The capital city of Cambodia, also known historically as Kampuchea, is Phnom Penh. The city stands in southern Cambodia at the junction of the Mekong, Tonlé Sap, and Bassac rivers, making it an important center for trade, transport, and settlement.
Phnom Penh became Cambodia’s capital after King Ponhea Yat moved the royal center away from Angkor in the fifteenth century. Angkor had been the heart of the Khmer Empire, but political change and attacks from neighboring Siam contributed to the shift. Phnom Penh later became the country’s permanent capital in the nineteenth century under King Norodom, during the period of French influence.
The city’s name is commonly explained through the legend of Lady Penh, who supposedly discovered sacred statues inside a tree floating in the river. She is said to have built a shrine on a hill, or “phnom,” giving rise to the name Phnom Penh, often translated as “Penh’s Hill.”
A frequent mix-up is choosing Siem Reap because it is the gateway to Angkor Wat. Siem Reap is a major tourist destination, but Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s national capital and largest city.