Situated at the crossroads of three great rivers - the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac — Phnom Penh is the heart of a country steeped in tradition, overflowing with rice paddies, jungles and rural communities.

Once a sleepy backwater, Phnom Penh now buzzes with commercial activity, as the country develops after years of isolation. It is dotted with monumental landmarks in a surreal environment. Old French colonial mansions stand alongside newly emerging designs, which make the city's mixed architecture and communities fascinating to explore.

Phnom Penh, the largest city in Cambodia, is a rapidly growing and rapidly modernizing city, though the infrastructure can’t yet keep up with demand. Traffic, pollution, and noise are constant companions in this vibrant Southeast Asian city.

Phnom Penh has a French colonial history, but the buildings and squares that were laid down are barely visible as they are used as parking locks and markets by the local community. But that does not mean that the city is without charm. The spires of the Royal Palace carry a fairy tale appeal, and there are dozens of stunning Khmer temples spotted around. It is also common to see tranquil monks in their saffron robes meandering between the cities' more hectic inhabitants.

Phnom Penh has a delightful café culture, buzzing bar scene, and some great street food, but most visitors are acutely aware of the war and revolution that ravaged the city in the 1970s. This is best discovered at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former high school converted into a camp for political prisoners, and the Choeng Ed Genocide Centre, otherwise known as the Killing Fields.

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