Phnom Penh - Phnôm Pênh

Phnom Penh, or Phnom Penh, (ភ្នំពេញ) also called Nam Vang nice Nam Vinh, is the largest, most populous city and the capital of the Kingdom Cambodia. It is also the capital of the autonomous city of Phnom Penh. Once known as the "Pearl of Asia" in the 1920s, along with Siem Reap is the city attracting domestic and international tourists of Cambodia. This city has many architecturally influenced buildings France and many unique works of Khmer architecture. Population: more than 1 million people. This city is the political, cultural and commercial center of Cambodia. The population in 2011 was 2.2 million. Phnom Penh is located in the south-central part of Cambodia, at the confluence of Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong River.

Introduce

Origin of the name

This place comes from Wat Phnom Daun Penh (or Wat Phnom, meaning "Temple on the hill"), built in 1373 to worship 5 Buddha statues. The hill here is an artificial mound, 27 m high. The name of the hill is taken from the character Daun Penh (Mrs. Penh), a rich widow legend. Phnom Penh also means "the land of Ba Penh".

Phnom Penh was once known as Krong Chaktomuk which means "four-sided city" because the city is located at the intersection of the Mekong, Bassac, and Tonle Sap rivers running across to form four rivers. Krong Chaktomuk is also an abbreviation for the title of King Ponhea Yat for this town as "Chaktomuk Mongkol Sakal Kampuchea Thipadei Sereythor Inthabot Borei Roth Reach Seima Maha Nokor".

History

Phnom Penh was chosen as the capital of Cambodia in the 15th century during the reign of King Ponhea Yat when Angkor Thom was captured by the Siamese. The court had to leave the Northwest region and retreat to the Southeast to take Phnom Penh as its new headquarters. Today among the tomb towers behind Wat Phnom is the tower containing the remains of Ponhea Yat and the princes. Other vestiges from the golden Angkorian period remain are some Buddha statues at Wat Phnom. However, it was not until 1866 during the reign of King Norodom I that Phnom Penh became the permanent headquarters of the Burmese dynasty. The palace of the King of Mien was built in this period, marking the time when the small village gradually transformed into a metropolis.

When the French established the Protectorate in Cambodia, they also dug canals, built roads, and opened trading ports. By the 1920s, the beautiful scenery of Phnom Penh made this place nicknamed the "Pearl of Asia". Over the next 40 years the city continued to expand its traffic, connecting the railway to the port of Sihanoukville and opening Pochentong International Airport.

During the Vietnam War, the armed forces of the communist faction (Vietnamese People's Army and National Front Army for the Liberation of South Vietnam) used Cambodia as a base and safe zone to fight Vietnam. Republic, causing confusion and insecurity that caused thousands of Cambodians to flee the countryside, evacuate to the city to avoid fighting. The Vietnamese Communists also supported the Khmer Rouge against the Khmer government. War spreads. By 1975, the population of Phnom Penh had reached 2 million, reflecting the insecurity situation in the countryside. April 17 coincided with the Khmer New Year, the capital of the Khmer Republic fell; Khmer Rouge army advances to capture Phnom Penh. This regime enforces the policy of dissolving streets, driving urbanites to the countryside to work and produce. Leader Pol Pot used Chao Ponhea Yat High School as a prison to torture and destroy all elements related to the regime of the Khmer Republic, intellectuals and professionals. That place after 1979 was the Toul Sleng Museum along with the Choeung Ek (Field of Death) 15 km from Phnom Penh, now two places commemorating the victims murdered by the Khmer Rouge regime.

In 1979, the People's Army of Vietnam invaded Phnom Penh and defeated the Khmer Rouge. After that, people gradually returned to the city. Phnom Penh prospered again, rebuilt. Foreign investment and foreign aid in consecutive years help to reorganize the city. The population increased steadily from 826,000 (1998) to one million (2001).

Geography and climate

Phnom Penh is located in the south-central part of Cambodia, at the confluence of the Tonle Sap and Mekong rivers. The climate is similar to that of the Southern region of Vietnam with the characteristic of being hot all year round, divided into two rainy and dry seasons of the year.

Arrive

By air

Phnom Penh International Airport has direct flights with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

By train/train

There is no train connection to Vietnam but is working on connecting to Thai Quoc.

By car

  • Vietnam, through Moc Bai border gate (Tay Ninh) go 120 km then come. Through Tinh Bien border gate (An Giang) 162 km to Phnom Penh. Highway paved with 2 lanes. Buses go directly from Ho Chi Minh City ($10, about 6 hours).
  • Bangkok: Direct buses from Bangkok to Phnom Penh (and Siem Riep) are available since 2013. Buses serving from the Thai capital are operated by BKS. The bus leaves Mo Chit Bus Station (buy tickets at exit 22) at 08:15 and has a journey of 719 km that takes 11 hours through the district. Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo. You can apply for a visa here. Tourist visa costs 37 USD (official 2015). Bus ticket to Phnom Penh is 900 baht (2013). Daily return bus from Phnom Penh at 07:00.
  • Pakse (about 14 hours), bus from Pakse to the city at night (around 19:30-20:00) via Monivong Avenue.
  • Vientiane (about 27 hours)

By coach

In Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, you can buy bus tickets to Phnom Penh. In Saigon, contact the bus companies on Pham Ngu Lao Street. Lots of sales here. Tickets are about 10 USD - 12 USD

By ship

Go

Do you take a Tuk tuk ride, day??

Due to underdeveloped public transport, motorbike taxis and tuk tuks are quite popular. When you ask to take them somewhere, the driver also replies that they know the address, but they can go around and then reply and can't find the address. Therefore, be sure to find the address you are looking for before hopping on a tuk tuk and motorbike taxi. Be careful with robbers when carrying valuables

  • Agree in advance. Look closely whether it's one-way or return or per person.
  • The driver will pretend to avoid losing face by not admitting ignorance. So, "Do you know where this address is?" will always be answered with "yes". Please show the driver how to go and point directly to that address, because Phnom Penh is not really wide, the roads are not many. Be patient and wait for the driver to move mid-trip, if necessary ask passersby for directions to the most obvious destinations.
  • Do not leave your property exposed in public. Women are often the target of thieves and robbers.
  • The tuk-tuk driver outside the Foreign Correspondents club is very aggressive and aggressive. Avoid them: walk a few blocks and hire someone else. If you don't want to go, saying "no thanks" often works. If you want to be polite, try in Khmer: "te arkoun".
  • Bus, there are new bus services at least three routes in Phnom Penh. The fare is 1500 ៛ (១៥០០ ) and you need even money, buses in Phnom Penh don't use money like in Vietnam and Thailand. In 2019, there are 13 bus routes going around the city. Bus route number 1 or 1A runs in front of the Vietnamese consulate, get off at station number 46 or 47. The bus only runs from 5:30 to 20:30.

  • Phnom Penh - Bus - Line 1

  • Phnom Penh - Bus - Line 2

  • Phnom Penh - Bus - Line 3

  • Phnom Penh - Bus - Line 5

  • Motorbike, (but not self-driving cars) can be rented for 5-6 USD per day, sometimes through motels. Traffic is chaotic and dangerous, even by Southeast Asian standards - wear a helmet and drive carefully. Two rental shops are on Monivong Avenue - Lucky Bike Rental and New Bike Rental. Accepting to pay 1-2USD when the police 'fine' is normal here. Theft is common: park in a designated heavily guarded area and pay a parking fee and rent a lock chain.
  • Motorbike, ( motodops or simply motorbike) will take you anywhere for cheap. The price of motorbike taxis is higher at night and there is more than one passenger. Usually speak little English. There are some overseas Vietnamese who do this art, ask if they know Vietnamese.
  • Taxi, is growing much more popular with over 100 metered taxis operating in the city. They can be found in tourist areas such as the waterfront and street 51 bar area in the evening. Easier, call one of the taxi companies for a pick up. There are metered taxis throughout the city and can be found along the waterfront resorts and near major hotels. Price must be agreed in advance. Ticket prices vary.
  • Tuk-tuk (also known as motorcycle trailer, moped), consisting of a motorcycle with a cabin for hitchhiking passengers to leave. They are cheap (average per tuk-tuk: US$1-2 for a city ride, $5 to the airport) and plentiful. Driving standards vary. Drivers in tourist areas can speak English. Drivers often don't know their way around and may stop to ask for directions.

  • A small white tuk tuk

  • A bunch of small white tuk tuk

  • Tuk tuk mounted motorbike

  • Cyclo, are three-wheel pedal cycle trailer. They are slow, scenic, traditional and romantic, though waning in numbers.
  • Ride bicycle, can expand the horizon of the city. Ride slowly and be visible and predictable by avoiding quicking turns.

Visit

Stupas in front of Wat Phnom

The main tourist attractions in Phnom Penh:

Play

  • The Casino, the largest is Naga World near the palace.

Learn

Work

Shopping

Cuisine

Price

Affordable

Luxurious

To drink

  • '69 Bar ', [1]. Bar dancing with hostess.
  • Barbados, ( south of 104th street near riverbank), the bar has a female hostess. Buy 5 beers and get 1 free.
  • Blue Cat, Street 110, (just get off the riverbank). Chic, friendly staff, fun place known for its free swimming pool and upstairs nightclub. Cheap cocktails.
  • Blue Chile, 36 Waist, 178. Str. (Behind the National Museum), mobile phone: 855 012-566,353, email: [email protected]. One of the most popular gay bars in the city.
  • Elephant Bar, (Raffles Le Royal). Luxury in the most luxurious hotel in the city, with frescoes on the ceiling and piano in the evening. Try Femme Fatale, a mix of cognac and champagne. Expensive.
  • Equinox, Street 278, (near 51 street) [2]. One of the best live music venues.

Sleep

Price

Affordable

Luxurious

Security

Medical

Embassy

  • Embassy of Vietnam - Phnom Penh

  • Human Services Department in the Embassy of Vietnam in Phnom Penh

  • Chinese Embassy - Phnom Penh

  • Flag of Vietnam.svgVietnam, ☎0977020561 (urgent). Monday - Friday 8:00 to 11:30 13:00 to 16:00, national holidays of Vietnam and Cambodia.  

Cope with

Next point

This tutorial is just an outline, so it needs more information. Have the courage to modify and develop it !
Wikipedia has articles about Phnom Penh