Phnom Penh sits at the confluence of the Tonle Sap River, Mekong River, and Bassac River in south-central Cambodia. The city occupies approximately 678.46 square kilometers with a population that reached 2.28 million in the 2019 census. Founded in 1372 after Lady Penh discovered four Buddha statues in a tree washed ashore during a flood, the settlement grew around Wat Phnom, the temple she built on an artificial hill that gave the city its name. Phnom Penh became the permanent capital of Cambodia in 1866 during the reign of King Norodom, replacing Oudong. The city developed under French colonial administration from 1863 to 1953, leaving a grid of wide boulevards and colonial architecture that earned it the nickname "Pearl of Asia" by the 1920s.
The Royal Palace complex occupies a walled compound measuring 435 meters by 402 meters along Sothearos Boulevard near the riverfront. King Norodom began construction in 1866, with the Throne Hall completed in 1919 in Khmer architectural style featuring a 59-meter spire. Within the palace grounds, the Silver Pagoda contains a floor made of 5,329 silver tiles weighing one kilogram each, installed in 1902. The pagoda houses a 17th-century Emerald Buddha carved from Baccarat crystal and a 90-kilogram gold Buddha decorated with 2,086 diamonds, the largest weighing 25 carats. These items survived the Khmer Rouge period because the regime preserved the compound as evidence of royal excess. The palace remains the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni, though only portions open to visitors between 8:00 and 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM daily except during official functions.
The National Museum of Cambodia opened in 1920 in a terracotta structure designed by French architect George Groslier. The collection contains more than 14,000 objects spanning prehistoric through Angkorian periods. Items include the 1.75-meter bronze Vishnu from the 6th century found in Takeo Province, sandstone lintels from Banteay Srei showing scenes from Hindu epics, and pottery from Angkor-era kilns. The museum suffered significant losses during 1975-1979 when the Khmer Rouge removed staff and allowed vegetation to overtake the building. Cambodian and foreign conservators catalogued surviving items between 1979 and 1991, finding roughly 5,000 objects remained from the original collection.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum operates in the former Security Prison 21, which held approximately 20,000 people between 1975 and 1979. The Khmer Rouge converted Tuol Svay Prey High School into an interrogation center, dividing classrooms into small brick cells measuring 0.8 by 2 meters. Records preserved by prison staff document 14 known survivors. The museum opened in 1980, displaying photographs taken of prisoners upon arrival, torture implements, and administrative documents. Researchers Youk Chhang and Craig Etcheson have identified 5,005 staff members who worked at the facility through documentation analysis. The site draws approximately 500,000 annual visitors.
Choeung Ek, located 17 kilometers south of central Phnom Penh, served as the primary killing field for prisoners transferred from Tuol Sleng. Excavations between 1980 and 1995 identified 129 mass graves containing approximately 8,895 bodies, though only 86 graves have been exhumed. The memorial stupa built in 1988 contains 5,000 skulls arranged by age and gender on 17 levels. Monthly Buddhist ceremonies occur on site. A Chinese investor operates the memorial under a concession agreement requiring preservation of existing structures. Audio guides available in multiple languages provide testimony from survivors and documentation of execution methods.
Wat Phnom stands on an artificial hill 27 meters high, constructed in 1372 according to inscriptions on the site. The current temple structure dates to 1926, replacing earlier iterations destroyed by natural deterioration. The complex includes shrines to Lady Penh, whose statue sits at the eastern base, and to Preah Chau, a deity locals consult before significant decisions. A clock tower added in 1960 stands at the northwest corner. The wat serves as the symbolic founding point of Phnom Penh, with city address numbering traditionally beginning from this location. Visitors pay 1 USD entrance fee with hours from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
The Central Market occupies a 1937 art deco building designed by French architect Louis Chauchon. The cruciform structure features a 26-meter dome and four wings extending from a central hall. Following damage during the 1970s civil war and Khmer Rouge period, renovation in 2009-2011 restored the yellow exterior and improved ventilation. The market contains approximately 2,000 vendors selling jewelry, textiles, electronics, and food items. Operating hours run 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. The building represents one of the largest domed structures in Asia at the time of construction.
Russian Market, formally Psar Toul Tom Poung, gained its common name during the 1980s when Soviet expatriates shopped there regularly. The covered market opened in 1937 with a focus on fabric and household goods. Current vendors number approximately 1,200 across sections for antiques, reproduction artifacts, clothing, and food. The antique sections contain items from the French colonial period and Khmer Rouge era, though authenticity verification requires independent expertise. Prices operate on negotiation rather than fixed rates. The market operates 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily.
The Independence Monument stands 37 meters tall at the intersection of Norodom and Sihanouk Boulevards. Cambodian architect Vann Molyvann designed the structure in 1958 to commemorate independence from France achieved November 9, 1953. The monument incorporates lotus-shaped design elements referencing Angkorian temple towers. Annual Independence Day ceremonies occur at the site with wreath-laying and military displays. The monument appears on Cambodian currency and serves as a central reference point for navigation in the city.
Riverside development along Sisowath Quay extends approximately 3 kilometers from the Royal Palace north to the Japanese Bridge. The promenade underwent renovation in 2012-2014, adding pedestrian lighting and landscaping. Restaurants and cafes operate from converted shophouses, many retaining French colonial facades. The nightly street food market sets up between Street 106 and Street 118 from 5:00 PM, offering items including grilled seafood, fruit shakes, and num pang sandwiches. Morning exercise groups gather between 5:30 and 7:00 AM for aerobics and tai chi.
Koh Pich, translated as Diamond Island, occupies 90 hectares in the Bassac River connected to the mainland by the 600-meter Koh Pich Bridge completed in 2008. Chinese developers obtained a 99-year lease in 2006, constructing residential towers, exhibition halls, and commercial spaces. The annual Water Festival relocates to Koh Pich following a 2010 stampede on a bridge to the island that resulted in 347 deaths. The island contains one of three convention centers in Phnom Penh capable of hosting international conferences.
Boeng Kak Lake historically covered 133 hectares in northern Phnom Penh. In 2007, the municipal government granted a 99-year lease to Shukaku Inc., which began filling the lake with sand to create land for development. By 2012, approximately 90 percent of the lake had disappeared, displacing an estimated 4,250 families. Land disputes continue through Cambodian courts with some families receiving compensation ranging from 8,500 to 20,000 USD per household based on documentation of residence. The remaining lake area measures approximately 13 hectares.
Street numbering in Phnom Penh follows a grid established during French administration. Odd-numbered streets run north-south while even-numbered streets run east-west. Street numbers increase from Wat Phnom outward. Addresses list street number followed by house number, creating combinations like "Street 240, House 15." Major boulevards carry names including Norodom, Monivong, Mao Tse Tung, and Sothearos. The system functions throughout the central districts with degradation in outer areas developed after the system's implementation.