Siem Reap Shines

Siemp Reap is a pleasant 4 hour bus ride from Phonm Penh. Once in Siem Reap you instantly feel the small town vibe and immediately welcome being here instead of the bigger city which is Phonm Penh.

It is a charming town with a river canal running around it. Accommodations are priced reasonably, food is cheap, and shopping is good value at the Old Market and Night Market. In Bar St area(photo above) near the Old Market, you will find bars and restaurants which are very tastefully done in modern or Khmer architecture. You can also experience Cambodian massage in the massage and spa places in the area. A massage is an anticipated treat after a day spent walking around the ancient temples of Angkor Wat.

A stay in Siem Reap, which is still has a lot of Old French shophouses, complements the ancient attractions around Angkor.

Sad Memories of a Civil War

Unless you are a war afficionado, the Killing Fields located about 14km from central Phonm Penh is not worth a visit. On display are skulls and bones of casualties of the civil war in Cambodia. There are also areas which are identified as the fields where men, women and children were executed.

More interesting is the Tuol Sleng Museum. The display of a rusty single bed in a classroom, photo exhibit of war atrocities,and detention and torture areas are disturbing.

Phonm Penh's Pride

Phonm Penh's best attraction is its Royal Palace which is still the official residence of its King. It is impressive in its own right but pales in comparison to the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

Within the compound of the Royal Palace is the Silver Pagoda, the floor of which is covered with 5000 shining silver tiles. Inside the Pagoda is a baccarat crystal Buddha and life-sized solid gold Buddha which is adorned with diamonds. Unfortunately, photography is not permitted so you just have to be content to view these truly remarkable Buddhas.

Passing Phonm Penh

I was not expecting great scenic or historical sites in Phonm Penh so I alloted just 2 days to go around the city before proceeding to my final destination in Cambodia which was Siem Reap.

The tourist area is around the Sisowath Quay along the Tonle Sap river. This is where the nice hotels and restaurants are located. You will also find restored french colonial buildings in the area. Sisowath Quay is nice enough for a pleasant afternoon or evening stroll by the river. The restaurants in the area are a bit pricey with meals costing an average of US$5.00 per person.

The best place I visited is the National Museum, housed in a beautiful pink painted building done in Khmer architecture. The museum has an impressive collection of Khmer artworks.

Best place to shop for souvenirs and presents to bring home like scarfs and Cambodian handicrafts is the Russian Market. The Old Market done also in Khmer architecture is worth visiting for cheap shoes,shirts, and fruits.

Vietnam to Cambodia: A River Runs Through It

Mekong River in Cambodia


Mekong River in Vietnam


To get to Cambodia from Vietnam, I opted to take a 2 day 1 night tour from Saigon Vietnam that ends in Phnom Penh in Cambodia. It was a pleasant boat ride along the Mekong River in Vietnam in a comfortable boat that brings you to Vin Xuong border.

At the Vietnam border, you will be brought by your guide to river side restaurants to wait while he takes care of getting your departure stamp on your passport. These cheap looking restaurants have unreasonably high prices considering the quality of the food. On my way to the Cambodia side of the border, saw cardboard sign which fell to the ground prepared by a unhappy tourist, "Beware of Scams in Vietnam border!"

Had no problems with Cambodia immigration. No visas required for Philippine passport holders. After clearing immigration, you will board another motor boat that will travel through the same Mekong River to bring you to Phnom Penh. I was unhappy with the quality of the Cambodian boat. It was a wooden boat but with no proper seats. So it was an uncomfortable 3 hour boat ride to the capital of Cambodia. Good thing that I found a reclining seat at the back of the boat which made the trip more pleasant for me.