As part of French Indochina Phnom Penh was the ‘Pearl of Asia’; today it is simply the heart of Cambodia, a role that suits it perfectly.

It is a city that effortlessly combines a quaint past with a future-conquering mentality, the shimmering pinnacles of its temples and palaces now sharing the skyline with modern blocks.

It is also the place to face Cambodia’s dark past – visiting the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Museum are a heart-wrenching but perhaps necessary experience. Whether you decide to confront Cambodia’s past of not, Phnom Penh, with its cosmopolitan character, laidback deposition and delightful riverside setting make it one of Asia’s most captivating cities.