Phnom Penh Capital, “Pearl City in South East Asia in 1950s & 1960s”, Rises Again

Phnom Penh today View from the Sky

Riverside in Phnom Penh today

Independent Monument Park in Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime

Building along the Preah Monivong Boulevard in Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime

Being the capital of Cambodia and populating around 1.5 million people today, Phnom Penh is the representatives as the heart of Cambodia to the world. Phnom Penh became Khmer capital since the early 15^th century (1434) after the fall of Angkor City; this capital was also abandoned several times later shifting the capital to other different places like Longvek (in Kompong Chhnang), Oudong (in the border area of Kompong Speu and Kandal), and Srolob Dontey Pichey Prey Nokor (in Kompong Cham). Leaving Oudong Capital in 1867, Phnom Penh became once again the capital of Cambodia. French colonial helped to build new Phnom Penh Royal Palace copied by Siam Architects under the royal order of King of Siam to build Bangkok Royal Palace later. Besides taking much benefit from colonizing Cambodia, France built department and French-style housing in Phnom Penh remaining for all tourists to visit nowadays. Withdrawing budget from tax collection, France initiated to build Central Market or Phsar Thom Thmey in the middle of capital in 1930s as well as many other infrastructures in the city were built such as Buddhist Institution, Schools, National Museum, etc. Being developed in the independent era as Pearl City in South East Asia in 1950s and 1960s, this capital was expanded bigger and bigger with good architectural plan later studied by Singaporean Architects for Singapore City’s development. Being bloomed as main city of Cambodia in 1960s, construction was done with creative design by VANN Molyvann and other architects for tall buildings along Monivong Blvd, new city housing throughout Phnom Penh (Good air system, good sewerage system, standard for living, and last long), and interesting sites such as Independent Monument, Olympic Stadium, Wat Phnom, Russian Market (Phsar Tuol Tumpong), Modern Cambodian-Japanese Friendship Bridge, National Bank of Cambodia, new parks, Monivong Bridge, Pochentong Airport (today Phnom Penh International Airport), Chaktomuk Hall, Tonle Bassac Theatre (Mohorsrop Tonle Bassac), Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), etc. Being much more active in economic, political, and cultural activities than other cities in South East Asia, Phnom Penh attracted more foreign tourists to enjoy life in Phnom Penh after Angkor City; most of foreign companies, especially French companies felt confident to choose Phnom Penh to operate their business as local people speaking French fluently. For example, Air France, a company operating air transportation service among of French companies during that time, has just returned to operate its business in Phnom Penh again. Being so dynamic and good environment, Sangkum Reastr Niyum Regime, aka Koh Santepheap, built the good diplomacy and trust in international stage. For instance, Cambodia-Japan relation was so good since King Norodom Shihanuok did not demand for compensation from Japan on short occupation destruction in Cambodia while Japan was in the difficult condition under the international pressure as the world war loser. Another image of political cooperation of Cambodia in that regime was the meeting of King Norodom Shihanouk with General De Gaul in 1966 at the Olympic stadium celebrating good hospitality by Phnom Penh people and Khmer army’s Show. In Phnom Penh, the cultural activities grew very fast. The arts of Khmer developed in the golden age being admired until today such as traditional dances, Khmer movies, sculpture, handicraft, self-written songs and music, drawing, Khmer literature (story writing, poems, Khmer dictionary, and so on), etc. Many intelligent people were well-known such as Samdech CHUON Nat, KENG Vansak, VOY Ho, MAL Laopi, LEANG Hab An, SIN Sisamut, POV Sipho, KONG Bunchhoeurn, Queen SISOWATH Kosomak Nearyrath Serey Wathana, NHEUK Deum, NHOK Them, NU Korn, LY Bun Yim, DY Saveth, ROS Sereysothea, HUY Meas, PEN Rorn, SOS Mat, etc. Using most of local-made automotive vehicles, Phnom Penh seemed so well-organized for daily traffic and easy to travel because of less population than today and local people’s knowledge of traffic in city; all were happy with the development of this capital. Ending at last, Phnom Penh unfortunately stuck the development since early 1970s starting to be damaged by the war.

Being recovered soon for several decades after war, Phnom Penh has been gradually added with new things following the world globalization such as new suburb cities surrounding old city of Phnom Penh, skyscrapers for office renting and housing, luxury hotels and apartments, Khmer-style guesthouses, all kinds of food restaurants, modern theatre and new park in Koh Pich, supermarkets, wedding center, large casino, amusement park, water park, modern cinemas, new parks along Tonle Sap River, and new building of government institutions. The most interesting sites in Sangkum Reastr Niyum still remain, but only that some are dilapidated. Royal Government of Cambodia has been repairing them such as Phsar Thom Thmey, parks, Independent Monument, Wat Phnom, etc. Monivong Blvd has been called Business Street in Phnom Penh because of the crowded local businesses. Phnom Penh International Airport is expected to move for new place much larger to receive large planes. Business activities and political cooperation in Phnom Penh are internationally growing so fast with the flow-in of foreign investment continuously and population growth year by year. Being a chair of ASEAN in 2012, Phnom Penh served for Finance Minister Meeting in April and is preparing to welcome ASEAN Annual Summit 2012. “Green policy and good management of sewerage system should be consideration for city development!” “Relaxation Park is not only needed in the center of Phnom Penh, but the outskirts should get the opportunity for sport motivation!” “Good Rubbish Management! Good Environment! Good Leadership!”

By: POK Panhavuth

Night in Phnom Penh (Reatry Phnom Penh) By HUY Meas



Visit Phnom Penh (Tassona Krong Phnom Penh) By SIN Sisamuth & MAO Sareth

Reatrey Phnom Penh, SIN Sisamuth

Cambodia in 1965 with the view of Phnom Penh and her People

New Skyscrapers in Phnom Penh from now on!

Happy Khmer New Year 2011! (សួស្តីឆ្នាំថ្មីខ្មែរ ពុទ្ធសករាជ ២៥៥៥!)

Every year Khmer people all around the world, especially in Cambodia always celebrate the Khmer New Year in the mid April. Before 1970s, there was always the Khmer New Year celebration with the big ceremony in Phnom Penh as many people marched along the road in Phnom Penh near the Royal Palace to show traditional cloth for different provinces such as Siem Reap, Battambang, Pailin, Kompong Chhnang, and other Cambodia’s provinces, but today this kind of celebration disappears in Cambodia, and we just can see this ceremony remained in previous Khmer province in Thailand like Oubon Reachtheany (Changvat Oubon Ratchathany) in which there is a big community of Khmer people living there. There is a hope for this celebration to appear again since it is very advantageous for Khmer nation to keep everyone eye on traditional cloth of each Khmer province. Additionally, there was a good memory of all Khmer artists before Pol Pot Regime who celebrated the Khmer New Year every year with the sweet traditional music and new year songs they created by themselves. Those songs with special traditional music still remain in Khmer society today and seem lively for New Year season. All famous singers for Khmer New Year songs are SIN Sisamut, ROS Sereysothea, HUY Meas, PEN Rorn, CHHUN Vanna, CHEA Savoeurn, SO Savoeurn, MEAS​​ Samorn, CHHUON Malai, IM Songseum, etc.

As this Khmer New Year 2011, from now on all Khmer people have been starting going to their hometown in the purpose of meeting their family. Also, most family now are preparing to clean their house and going to market to buy new materials such as new cloth, kitchen equipment, and other materials for welcoming New Year day which will arrive in a few days later. Furthermore, each family usually has a plan for travelling to natural resorts or cultural sites in order to do the picnic within the family happily. More importantly, most of people who came from provinces will leave Phnom Penh during this season for their hometown such as Battambang, Siem Reap, Pursat, Preah Shihanouk, Banteay Meanchey, Takeo, Kompong Thom, etc. However, before leaving Phnom Penh, they often ask each other what their plan is for Khmer New Year and share happiness with each other at universities, work place, etc. Everyone hope for new thing that is good to happen in the next new year, especially wish for success in everything they do. As the Cambodian citizen, I wish everyone get healthier, wealthier, safer, more intelligent, more successful, and stronger with commitment and willingness to struggle for future life. I also wish Cambodia and the world to be in peace forever in which everyone around the world shows smile on their face as the happiness in life.

By: POK Panhavuth