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Phnom Penh — travel, stays & events guide
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Phnom Penh city overview
Phnom Penh is a city in Cambodia shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Airport basePhnom Penh International (PNH)
Known forPhnom Penh, Capital city in Cambodia, Phnom Penh planning base 3, Phnom Penh planning base 4
RegionCambodiaCambodia
Time zoneAsia/Phnom_Penhlocal time
Founded1372historical origin
City history
It was the 14th century, and the Khmer capital was still at Angkor near Siem Reap 350 km (217 mi) to the north.
Archaeologists stated that a large community is surrounded by a circular earthwork structure that is 740 metres in diameter and 4 metres high, built in the 11th century.
Legend has it that in 1372, a wealthy widow named Penh found a Koki tree floating down the Tonlé Sap River after a storm.
1390 – 1463), king of the Khmer Empire, moved the capital from Angkor Thom after it was captured and destroyed by Siam years earlier.
Phnom Penh remained the royal capital for 73 years, from 1432 to 1505.
It was abandoned for 360 years (from 1505 to 1865) by subsequent kings due to internal fighting between the royal pretenders.
The initial settlement of Phnom Penh is believed to have been established since the 5th century AD, according to the discovery of kiln site in Choeung Ek commune of Dangkao district, southern part of.
Phnom Penh (lit. 'Penh's hill') takes its name from the Wat Phnom (lit. 'hill temple'), or from the Funan Kingdom, which existed from the 1st to the 7th century AD in Southeast Asia and.
A Portuguese community survived in Phnom Penh until the 17th century, undertaking commercial and religious activity in the country.
Gathering firewood along the banks of the river, Lady Penh spied a floating koki tree in the river and fished it from the water.
The discovery was taken as a divine blessing, and to some a sign that the Khmer capital was to be brought to Phnom Penh from Angkor.
Later kings moved the capital several times and established their royal capitals at locations in Tuol Basan (Srey Santhor), Pursat, Longvek, Lavear Em and Oudong.
During the Vietnam War, Cambodia was used as a base by the People's Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong, and thousands of refugees from across the country flooded the city to escape the.
Reports from journalists stated that the Khmer Rouge shelling "tortured the capital almost continuously", inflicting "random death and mutilation" on millions of trapped civilians.
Worth seeing
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is a practical Phnom Penh planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital city in Cambodia
Capital city in Cambodia is a practical Phnom Penh planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Phnom Penh planning base 3
Phnom Penh planning base 3 is a practical Phnom Penh planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Phnom Penh planning base 4
Phnom Penh planning base 4 is a practical Phnom Penh planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Phnom Penh planning base 5
Phnom Penh planning base 5 is a practical Phnom Penh planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Phnom Penh planning base 6
Phnom Penh planning base 6 is a practical Phnom Penh planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Phnom Penh before booking Phnom Penh hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Phnom Penh by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Phnom Penh, CambodiaFlights & airports
Phnom Penh International (PNH) arrival plan
- Phnom Penh International (PNH)Phnom Penh International (PNH), Phnom Penh
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Rental cars
Phnom Penh day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
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Transport notes
Choose a base around the trips you will repeat most: airport, station, old town, waterfront, venue district or day-trip route.
Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
No upcoming Phnom Penh events in the shared event index yet.