Phnom Penh – “Pearl of Asia” or “Paris of the East”
Phnom Penh is the largest city, the most populous and at the same time the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Not only is it the political, economic, and cultural center of Cambodia, but Phnom Penh is also the most famous tourist city of the country. Phnom Penh tourists favorably call this city with beautiful words such as “Pearl of Asia” or “Paris of the East”. Find out about a trip to Phnom Penh now
Traveling to Phnom Penh, you will feel that in this city there is an enchanting blend of old and modern. Only people who are friendly and hospitable are always the same. Traveling to Phnom Penh, you will have a feeling of closeness and “like at home”.
The right time to have a trip to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is located in the tropical monsoon climate area, with two distinct seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season of Phnom Penh lasts from December of the previous year to May of the following year. In the dry season, there are two sub-seasons, including a cool sub-season from December to February, a hot sub-season from March to May. The weather in the dry season is generally dry, convenient for travel. The best thing is that you travel in the cool sub-season, freely traveling here and there without being afraid of the hot sun.
The rainy season lasts from June to November. This is the time when the total rainfall accounts for 80% of the whole year, July and August are prone to floods. This is not the right time for you to travel anywhere in Cambodia. In addition, you can also travel to Phnom Penh on festive occasions to experience the Khmer culture:
- Chol Chnam Thmay Festival – Traditional New Year takes place on April 13 – April 15 of the solar calendar every year.
- Bom Chaul Chnam Water Festival from April 13 to April 15 every year.
- Boating festival on November 24 to 26 of the solar calendar every year.
Popular attractions in Phnom Penh
Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom is a famous and sacred temple in Phnom Penh. This is where the body of King Boliwat and the remains of King Ponhea Yat are kept. Not only attracting a large number of pilgrims, this temple is also the first destination of many Phnom Penh tourists. As the highest place in the capital, standing at Wat Phnom, you can take in the panoramic view of the city.
Royal Palace of Cambodia
The Royal Palace is the living and working place of the King of Cambodia. The palace complex is divided into two zones. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is the place where the king celebrated his longevity or Buddhist ceremonies. This pagoda is also known as the Golden Pagoda, the Silver Pagoda, because there is a Buddha image studded with more than 2,000 diamond stones and the floor here, is lined with 5,329 pieces of silver lining tiles. The remaining area is the palace area – where the king lives and works.
Toul Sleng Genocide Museum
Toul Sleng Genocide Museum is a place to recreate the fierce Khmer Rouge war in history. This place has an exhibition area that is a testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge genocide and Toul Sleng prison. This prison is the place where more than 20,000 innocent Khmer people were imprisoned and brutally tortured. When visiting the museum, visitors must wear long pants, a shirt with sleeves or bring a towel to cover their arms and knees.
Cambodian cuisine is diverse from drinks, and savory dishes with rice to snacks, but the food here is quite picky. However, you should still taste the strange dishes, dubbed the “national soul of the country” here. Here are some suggestions for you:
Nom Banh Chok Cambodia
Nom banh chok, also known as vermicelli with fish curry. This dish is so popular in Cambodia that it has an English name, Khmer Noodle (Khmer noodles). When traveling to Phnom Penh, you can enjoy this dish for breakfast. Cambodian women carry the burden to sell all over the streets or sell by the roadside. Nom banh chok served with fresh mint leaves, bean sprouts, banana flower, cucumber and raw vegetables
Num Kachay
Num Kachay is a popular and very popular snack in Phnom Penh. The main ingredients to make this dish are glutinous rice flour and shallots. The cake is steamed or fried and then eaten with fish sauce and chili sugar.
Num Sang Khya l’peou
Num Sang Khya l’peou is a dessert made from pumpkin. To prepare this dish, people remove the intestines and seeds of the pumpkin. Then fill it with a mixture of beaten egg whites with coconut milk and jaggery. Finally, the squash is steamed. When eaten, cut into pieces. This dessert is both beautiful and delicious. The soft, smooth cake melts on the tip of the tongue with the gentle sweetness of jaggery and the fragrance of coconut milk lingering forever.
Have you had a trip to Phnom Penh yet? What do you miss the most about this place? Let’s share with Passionate Travel now.
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