Phnom Penh

Pros: Killing Fields, Russian Market, Sisowath Quay, the Experience!
Cons: The National Museum was disappointing, Safety Concerns...

Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, served as my home for four weeks this Summer. I worked in three medical clinics there, and saw and experienced many things I could never have before imagined. For anybody wishing to travel around Cambodia ...

Pros: Ton of history, great food, sights to see
Cons: Beggars, not well developed

Penh is a clashing of two worlds. On the one hand, you have the government and the ex-pats who paint a picture of a rich life. The Palace grounds in Phnom Penh (I’ll just call it PP in the rest of the text) are gorgeous. Landscaped to perfection, paved ...

Pros: Very moving museums, inquisitive people, not on the "tourist trail".
Cons: Dangerous, no public transportation.

I took a late night flight into Phnom Penh from Bangkok on Royal Air Cambodge, the national airline of Cambodia. Upon arrival I was issued a tourist visa for two photos and $20 US Dollars. Then I was taken away in a (fixed price)taxi into...

Pros: Very friendly people, Cheap
Cons: City still under development

A few years back, the Boss had us fly our plane into Cambodia so we could stop by the US embassy and have a chat with a few folks there. We got permission to descend to a lower altitude as soon as we were within Cambodian airspace so that we could get a ...

Pros: Somewhere to tell your friends about
Cons: Dangerous and they'll probably think your mad

Having travelled around S.E. Asia for 12 months I have to say that Phnom Penh was the trickiest place I went to. Not the place to go for anyone who is inexperienced in travel. Flying into Phnom Penh from Thailand (U-Tapou Airport) was straight forward...

Pros: Good nightlife, great food, a few nice spots.
Cons: Ugly, dirty, unsafe, bad accomodation.

Whatever in the world would bring a visitor to Phnom Penh? These days direct flights to Angkor Wat - Cambodia's main attraction - are available from cities such as Bangkok, Phuket or even Sukothai. These flights remain incredibly expensive and some...

Pros: Great sites, inexpensive lodging, good shopping, food is excellent, friendly people.
Cons: Dusty roads that turn to mud in the rain.

Many people travel to Cambodia for one thing...Angkor Wat, but Phnom Penh is a city rich in culture. A stop here before or after Angkor Wat can be very rewarding. Located where the Tonle Sap and Mekhong rivers meet, Phnom Penh is a great home base to...

Pros: Moving museums
Cons: Depressing, very poor, relatively expensive considering the people's income

I am under the impression that some people would like to label Phnom Penh as 'the next Bangkok', a very happening a cool place that will soon turn into a fairly big metropolis where big companies are going to invest a lot of money because it offers a...

Pros: It has great cultural and historical significance
Cons: Uncomfortable lodging, expensive, sometimes dangerous.

Phnom Penh has a lot to offer the traveler who's interested in history. It's got museums and temples - as many as major Thai cities, but if your going expecting comfortable lodgings, safe food , safe conditions and cheap prices then go somewhere else....

Pros: Laid back, relaxed atmosphere, extremely friendly and always smiling Cambodians, great river front.
Cons: Beggars (but only in tourist areas), chaotic traffic.

The Cambodian capitol Phnom Penh is often overlooked by travellers. They stay for a night on their way to/from Vietnam or Thailand. And so wrong they are! Phnom Penh is a relief compared to Bangkok and Saigon. Beautifully laid out city. Great French architecture. And also great food if you know where to get it. We had the best Cambodian food at frizz café restaurant, which is on the river front. Delicious and tasty.
For a cheap treat, go to the new Sorya shopping centre. The shops are exclusive and expensive, but the small restaurant shops on the 4th floor serve good meals for $ 1.00 on average.