Rosewood Phnom Penh

Located along Sisowath Quay, Chaktomuk Theatre was originally opened in 1961 as La Salle de Conference Chaktomuk. It is mainly used now for performances as well as business conferences. This is one of Phnom Penh’s architectural landmarks and well worth the visit.

Built in 1860 when King Norodom relocated the capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh, the Royal compound, consisting of four smaller areas that include the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, still serves as the royal residence with certain areas open to the public for view. Reflecting both Khmer and French architecture with also some surprising Italian elements, some highlights include the Throne Hall, still used today for religious and royal ceremonies; the Silver Pagoda, where some of the country’s national treasures, like the “Emerald Buddha”, are housed; and the not-to-be-missed intricately painted fresco wall mural on the interior of the pagoda’s compound walls depicting the stories of the classic Khmer epic, Reamker.

On the doorstep of Rosewood Phnom Penh and host to world-class luxury brands such as Hugo Boss, Brioni, Rimowa, Clarins, Lacoste, Christofle, and Ferragamo.

The National Museum is home to the most comprehensive collection of Khmer art in the world that includes artifacts spanning prehistoric times to the well-known Khmer Empire that stretched across present-day Thailand, Cambodia and southern Vietnam. The building itself is a beautiful architectural element in its own right with its large airy hallways looking into a courtyard of fountains. It was designed by a French gentleman, whose statue sits on the grounds as homage and is believed to have used and interpreted ancient bas-reliefs to create a style that is today known as traditional Khmer architecture.

Wat Phnom, steeped in legend and lore, is the symbolic namesake of the city of Phnom Penh as it is known today. In the late 14th century, when the capital was still at Angkor in Siem Reap, an old woman named Daun Penh, living in what would be the future Phnom Penh, is said to have found four Buddha statues inside a sacred tree floating down the river. Taking the discovery as an omen, Daun Penh raised a small hill near the bank of the river on which a shrine was built to house the statues. Today, Wat Phnom is a small, contained, well-kept park dotted by numerous statues, stupas and paintings.

There are few places in Phnom Penh where one can walk and enjoy the sights away from traffic and Independence Monument Park, from where the Independence Monument can be best (and safely) observed, is one of the those places. The monument itself, designed by Khmer architect Vann Molyvann, was inaugurated in 1962 as a symbol of the country’s liberation from almost 100 years of French rule. The park, popular among locals, comes alive very early in the morning and even more so in early evening, when temperatures start to cool. You can observe locals partaking in anything from aerobics to badminton.

Central Market, or Phsar Thmei as it is otherwise known, is an impressive art deco landmark easily recognized by its distinctive large dome shape and bright yellow but important structures from its era. Today, it still very much functions as a local market, a bustling affair filled with vendors selling fresh produce, clothes, household wares, jewelry and electronics.

Street 178 became known as “Art Street” since many local sculptors and painters created their work on this road after the war. Today, many local sculpture shops and art galleries line this street, which is near the National Museum and the Royal University of Fine Arts.