The founding of Phnom Penh dates back to 1431, the fall of the Angkor Empire. The Khmer king, Ponhea Yat, abandoned Angkor forever and sought safety in the south of Cambodia, at the confluence of three rivers, the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Bassac. There was a small man-made hill (phnom) on that site, with a temple at the top built by a wealthy holy woman, Lady Penh. So, the town was called Phnom Penh.
During Sihanouk’s rule in the 1950s and 1960s Phnom Penh became a modern capital city with hotels, cinemas, industrial sites and housing projects.
Phnom Penh’s tragedy began in May 1975 when the Khmer Rouge drove the people from the city, blew up the national bank and the Catholic cathedral and allowed the beautiful city to rot.
Since January 1979, when the Khmer Rouge was driven out of Phnom Penh, the city has been gradually recovering. It now faces a period of development which is transforming the city.
This book is a record of old and new Phnom Penh and an attempt to capture the spirit of a city that has survived war, genocide and political turmoil.