immense and mysterious forest; the very thing that we delighted to imagine, and that every child’s heart has yearned after, but which mature years have sadly proved too lovely to be true. And here it is, in the Cambodian forest at Banteay Srei, carved not out of the stuff that dreams are made of, but of solid sandstone.

Banteay Srei is located 25 kilometers northeast of the Bayon. You can enter and leave the temple by the east entrance.

Banteay Srei was erected during reigns of King Rajendravarman II and King Jayavarman V in the second half of the tenth century (967). In the Banteay Srei style, it was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Siva).

Baphuon
North of the Golden Tower [Bayon] rises the Tower of Bronze [Baphuon], higher even than the Golden Tower: a truly astonishing spectacle, with more than ten chambers at its base.

Baphuon is located 200 meters northwest of the Bayon and south of Phimeanakas. You can enter and leave the temple at the east.

Baphuon was erected by King Udayadityavarman II in the mid-11th century (1060). In the Baphuon style, it was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Siva).

Bayon
We stand absolutely stunned before Bayon; it is like nothing else in the land.
The Bayon is located in the center of the city of Angkor Thom, 1,500 meters from the south gate. It is a three-tiered pyramid with its entrance facing east. You can enter the Bayon from the east.

The Bayon was erected by King Jayavarman VII between the late 12th century and the early 13th century. In the Bayon style, it was consecrated to Buddhism.

The central shrine is surrounded by 54 towers crowned by gigantic faces, representing Lokiteshvara but with the features of King Jayavarman VII.

Kravan (Prasat): ‘the cardamom sanctuary’
The Kravan temple is situated east of Angkor Wat and south of Banteay Kdei. You can enter and depart from the east.

The Kravan temple may have been built by high court officials and was completed during the reign of Harshavarman I in the first half of the tenth century (921). The Hindu temple has its style between Bakheng and Koh Kér.

Preah Khan: ‘the sacred sword’
Preah Khan, for the beguiler, the romancer and the artist, is an entrancing mystery deep in the jungle, soft and alluring in the twilight made by heavy verdure. It had been accessible only to the ardent lover of past days who was gifted with agility. They may have been courtyards where high priests gathered and guardians slept, but now they are walled bowers over which the trees extend to heaven’s blue. It all seems a wondrous mass of beauty tossed together in superb confusion.

The Preah Khan temple is located north of Angkor Thom and west of Neak Pean. You can enter and leave the temple from the west entrance.

The Preah Khan temple was erected by King Jayavarman VII in the second half of the 12th century (1191). In the Bayon style, it was consecrated to Buddhism (dedicated to the father of the king).

Srah Srang: ‘the royal bath’
It was perhaps a chapel to Kama, God of Love. The spot would suit the temper of the strange power, terribly strong and yet terribly tender, of that passion which carries away kingdoms, empires, whole worlds, and inhabits also the humblest dwellings. Love could occupy this quiet nest embedded in water, which gave the impression that love had come one day and had left there, when he went away, a part of his spirit.

Srah Srang is located across the road from the east entrance of Banteay Kdei. You can enter and leave Srah Srang from the road.

Srah Srang was erected by King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. In the Bayon style, it was consecrated to Buddhism.

Ta Keo: ‘the ancestor Keo or the tower of crystal or glass’
The majestic ziggurat of Ta Keo, is most enigmatic of the minor fanes, stepping up toward the sun with a dignity and power suggestive of Angkor Wat. It is dripping with green and crowned with trees, but is still supreme over the forest. Its rocky masses, rising above the tops of the coconut palms, convey the impression that it only recently emerged from some cavern underground, carrying the forest with it in its rocketing ascent.

The Ta Keo temple is located east of Thommanon and Chau Say Tevoda. You can enter and leave the temple by the south or east entrances.

The Ta Keo temple was erected by King Jayavarman V to Suryavarman I between the late 10th century and the early 11th century. In the Khleang style, it was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Siva).

Ta Prohm: ‘the ancestor Brahma’
Ta Prohm’s state of ruin is a state of beauty, which is investigated with delight and left with regret.

The Ta Prohm temple is located southwest of the East Mebon and east of Angkor Thom. Its outer enclosure is near the corner of Banteay Kdei. You can enter the monument from the west and leave from the east entrance.

The Ta Prohm temple was erected by King Jayavarman VII between the late 12th century and the early 13th century (1186- …). In the Bayon style, it was consecrated to Buddhism (dedicated to the mother of the king).

The Roluos Group of Monuments (Bakong, Lolei and Preah Ko)

Bakong
Bakong is located at Roluos south of Preah Ko. You can enter and leave the temple at the east. A modern Buddhist temple is situated to the right of the east entrance to Bakong.

Bakong was erected by King Indravarman I in the late ninth century (881). In the Preah Ko style, it was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Siva).

Lolei
Lolei is situated at Roluos, north of Bakong. A modern Buddhist temple is located in the grounds of Lolei near the central towers. You can enter and leave the temple by the stairs at the east.

Lolei was erected by King Yasovarman I in the late ninth century (893). In the artistic style between Preah Ko and Bakheng, Lolei was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Siva); in memory of the king’s father.

Preah Ko: ‘the sacred ox’
Preah Ko is located at Roluos between Bakong and Lolei; it is mid-way between Bakong and the road. You can enter and leave the temple from the east.

Preah Ko was erected by King Indravarman I in the late ninth century (879). In the Preah Ko style, it was consecrated to Hinduism (dedicated to Siva); funerary temple built for the king’s parents, maternal grandparents, and a previous king, Jayavarman II and his wife.

The West Baray
The West Baray is a vast man-made lake (2 by 8 kilometers) in a replica of the East Baray, but slightly larger than the east one. It is surrounded by a levy of earth, which forms a dyke. According to legend, the young daughter of a ruler of Angkor was grabbed by an enormous crocodile, which made a large opening in the south dyke of the West Baray that can still be seen today. The crocodile was captured and killed. The princess, still living in its stomach, was rescued.

The West Baray was erected by King Udayadityavarman II in the mid-eleventh century (1060). It has the Baphuon style.

Kbal Spean
This holy place must have been favored during the great Angkorean epoch when its waters, after having washed gods and lingas, continued on to the wondrous royal city with its growing monumental temples.

Koh Kér
Built by King Jayavarman IV in the 10th century, Koh Kér was the third ancient capital of Khmer Empire. It may have been the capital for just 15 years. King Jayavarman IV was determined to legitimize his rule through an extensive building program, and left behind 30 major temples and some gargantuan sculpture seen today in Phnom Penh.
Koh Kér is located 80km north of the Kulen Mountain.

Kulen Mountain
It is located between Svay Leu District and Va Rin District in Siem Reap Province.
It is in 48-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Siem Reap by a short cut or in 50-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Siem Reap via Sal Deu Gol Road, small circle, big circle, Preah Dak, Road A66, and then turning to the Malaysian-Developed Road.

It was established during the Angkorean period by King Jayavarman II in the 9th century. It was named then as Mahendraparvata; a dedication to Mahendraparvata became a worshipping place for the Theravada Buddhism. It is well known as a sacred place of the Khmer people. During the constructional period of the ancient temples, sandy stones were brought from this sacred mountain. The means of transport were bamboo-rafting and elephant-towing. The main attraction of this resort is the River of One Thousand Lingas or Kulen Waterfall.

Recently, the resort has become not only a place of worship, but also a historical, cultural, and natural tourist resort.

Phnom Penh is a vibrant bustling city nestling majestically on the banks of confluence of the two mighty rivers of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap.

These rivers then split again as the Mekong and Tole Basarc at a place known to the Khmers as Chaktomuk, meaning four faces Main spots for sightseeing in Phnom Penh are suggested for travelers to visit such as Wat Phnom, National Museum, Siliver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng and Choeng Ek Killing Fields.

Phnom Penh is a veritable oasis compared to the modernity of other Asian capitals.

A mixture of Asian exotica, the famous Cambodian hospitality awaits the visitors to the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Situated at the confluence of three great rivers the ‘four arms’ of the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac forming the “four arms” right in front of the Royal Palace Phnom Penh is the commercial, political and cultural hubs of the Kingdom and is home to over one million of the country’s estimated 11.4 million people.
It is also the gateway to an exotic land….the world heritage site, the largest religious complex in the world, the temples of Angkor in the west, the beaches of the southern coast and the ethnic minorities of the northeastern provinces. The city offers several cultural and historical attractions including the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. There are also a wide variety of services including five star hotels and budget guest houses, fine international dining, sidewalk noodle shops, neighborhood pubs international discos and more.

Phnom Penh, like other Asian-City tourist destinations, is in the midst of rapid change. Over the past few years the number of restaurants and hotels have grown considerably and in the last year there had been a huge increase in the number of visitors.

Due to its lay-out, the temple frustrates as no one view takes in both the temple itself and the marvellous panorama stretching out acoss the Cambodian plains below. Clearly in need of restoration having endured many years of damage and neglect, warning signs are everywhere advising visitors not to stray off the designated paths, as the danger of landmines is very real (above right; picture courtesy of Michael Chubak). A Cambodian military unit now guards the temple site and collects the 200 baht entrance fee whilst Thai military officials earn their revenue from the parking area, shops and restaurant at the foot of the temple, which is on Thai soil. For more photos from Preah Vihear, click here.

At present, it’s very undeveloped, which gives you a feeling of going somewhere off the beaten tourist trail. Also interesting is the variety of languages being used: Khmer, hill tribe languages, Vietnamese and Laos.

The proximity of the Angkorian ruins turned Siem Reap into a boomtown in less than half a decade. Huge, expensive hotels have sprung up everywhere and budget hotels have mushroomed. Property values have soared to European levels and tourism has become a vast, lucrative industry. The Siem Reap of today is barely recognizable from the Siem Reap of the year 2000.

Though some of the town’s previous ramshackle charm may have been lost the developments of the last few years have brought livelihoods, if not significant wealth, to a good number of its citizens. This has been at a cost to the underprivileged people living within and beyond the town’s limits that now pay inflated prices at the more central markets and continue to survive o­n poorly paid subsistence farming. If Cambodia is a country of contrasts Siem Reap is the embodiment of those contrasts. Despite the massive shift in its economic fortunes, Siem Reap remains a safe, friendly and pleasant town. There is an endless choice of places to stay or dine and a host of possible activities awaiting the visitor.

In the southwest corner of Cambodia, 232km from Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville can be reached by National Highway N° 4. White-sand beaches that include O’chheuteal, Sokha, Pram Pi Chan, and Deum Chrey beautify this coastal city. These beaches are known for their quiet, cozy atmosphere and the large stretches of white sand and clear waters and these make them popular spots for families on vacation. These seaside paradises with the refreshing coolness of the fresh water streams can be enjoyed all year round.

Business opportunities in Sihanoukville are varied from financial activities to tourist and travel-related industries in conjunction with the government’s objective of making Sihanoukville a major tourist destination besides its status as an International Offshore Financial Center. The government welcomes both foreign as well as local investors to participate in a joint-venture basis.

Sihanoukville is not a small p ace, and the best way to get around is to hire a motorbike. Sihanoukville itself is east of the main backpackers’ beach and close to the more mid-range O matial Beach. Due south of town is tiny Ko Pos Beach, which has a solitary mid-range hotel, and the larger Independence Beach, which has the crumbling Independence Hotel-slated r redevelopment.