Phnom Penh is the
capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the
Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the
French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's
center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the
center of security, politics, economics, cultural heritage, and
diplomacy of Cambodia. Once known as the “Pearl of
Asia”, it was considered one of the loveliest French-built
cities in Indochina in the 1920s. Phnom Penh, along with Siem
Reap and Sihanoukville, are significant global and domestic
tourist destinations for Cambodia. Founded in 1434, the city is
noted for its beautiful and historical architecture and
attractions. There are a number of surviving French colonial
buildings scattered along the grand boulevards.
Situated on the banks
of the Tonlé Sap, Mekong and Bassac rivers, the Phnom Penh
metropolitan area is home to about 1.5 million of Cambodia’s
population of over 14 million, up from about 1.3 million in 2008.
The city is the wealthiest and most populous city in Cambodia and
is home to the country’s political hub.
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