The Cambodian capital, with a population of more than 2 million, is living at a frantic pace from Monday to Sunday. You'll find something to satisfy in this list of activities.
🥊 Khmer boxing
One key to life in Phnom Penh, and in Cambodia, is Khmer boxing. It is the ancestor of Thai boxing and is rooted in the 9th century Khmer Empire. The fighting is very spectacular, taking place on fists surrounded by large grandstands where the locals like to come on Sunday afternoons (FREE). This is certainly the best way to interfere in the life of the city and the atmosphere will never disappoint you. There are usually several fights, from 14-year-olds with infinite energy to highly technical professionals.
If you'd like to get an idea of the show, here's the link to a boxing party I attended:
⚽ Football
A sport which has quickly become very popular is, as in many countries, football. The country's overall level is still below expectations as the country is currently 174th in the FIFA (male) ranking, but this does not prevent the fervour behind its national team and clubs.
The stadium atmosphere is very friendly and the entrance ticket is very reasonable ($2) for a Premier League match. The clubs to be supported are Phnom Penh Crown and Boeung Ket, who are usually in battle for the title champion. The match information is posted on their Facebook page.
💃 Nightlife
Of course, the weekend is also the time to go out and discover nightlife. It's impossible to pass by Bassac, which is the main street for parties. Restaurants, street food, bars for all tastes, nightclubs... you can stay for hours without problems. The "boat parties" on the Mekong are religions in Phnom Penh and it is difficult not to appreciate them. For night clubs, the most popular are the Pontoon and Vito, but you can find others along RiverSide if you don't have them. The casino nights 🎰 can also give you an evening worthy of the name if the game makes you happy!
PS: for lovers of France, lacking French (or pastis), rdv in La Pétanque.
🚲 Tourism
Having lived in the capital for a while or a newcomer, it is always interesting to take advantage of his free time to visit and discover the surroundings of the city. For example, crossing the Mekong by boat and leaving the city altogether is enough to completely change air and return to the Cambodian countryside.
By bike or motorbike, these walks through the villages and fields will make you feel better.
The sites of Tonlé Bati and Phnom Chisor in the south and Koh Dach and Oudong in the north will take you to the history of Cambodia for a day.
As the Honda Dream 125 is Cambodia's prime motorbike, I can only advise you to take the road to the handlebars of this exceptional car!
🖼️ Museums
The city does not have an impressive number of museums and you can visit all of them in a short time. Nevertheless, they are interesting and allow us to discover the country, its history and its customs very easily. National Museum of Cambodia, Silver Pagoda, Currency Museum and Genocide Museum (Tuol Sleng) are therefore to be visited at least once, and the city's few art galleries are sometimes also a good way to discover works from Cambodia or elsewhere.
🧺Markets
The city's multiple markets are places where there is total displacement and it is easy to spend several hours surveying the stands. Of course, you will find absolutely every kind of everyday products, tourist products, street-food products or even counterfeit sporting brands or costumes. Whether it's for a walk or for shopping, markets will be able to fill you overnight or during the day.