Explore Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia, situated where the Basǎk, Sab, and Mekong rivers meet. Founded in 1434, it replaced Angkor Thom as the Khmer capital but was abandoned multiple times before King Norodom reestablished it in 1865.Though located 180 miles (290 km) from the sea, Phnom Penh is a major Mekong River port, linked to the South China Sea via Vietnam.
The city is a hub for trade in items such as corn, cotton, dried fish and pepper. Its cultural attractions include the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, known for its silver-tiled floor and golden Buddha statue.The Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated Phnom Penh in 1975, and the city was deserted until Vietnamese forces overthrew them in 1979. Since then, it has been repopulated.
Phnom Penh, capital and chief city of Cambodia. It lies at the confluence of the Basăk (Bassac), Sab, and Mekong river systems, in the south-central part of the country.Phnom Penh was founded in 1434 to succeed Angkor Thom as the capital of the Khmer nation but was abandoned several times before being reestablished in 1865 by King Norodom. The city formerly functioned as a processing centre, with textiles, pharmaceuticals, machine manufacturing, and rice milling. Its chief assets, however, were cultural. Institutions of higher learning included the National University of Phnom Penh (founded in 1956 as the Royal Khmer University), with schools of engineering, fine arts, technology, and agricultural sciences, the latter at Chamcar Daung, a suburb. Also located at Phnom Penh were the Royal University of Agronomic Sciences and the Agricultural School of Prek Leap.