In the busy streets of Chey Chumneas lies the grand National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. The architecture of the museum is a reminisce to South East Asian temples of Buddhist influence, similar to the ones you might see in Thailand and Myanmar. Except, the design is recognised as “traditional Khmer” architecture, seemingly made with mortar material.

Upon entering, you’ll be entranced by the Museum’s garden courtyard. In the middle of the lush courtyard is a pavilion with a Leper King effigy.

Surrounding the courtyard are halls filled with Cambodian artefacts, mostly of idol figurines.

Visitors would be able to opt for an English hearing guide which requires additional payment on top of entrance fee. The hearing guide is encouraged. Otherwise, there are hardly any written material for reading.

The hearing guides are helpful to an extent, as some idols hold a more extensive background than others, containing stories of how they were obtained, what they signified and the war timeframe they’ve been through. A fair warning; at the time of visit, the hearing guides become repetitive as many figurines were collected as sets from the same ground fields.

When you decide you have had enough, you can choose to sit back and enjoy the serenity of the museum.

History and photography lovers are recommended to pay a visit to the National Museum of Cambodia.

Price:
– USD10 for adults (approximately RM43)
Address:
– Preah Ang Eng St. (13), Phnom Penh 120211, Cambodia

Note: This post was refreshed with a new format in January 2025. Certain details might differ from experiences by other travellers in recent years.