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Phnom Penh at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Province Name | Phnom Penh |
| Type | Capital City |
| Area | 678 km² |
| Population (2024) | ~2.3 million |
What Phnom Penh Is Famous For
Being the political, economic and cultural capital of Cambodia, Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, vibrant nightlife, and riverside promenade
Famous Places and Attractions
Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Tuol Sleng Museum, Choeung Ek, Wat Phnom, Central Market, National Museum, Riverside Promenade
Tourism
~3.5 million visitors/year
Food and Local Cuisine
Kuy Teav noodle soup, Bai Sach Chrouk, Nom Banh Chok, French-influenced Num Pang baguette sandwiches, Lok Lak beef
History of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh has been Cambodia's capital since 1434 when King Ponhea Yat moved the royal court from Angkor. Named after Daun Penh, a woman who found Buddha statues on the Mekong riverbank and built a hill (phnom) to house them. Flourished as a trading port under French colonial rule. Tragically emptied by the Khmer Rouge in 1975 when the entire population was forced into the countryside. Liberated in 1979 and slowly rebuilt into a dynamic modern capital.