Things to do at Phnom Penh & Siem Reap for first-timers
After watching the movie, No More Bets, depicting Cambodia to be a place where Chinese people can potentially be kidnapped to work as scammers at a call centre, I couldn’t help but feel paranoid when I was told that I needed to visit Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.
Since it was my first time in the country, a part of me was also excited and curious about experiencing their food, culture, and sights. Will this trip change my perception of Cambodia? We’ll see; here’s what I did on my trip.
Psst! Do you know that Emirates now flies to Phnom Penh daily via Singapore?
What to do in Phnom Penh
To witness what the prisoners had gone through during the Cambodian genocide, a visit to Tuol Sleng Genocide Musuem (5 USD) is a must. Formerly a secondary school, it was converted into Security Prison 21 (or S21), just one out of the 196 prisons operated by the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979.
A total of 1.7 million people were executed, with another 1.2 million still missing. Exploring the grounds was both insightful and heart-wrenching, as I experienced the cramped prison cell conditions and witnessed the kinds of torture the prisoners had to endure.
The Mekong River is Asia’s third-longest and has a total of 6 million people living along its banks. To soak in all of its beauty, hop onto a tranquil River Cruise ride.
Enjoy a private 2-hour boat ride (20 USD each, minimum 5 pax) with sandwiches, fried spring rolls, fresh fruits and soft drinks included. If you’re travelling in a group of 2 to 4, it will cost you 25 USD each instead.
To catch the magnificent sunset, it’s recommended that you board the boat at 5pm during the dry season and at 5.30pm during the rainy season.
After the sun sets, you can admire the picturesque city night lights. To make an advanced booking for this experience, simply WhatsApp Mekong Sunset at +855 70 900 022— I highly recommend them.
While travelling around Phnom Penh, Kravanh which specialises in classic Cambodian cuisine stood out to me. The restaurant utilises local and organic produce for its dishes.
Fish Amok (10 USD) is considered one of Cambodia’s national dishes. And the version served here was the best I had. It was creamy and custardy with pieces of river fish steamed in coconut milk, Khmer herbs and noni leaves.
What to do in Siem Reap
One of the highlights was a visit to the charming Preah Dak Village, a 45-minute drive away from the airport.
You can go for the Unique Day Tour (40 USD each) which includes activities like Witnessing The Villagers Farming Rice, Incense Making, Receiving Monk’s Blessing, Cycling and much more.
You’ll also be introduced to a family who specialises in making Khmer rice noodles. We had front row seats for the entire noodle-making process.
Served with a gravy made from local snakehead fish, garlic, lemongrass and turmeric, the taste reminded me of a Thai green curry but boasted its own unique flavour. The noodles, slightly chewy and silky smooth, were a cut above the rest.
If I had 1 word to describe the dish, it would be ‘heavenly’— simple yet unforgettable. You can also top it up with various herbs, similar to Vietnamese pho. Adding the palm sugar and peanut sauce mixture is a must, which significantly transforms it into a dish akin to satay bee hoon.
After witnessing the villagers making palm sugar, we also had the chance to savour the delicious Sugar Palm Cake, a sourish, fluffy cake filled with custardy coconut.
To make a booking, you can contact the village chief, Thoeng Thorn on WhatsApp at +855 92 297 333.
One of the highlights in Siem Reap was definitely forcing myself out of bed at 4am to catch the incredible sunrise at Angkor Wat.
I took my time (3 hours, to be exact) admiring the various intricate carvings on the walls and exploring the massive temple grounds which provided fantastic photo opportunities at every angle. This place is truly majestic and breathtaking!
Riverside Night Market is the perfect shopping spot for souvenirs, t-shirts, art pieces and various knick-knacks. Unless a shop has fixed prices, its also an ideal spot to hone your bargaining skills and score a good deal.
The food offerings at the night market are somewhat monotonous, though, with multiple stalls selling ice cream rolls and prata pancakes.
Enjoy a mouthwatering buffet spread at Morakot Angkor Restaurant (22 USD), spanning over 50 dishes including local Khmer cuisine, barbequed meats and desserts.
That’s not all, you’ll be able to catch a series of 6 cultural dances as you enjoy your feast— what a good combo! To make a booking, WhatsApp +855 98 776 777.
Burn the calories as you trek your way up Phnom Bakheng Temple, where most go to catch the sunset. Be warned that it can get quite crowded at times, so be there early to secure yourself a good spot.
If you’re looking to party at a club, or simply have a meal, Pub Street offers all of that, and more. To get cheap beer for around 1 USD, be sure to arrive during Happy Hour (5pm – 7pm).
Final thoughts
After exploring Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for 5 days, I finally had a better understanding of Cambodia’s rich history, culture, food and lifestyle. I was blown away by the sincerity of its people as well as the complex and multi-layered flavours of its cuisine.
If you need a guide to those places, you may WhatsApp my nice and knowlegeable guide, Martine John, at +855 96 999 9755.
He also organises an interesting Walking Tour (25 USD) from 4pm to 8pm, where you’ll get to explore the hidden gems of Phnom Penh. Some of the Walking Tour highlights includes:
sampling exotic snacks/drinks
heading to a hidden local temple at the back of an alley
having a traditional glass of beer at a hidden microbrewery frequented by the locals
visiting Wat Phnom Temple
a trip to a secret viewpoint
If you have never visited Cambodia, you should start making plans. It definitely deserves more recognition compared to its more popular neighbour, Ho Chi Minh City.
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