Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia.

It serves as the nation's primate city. This means it is the main center for politics, economy, industry, and culture. The city is also the seat of the Cambodian monarchy. The Royal Palace is located within the city limits.

As a major urban hub, it connects the country to the rest of Southeast Asia through trade and international events.

The city's location is defined by its relationship with water. Phnom Penh sits at the confluence of three major rivers. These are the Tonlé Sap, the Mekong, and the Bassac rivers. The Bassac River begins at this meeting point.

The city is located in the south-central region of Cambodia. It is entirely surrounded by the Kandal province. Because the city sits on a flood plain, the geography is quite low. It is only 11.89 metres above the river level. This makes the city vulnerable to monsoon flooding when rivers overflow.

The climate is classified as tropical wet and dry. This means the weather stays hot throughout the entire year. Temperatures usually range between 22 °C and 35 °C. The seasons are defined by the movement of the monsoons. The southwest monsoon brings moisture from the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Thailand. This occurs from May to November and brings high humidity. The dry season lasts from December to April. During this time, overnight temperatures can drop to 22 °C.

Legend and archaeology both tell stories of the city's beginnings. According to legend, a wealthy widow named Lady Penh lived in the 14th century.

She found a floating Koki tree in the Tonlé Sap River. Inside the tree, she discovered four Buddha statues and one Vishnu statue. To house these sacred items, she built a hill and a shrine. This shrine is known as Wat Phnom. The name Phnom Penh literally means "Penh's hill."

Archaeological finds also suggest very old settlements. A kiln site in the Choeung Ek commune shows pottery production dating back to the 5th century.

The history of the capital has seen many shifts in power. Phnom Penh succeeded Angkor Thom as the national capital in 1434. However, it was later abandoned for 360 years due to internal fighting. It regained its status as the capital during the French colonial era. In the 1960s and 1970s, the population grew as people fled the Vietnam War. This was followed by a tragic period in 1975. The Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated the entire population from the city. The city remained largely uninhabited until Vietnam-backed forces took control in 1979. Since then, the city has undergone massive reconstruction with international aid.

Today, Phnom Penh is a massive and diverse metropolitan area. By 2019, the population exceeded 2.1 million people.

This represents approximately 14% of the total Cambodian population. Most residents, about 95.3%, are ethnic Khmer. The city is divided into 14 administrative divisions called khans. These khans are further divided into 105 sangkats, or quarters. The city is governed by a governor who oversees various municipal departments. The economy is driven by garments, trading, and small enterprises. Tourism also plays a major role in the local economy.

Phnom Penh is a significant destination for international tourism and events. One popular area is Sisowath Quay.

This is a five-kilometre strip of road along the Tonlé Sap River. It is filled with hotels, restaurants, and bars. The city has hosted several large regional events. These include the ASEAN Summits in 2002, 2012, and 2022. It also hosted the 32nd Southeast Asian Games. Looking toward the future, the city will host the Asian Youth Games in 2031. This will make it the second city in Southeast Asia to host this event.