Phnom Penh

Cambodia's capital retains an undeniable charm despite the desperate and distressing past. Phnom Penh offers the visitors everything: the past and the present, the poverty and the excess, the East and the West.

Sitting at the confluence of the Tonle Bassac and the Tonle Sap rivers, for long Phnom Penh has been considered the loveliest cities of Indochina. The crumbling colonial architecture makes some parts of the city very European, while the several impressive wats here and there confirm the truly traditional Khmer culture.

The riverfront of Phnom Penh lined with swaying palm, side walk cafés and restaurants is undoubtedly the most splendid in Asia and should not be missed while you are here. Other sites to be visited in town includes Wat Phnom, Wat Ounalom,  Wat Lang Ka, the Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace, and the National Museum. The Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Field of Choeung Ek were the places the Khmer Rouge tortured and executed about 17,000 victims during the genocide could also be on the itinerary.

All in all, Phnom Penh is rising over all the destruction of the painful past, continuing to be one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. Phnom Penh therefore can also be the proof of the Khmers’ strength and determination to build up their country back to glory. Please think carefully about giving enough time for Phnom Penh on holidays, otherwise one may regret later.

Angkor Temples

The celebrated temples of Angkor are Cambodia's greatest tourist attraction. The 100 or so temples are the sacred remains of what was once a much larger administrative and religious centre, and were built between the 9th and 13th centuries to glorify a succession of Khmer kings. The three most magnificent temples are Bayon, Ta Prohm and the immense Angkor Wat.

From the 13^th century, the Khmer empire went into decline. The state religion reverting to Hinduism led to the vandalization, or alteration of many Buddhist sculptures. Angkor was sacked by the Thais in 1351, and again in 1431. In the 15^th century, the Khmer court moved to Phnom Penh and only located back to SiemReap fleetingly in the 16^th century. Most of Angkor was abandoned in the 15th century to pilgrims and holy men. The temples were gradually cloaked by forest.

Battambang

Cambodia's second-largest city is an elegant riverside town, home to some of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country. Battambang used to be off the map for travelers, but facilities have been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples and villages.

The network of charming old French shop houses clustered along the riverbank is the highlight of Battambang city, and there are a number of wats scattered around the town. The small museum has a collection of Angkorian-era artifacts, and beyond the town there are a number of hilltop temples, yet more wats and a large lake. Battambang is a pretty bumpy 293km (181mi) bus or share-taxi ride from the Phnom Penh.

Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville is Cambodia's leading beach resort. Besides, the nearby Ream National Park and a dozen undeveloped off-shore islands make the city extremely popular for the well-to-do Khmer from Phnom Penh. Four squeaky white sand beaches ring the headland - Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory - and the fishing port offers the odd photo opportunity at sunrise or sunset. There are a few dive operations in town, plus a waterfall an hour's drive away.  Sihanoukville is 232km (143mi) from Phnom Penh, and is served by regular buses.

Kompong Luong

Ten thousand people live in this permanently floating town on Tonlé Sap lake. Houses, schools, karaoke bars and restaurants float atop boat-based foundations, rising and falling with the tide. Like the Vietnamese Floating Village on the northern stretch of the lake, the population is mainly Vietnamese. There's not much to do, and nowhere to stay, so it's a matter of soaking up the atmosphere of life on the water, with an iced coffee or beer in hand. Kompong Luong is near the southern reaches of Tonlé Sap Lake in Pursat province, around 40km (24mi) northeast of Pursat.

Phnom Udong

Udong, 40km (25mi) north of Phnom Penh, was the capital of Cambodia between 1618 and 1866. It's generally very quiet here, and you'll often have the town's stupas to yourself (along with picnickers at weekends). You'll find the ruins sprinkled across two ridges.

Takeo

Takeo town is 80 km South of Phnom Penh along highway 5. Known as the “cradle of Cambodian civilization”, Takeo province has several pre-Angkorian sites built between the 5^th to the 8^th centuries. Back to its heyday, the principal center was at Angkor Borei, other smaller religious centers at Phnom Chisor and Phnom Bayong. Today Takeo is mainly a province of farming and fishing.

Kampot

Having rich abandoned colonial legacy and abundant natural attractions, Kampot province is emerging as one of the most popular provinces for travelers in Cambodia. Kampot, the provincial capital town, is a somnolent riverside town adorned with rich French colonial architecture and tranquil atmosphere. Kampot town is a convenient base for exploring Kep beach resort, the hill station of Bokor and the caves around Kompong Trach.

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