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ZiZ Inspire Travel Packages & Itineraries
Phnom Penh Architecture by Cyclo
Overview
Slow down! Spend a few sedate hours in a Phnom Penh cyclo to unearth architectural treasures in the
capital of Cambodia. This is an opportunity to be peddled through time on not just an architectural tour but
also a historic tour of Phnom Penh and one that is tinged with nostalgia.
A brief introduction to Phnom Penh, the cyclo takes you on a city safari exploring colonial relics of French
Indochina and post colonial New Cambodian Architecture. The slow and relaxed pace provides an
il uminating insight into the citys history and spotlights features that one would otherwise almost certainly
miss. Stand in one place and there are Chinese shop-houses from the late 1800s, a faded hotel from the
1920s and a statement of post colonial liberty and individuality from the 1950’s.
Journey along the wide, leafy boulevards and through the old French quarter whilst being shown historic
landmarks that are even ignored in Travel Guides. Experience the architectural fusion of Phnom Penh whilst
travel ing through architectural periods. Some of the buildings and structures are viewed from the cyclo,
others from the pavement whilst you stop and enter a few as wel .
The Phnom Penh Cyclo tour starts in the cool of the morning at 8.30am and lasts for approximately 3 hours
with an English speaking guide.
Phnom Penh Architecture
Phnom Penh Architecture? It’s not a destination that perhaps immediately jumps to mind when you think
architecture. Nor does Phnom Penh conjure images of architectural splendour; it lacks the temples of Beijing
or Bangkok and the relics of French Indochina that are scattered throughout Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh
(Saigon).
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team@zizinspire.com
Z i Z Asia Co Ltd
Bangkok :: Thailand
Corporate Entertainment Thailand
Outdoor Activities
www.zizinspire.com
Spas, Yoga & Retreats
Lifestyles, Parties & Travel Packages
+66 (0)2 948 7711
Phnom Penh Architecture by Cyclo
But where Phnom Penh, this compact riverside capital on the banks of the Mekong River, wins hands down it
in its Buddhist and Chinese temples and the faded administrative buildings and vil as of French Indochina
which have survived in a largely unaltered state over the years.
Post 1970, Phnom Penh was ravaged, almost cryo-banked in time while other Asia cities enjoyed their
economic boom, penetrating the skies with soaring skylines, more often than not at the expense of their
heritage. Phnom Penh was at least spared the city cloning treatment and thus has retained her eclectic
architecture
The vigour to build has today returned at a frenzied pace and many of Phnom Penh’s architectural treasures
from both the French Indochina era and the post colonial era have already been reduced to rubble to make
way from someone’s Hol ywood-inspired vision. At the same time nostalgic buildings from French Indochina
are being lovingly restored to become hip boutique hotels, restaurants oozing ambience and little boutique
specialist shops.
Architecture is undoubtedly in the soul of Cambodia. Their national flag depicts a silhouette of Angkor, the
ancient city near Siem Reap and capital of the Khmer Empire for 500 years which is today a World Heritage
Site and one of the most important architectural monuments in the world. The visual character and
personality of Phnom Penh is changing at break-neck speed but slow down and take stock of your
surroundings and you’l discover an architectural journey through time.
French Indochina Colonial Architecture
Think French Indochina and Phnom Penh and one building immediately jumps to mind; Raffles Hotel Le
Royal. Opened in 1929 and beautiful y restored by the Raffles Hotel Group, the Raffles Hotel Le Royal
epitomises the colonial elegance of French Indochina and is the Grande Dame of French colonial buildings in
Asia.
But scattered around the capital of Cambodia are many other examples, some distinctly faded, some
doomed while others have been restored to their former glory and are now smart Phnom Penh boutique
hotels, restaurants and boutiques. See the old Citroen showroom, no longer a car showroom but stil
demarked as such, the Royal Hotel which is no-longer a hotel, the colonial police station the post office and
countless stately vil as dating back to the French Indochina era.
New Khmer Architecture
While the French Indochina Architecture provides nostalgia, what is equal y remarkable is the period from
1953, the year that Cambodia declared independence from France, until 1970. A positive period of
Cambodia’s modern history during which "New Khmer Architecture", a modern architectural expression, was
borne along with a goal to match if not eclipse the architectural identity of French Indochina.
During the two decades of post independence, around 1,300 new buildings and structures were erected in
Phnom Penh which now form a col ection of buildings that are considered to rank among the most important
of the developing world. At the forefront was the architect Vann Molyvann who is today not only Cambodia's
most revered architect but a national icon who changed the landscape of Cambodia.
Among many other buildings and monuments, Molyvann is responsible for the extremely prominent
Independence Monument at the crossroads of Norodom and Sihanouk boulevards in Phnom Penh and the
National Sports Complex or “Olympic Stadium”; one of Vann's most famous works.
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team@zizinspire.com
Z i Z Asia Co Ltd
Bangkok :: Thailand
Corporate Entertainment Thailand
Outdoor Activities
www.zizinspire.com
Spas, Yoga & Retreats
Lifestyles, Parties & Travel Packages
+66 (0)2 948 7711
Phnom Penh Architecture by Cyclo
Location
The cyclo tour takes place in central Phnom Penh, the riverside capital city of Cambodia which sits at the
confluence of 3 Rivers; the Tonle Sap, the Tonle Bassac and the Mekong River. This brief 3-hour
introduction to Phnom Penh, its history, character and personality through the ages, includes transfers from
and back to your Phnom Penh hotel.
Getting to Phnom Penh
There are many options when it comes to getting to Phnom Penh including flights to Phnom Penh
International Airport. The city can also be reached overland from Siem Reap and from Southern Laos both of
which may also involve river travel. There are also river cruises between Phnom Penh and Vietnam; a
classic journey.
ZiZ Inspire offers a complete travel service throughout Indochina including trip planning and on-the-ground
support whilst you are travel ing with us. Get in touch with us to plan your Indochina adventure with inspired
itineraries featuring hotel styles that fit the personality of you and your group and as many recreational
activities that you wish to indulge in!
Itineraries
A Phnom Penh City Safari aboard a cyclo journeying past colonial architecture of French Indochina through
the years to the post independence era of modern Cambodian architecture.
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Start 08:30am • Phnom Penh Hotel Pick-up
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Tour Phnom Penh in your cyclo with a English Speaking Guide for 3 hours
•
Stop for refreshments roughly half way through the cyclo tour
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Be dropped back at your Phnom Penh hotel at the end of the cyclo tour.
Find out more about your Inspired extensions at http://www.zizinspire.com
Get in touch with us at ZiZ Inspire to book a Phnom Penh Achitecture by Cyclo:
Phone : +66 (0)2 948 7711
Email : team@zizinspire.com
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