The central highlight is of course the Temples of Angkor – most of which are just a short trip from the center of town. However, it would be a mistake to see Siem Reap as merely a bed for the night to allow for days at Angkor Wat. Whether it’s enjoy sipping a coffee and people-watching in the town, taking a quad bike out into the countryside, or bargaining for silks and silver in the burgeoning markets, there are plenty of reasons to extend a stay after becoming “templed out”.

Central Siem Reap and Pub Street

The central shopping and restaurant area is concentrated around the south of the city near the Old Market. Nearly every week a new bar, boutique, massage spa, or restaurant seems to open; such is the pace of development. What can seem a sleepy town by day (because everyone is at the temples) is teeming with people in high season after sunset, with tuktuks and motos jostling for space on the small streets. Perhaps the most famous street in town is Pub Street – no guesses where the name comes from. Dominated by two night clubs – Temple Club and Angkor What?, it is lined with bars and restaurants, and is the go-to place for travelers looking for a large night out. For those who prefer a quieter evening, the adjoining alleys are host to a myriad of smaller, idiosyncratic establishments – many of which are just as quaint to explore in the day time as at night.

For a more Cambodian experience, it’s best to head out towards Phnom Penh on the national route six to visit Psar Leu market, or take a trip down Khmer Pub Street one evening to see how to party the Khmer way.

Siem Reap International Airport

Getting in and out of Siem Reap is relatively easy. A new airport, located 45 km from downtown Siem Reap, commenced operations on October 16, 2023, providing convenient flight options to various destinations across Asia. Siem Reap also connects with many long overland buses from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Any of the small travel agencies in the city center will be able to book flights, buses, arrange visas and sort out day trips.

Weather

The best time of year to spend time in Siem Reap is between November and February. Although the crowds are at their peak, the weather is dry and cool (by “cool” think around 25 degrees Celsius) and the rice fields give the whole countryside an amazing iridescent green glow. Between February and May, the heat kicks in and the countryside is dry and harsh. From June to October the rains gradually increase with short showers gradually becoming continual downpours. The rains often cause flooding, and some years whole areas of the town can be totally under water for days at a time. Despite this, Siem Reap in rainy season can be very beautiful. There are substantially fewer tourists, and the moats around the temples are full to bursting, giving amazing reflections of the monuments in their still waters. The forests are green and lush and the waterfalls at their max. With a rain poncho handy, there’s nothing to worry about. Read also our Siem Reap weather guide for a more detailed overview.

Population

Siem Reap is the capital city of Siem Reap province, which is divided into 12 districts and 100 communes. The province’s population is around 179,000 families; around 900,000 people live in rural communities. Most of them are rice farmers and struggle to make a living because of poor soil quality. However, in Siem Reap town with its 5* hotels and cocktail bars, it can be easy to forget that many people are living a very different lifestyle not that far away. Read also Siem Reap Population, Facts and Figures.

Siem Reap Province

Siem Reap Province actually has a lot to offer apart from the temples of Angkor. Bordering the Tonle Sap Lake, it is part of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve, and home to rare and endangered wildlife. In addition, about 60km north of Siem Reap town are the Kulen Mountains. Although perhaps not mountainous by general standards, they are in stark contrast to the flat horizons of Cambodia’s rice fields. With thick jungle, beautiful waterfalls, and hidden ruins, it is a fantastic place to explore and very popular with Cambodian families at holiday time.

History

Siem Reap began to attract the attention of outsiders in the early 20th century, when French explorers discovered the temples of Angkor Wat. At the time, Siem Reap was merely a village, and was part of an area that had long been controlled by Thailand until 1863, when France established its protectorate over Cambodia. Ironically, the name “Siem Reap” actually means “Thailand destroyed”, referring to the centuries-old conflict between the two nations.

The French began to restore the temples immediately and Angkor Wat quickly became one of the central attractions in Asia, pulling in celebrities and adventurers alike. The Grand Hotel D’Angkor (now Raffles) opened in 1929 and tourism numbers grew steady until the late sixties. However, the arrival of the Khmer Rouge and the tragedy and civil war that followed completely closed the country to tourism on that scale for over 20 years. After the UN elections were held in 1993 and the remnants of the civil war finally ended in 1998, the country became a viable tourist destination once more – the influx of the NGO community also bringing with it its own investments and business opportunities. Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider was released in 2001, splashing the temples of Angkor on cinema screens all over the world. Since then, Siem Reap has grown rapidly, going from a barely-paved village with a few small restaurants to a vibrant city, packed with markets, restaurants and luxury resorts in less than 15 years. Siem Reap now welcomes over 2 million visitors each year. Continue reading about Siem Reap’s history.

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Visitors to Pub Street now enjoy a much improved experience thanks to the renovation of the street and paveway. After being completed during the Covid period, its new sewerage system ensures that there’s no discomfort during rainy weather.

Located in the heart of the city nearby to the beautiful Siem Reap river and various markets, Pub Street is where backpackers from all over the world gather and dance the night away. It can be thought of as a more tame version of Bangkok’s Khaosan Road, but just as fun nonetheless. Come nighttime, the road is blocked off to traffic, making it a relaxing and safe place to stroll, dance, and let loose. With a wide variety of culinary treats ranging from Khmer specialties to Western favorites offered in food trucks, 75 cent drought beers, and crispy insect munchies to indulge in, you can spend your entire night on this lively street and never run out of things to do.

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The History of Pub Street

The famous Pub Street started off as a a small, 3-restaurant establishment on a humble stretch of dirt road in the heart of the city. The Angkor WHAT? Bar was the first club to open its doors on the street in 1998, closely followed in August of 2000 by the already closed “Singaporean Asian Rooftop” restaurant, and the Red Piano Restaurant. Other Pub Street well-known monuments such as Temple Club and Le Tigre de Papier came into fruition not too long afterwards. However, as described by a long-time Siem Reap living expat, there were more rats occupying Pub Street than tourists at that time. Around 2005, Pub Street was finally paved and turned into a cleaner road. With the success of Angelina Jolie’s blockbuster movie “Tomb Raider”, featuring the majestic temples of Angkor, tourists started to discover the wonders of Siem Reap, and began piling in to the parties of Pub Street. The name “Pub Street” was officially coined by locals and travelers around 2008. Today, the nightlife action extends to two parallel alleys, known as “The Lane” (located north of Pub Street) and “The Passage” (located south of Pub Street).

Your Pub Street Eve Check List

1. Get your adventurous snacking game on by trying a fried bug, tarantula, or scorpion appetizer from one of the many street food carts lining the area;
2. Once you have an appetite going, indulge in one of the many dining experiences Siem Reap has to offer. For an authentic Cambodian experience, enjoy Cambodian BBQ, traditionally called “Sach Ang Phnom Pleung” or “Fire Mountain BBQ” – a culinary experience to remember for a life time. This meal consists of a BBQ aparatus in the shape of a volcano mountain, complete with exotic meats such as snake, crocodile, and frog to cook up. The broth boils in the pot below the volcano, which slowly cooks all of your vegetables and mouth watering noodles of choice.
3. You can’t forget dessert after dinner! Siem Reap does not have a lack of sweet treats – try the famous Southeast Asian dessert, fried ice cream rolls, which you can find Cambodian ice cream makers frying up in various carts around town.
4. After your stomach is full, try out a fish massage to prepare your feet for a night of dancing. Read our article about the best spas in Siem Reap to learn more about the thrill of a fish massage.
5. Pregame with a chilly $0.75 draught beer from nearly anywhere on the street.
6. Have a Tomb Raider Cocktail in the Red Piano Restaurant, known for being Angelina Jolie’s favorite hangout while she was filming her movie “Tomb Raider” in Cambodia in 2001.
7. Continue on your way to Angkor WHAT? Bar for one of their famous cocktails served out of a chamber pot bucket, and to experience the sight of the infamous graffiti wall, a piece of long-standing Cambodian backpacker history.
8. A night well spent in Siem Reap is almost always ended at the “Temple night club”. Temple creates an ambiance from a constantly shining strobe light, fog machine, popular dance tunes, and stages to get up on when you feel confident enough to show your moves to the world.

Post your Pub Street adventures to Instagram and don’t forget to add the hashtag #siemreapnet to be featured on our account!

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Pub Street Local Tips & Tricks

If you’re not quite feeling a wild night on Pub Street, it is worth your time to check out Sok San Street and Night Market Street. A growing number of backpacker bars and unique little pubs have popped up in the area over the last year or two including places like Leng Arena, Ben’s Corner and Onederz Hostel, for a more low-key night.

When you are enjoying your exploration around Siem Reap, beware of a few common scams which happen throughout the city, such as the baby milk scam. Disenfranchised women living around Siem Reap are often pulled into the work of a scam artist who uses pity and empathy as a means of gaining money. If a woman with a sleeping or sick looking baby approaches you asking you to buy her baby some milk powder, it is best to say no. She will likely lead you to a mini-mart and beg for you to buy a large canister of powder, but as soon as you leave the vicinity, it’ll be promptly returned and half of the cash-back will be pocketed for profit. Elsewhere on this website, you can find more information about why it is best to not give money to beggars in Siem Reap.

Looking for more things to do after dark? Check out our After Dark section for more ideas! 🎉

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Weather Cycles and Flow Reversal

Khmer New Year which occurs in April each year, signifies the end of the harvest season. It’s the time for Cambodian families to enjoy their harvest before the rainy season begins, around June. As the rain sets in, the water levels in the Mekong River rise and the flow from Tonle Sap is reversed.

Normally water from the Tonle Sap Lake flows along Tonle Sap River where it ultimately converges with the Mekong and Tonle Bassac River. When rainy season is in full swing, the higher water levels push the water back toward the lake. It’s quite a remarkable natural phenomenon. The lake essentially becomes a giant reservoir, swelling in size by up to 5 times and expanding through the surrounding wetlands. At this point, Tonle Sap transforms into the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.

When the dry season arrives around November, the Tonle Sap Lake is full and everything is flourishing from. Water levels in the Mekong drop and the river flow goes back the other way again. Water Festival or Bom Om Touk (literally “boat festival”) symbolizes the end of the rainy season. Rice farmers have been working hard during the rainy season to cultivate one or two crops of rice and the water festival also indicated that the rice harvest is coming. There are ceremonies for pounding the rice, which is known as Ombok, and it is tradition to eat the pounded rice at this time of the year.

Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve

The biodiversity of the Tonle Sap Lake is magnificent and unique. Radiating out from the lake itself are mangroves, tropical forests, marshlands and grasslands, which provide habitats for a huge range of animal species. The Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary is located at the western end of the Tonle Sap Lake and is well equipped to satisfy curious and expert birdwatching enthusiasts. As well as rare bird species, there are also reptiles, fish, mammals and insects that are integral to the biodiversity of this great lake. Some of the rare species that are now considered endangered include the Siamese Crocodile, Crab-eating Macaque, Spot-billed Pelican and Milky Stork.

The lake is also home to a unique species of water snake, the Tonle Sap Water Snake (Enhydris longicauda), also amongst the list of endangered species. Approximately 6.9 million snakes are caught each year from the lake, around 14 species in total. Many are the main food source for birds on the lake, their reduction in numbers will lead to disastrous effects on the biodiversity of this amazing lake. The snakes are primarily being harvested as food for both people (fish numbers are down, which has lead to many fishermen now harvesting snakes) and for crocodiles as the number of crocodile farms increases.

UNESCO denoted the area a biosphere reserve in 1997, helping to set up laws and regulations for the conservation of the area.

Living on Tonle Sap Lake

Whilst it’s unclear exactly how many people are living on and around the lake, it is documented that around 40% are living under the poverty line. Most communities are extremely poor and consist of predominantly Vietnamese or Cham. Life on the lake can be isolating and brutal. Access to sufficient education and healthcare are limited and exposure to the elements is demanding.

Stilted and Floating Villages

The communities living here need to be flexible and mobile. Often they will move their houses and main structures to different areas as the water rises and falls with the seasons. Many villages utilise a combination of permanent structures, stilted houses and buildings, and moveable houses that can be transported with the tide. These communities are more commonly known as stilted and floating villages.

Fishing and Farming

Fishing is a seasonal vocation for most families living on the Tonle Sap Lake and the grasslands are utilized for cattle grazing and family-scaled farming. The ebb and flow of the lake is critical to the harvest for sustaining food supplies for the people living in the area. Furthermore, much of the fish caught in the lake is transported to feed Cambodians throughout the country and a critical component of the economy, making up 16% of GDP.

Conclusion

Tonle Sap Lake is a significant resource for Cambodia; for its biodiversity, that supports so many lives in Cambodia. In recent years however, the levels of the Tonle Sap Lake have been alarmingly low; low rainfalls during wet season, increased strain on water resources from industry and periods of drought, attributed to climate change, have been evident to those who are familiar with this great lake. The ramifications for Cambodia could be disastrous.

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Phsar Chas (The Old Market)

The Old Market, located between Pub Street and the riverside, is truly the heart of Siem Reap. As the most popular and central market, it is frequently visited by both tourists and locals. Many locals, expats and businesses buy their fruit and vegetables here. Average English is spoken here.

• What you’ll see: Cooked food, herbs and spices, raw meat, fruit and vegetables, souvenirs, local crafts, DVD’s, clothes, shoes, jewelry, hair and makeup salons, artwork;
• How to get there: $1-$2 by tuk tuk, one-way from most central hotels;
• Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 8am-6pm;

Phsar Leu (The Upper Market)

Phsar Leu (in full Phsar Leu Thom Thmey) is the biggest market in Siem Reap, and likely the most authentic. It is located on National Road 6, on the way to Phnom Penh, about 3km from the center. Usually crowded on the outside, it attracts mostly locals looking for the cheapest prices. Almost no English is spoken here.

• What you’ll see: Raw meat, fruit and vegetables, local snacks, plastic wears, phones and electronics, clothes, shoes, toiletries, beauty and makeup, jewelry.
• How to get there: $4-$6 by tuk tuk, return from center;
• Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 6am-6pm;

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Dry season

The dry season runs from November till April. During this period it is sunny, warm and humid. You can experience temperatures between 25 -35 degrees. The best time to visit Angkor Wat is from the beginning of December until the end of January, which is considered as winter time. This time of the year, the skies are clear and the temperature is endurable. It is the best time for sunrises and sunsets. These months are not only cooler during daytime but also at night. The hottest month is April when the Cambodians celebrate Khmer New Year. In this month the temperature will most likely raise above 35 degrees. In the hot and dry season there will be almost none or little rainfall.

Rainy or Wet season

In the monsoon or rainy season which runs from May till the end of October heavy rain showers can be expected. At the beginning of the rainy season it is quiet hot but it rains most of the time only in the late afternoon or early morning. This is also the start of the rice planting season. June, July and August are cooler and rain will fall in the evenings and at night. September and October are the wettest months of the year. It can rain at any time but don’t let this scare you off in visiting Siem Reap. During this period the landscapes and views are picturesque and peaceful. October is really the best month for photographers.

Flooding

When travelling to Siem Reap you don’t have to fear any natural disasters. The city is well protected from tropical storms and no earthquakes will occur. The only thing that can interrupt your vacation is that the town will get flooded. The river flows through the heart of Siem Reap and can overflow during the month September or October. This is not only caused by the heavy rainfall but the areas around Siem Reap and the water coming from Phnom Kulen flows to Tonle Sap Lake. In 2011 Siem Reap and Cambodia experienced the worst flood in fifty years. Many rice fields, roads and other public utilities were destroyed. Expansion of the river and improvements in the drainage system are ongoing. Taking measurements are affective as Siem Reap experienced no flooding in 2012. Don’t let this prevent you of visiting Siem Reap during the wet season. Walking with your feet in the water and watching the children playing and enjoying the flood will give you an unique sight and pleasant experience on Siem Reap.

Average Temperature and Rainfall

The table below gives an overview of the average temperature and rainfall of Siem Reap for the period 1997-2001.

April and May are definitely the hottest months of the year with an average maximum temperature of 35 °C. November, December and January are the coolest but still warm during the day as the temperature can still climb up to 32 degrees. Most of the rain falls during September and October. These two months have 21 days of rain which indicates that you can expect rainfall almost every day. December, January and February are very dry.

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Geography of Siem Reap Province

Siem Reap Province is considered as the 10th province of Cambodia with Siem Reap as it capital. The province covers a total area of 10.299 square kilometres. It has borders with in the north the province Oddar Meanchey, in the east the provinces Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom, in the south Battambang and in the west Banteay Meanchey. In the south Siem Reap province is also connected with Tonle Sap which is the biggest fresh water lake in Southeast Asia. Phnom Kulen is an isolated mountain massif which provides the highest point 487 meters of Siem Reap province. The province is located around 314 kilometres from Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. Siem Reap town itself is the 4th biggest city in Cambodia, behind Battambang, Kampong Cham and the capital Phnom Penh.

(Map source: Vidiani.com)

Districts in Siem Reap Province

Siem Reap Province consist of 12 districts, 100 communes and around 875 villages. Most of the villages are located in the disctricts Angkor Chum, Chi Kreng, Krolanh, Puk and Sot Nikum. Angkor Thom disctrict is the most well-know due to the fact that main Angkor Wat monument and the ancient city of Angkor Thom are located in this district. Many people also travel to Banteay Srei district to visit the famous Banteay Srei temple.

Fauna & Flora in Siem Reap Province

When we have a closer look at the flora of Siem Reap Province we notice that the biggest part consists out of plain wet areas, especially the main parts in the south. During wet season they cover the rice fields and other agriculture plantations and farms. In the north we can still experience the green forests which their rough jungle.

Although it doesn’t have a large width the Mekong river which flows through Siem Reap Province is very important for the province its vegetation and daily living of its population. The river flows from Phnom Kulen, trought the north of Siem Reap Province where it ends in Tonle Sap Lake.

Snakes, spiders, geckos and other insects are still around but besides some monkeys running around the temples that there isn’t much wildlife anymore in Siem Reap Province. Most of the wildlife is controlled and preserved in animal parks.

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Cambodia has a particularly homogenous population, with 95% of people ethnically Khmer, and the remaining 5% made of up of ethnic Vietnamese, Chinese and Cham. Siem Reap is typical in this way unlike the eastern provinces of Ratankiri and Mondulkiriwh ere indigenous tribal groups make up a larger percentage of the population. However, Siem Reap still feels relatively diverse, as the thriving city hosts expatriates from around the world working in the tourism and development industries. Initially, the dominant nationality of this group was French, due to the strong connection between the two countries from the days of the French protectorate. In fact, many Cambodians still refer to anyone who doesn’t look Asian as “barang” – which means “French” in Khmer – regardless of where they are from, as 100 years ago all the non-Asians in Cambodia were pretty much guaranteed to be French. However, now Cambodia is developing as a tourist destination and more working opportunities are available, the mix of expatriates is far greater.

In Cambodia, the tourist population is dominated by visitors from ASEAN nations, as well as South Korea, China and Japan. From outside Asia, the American, French and Australian visitors are the most common. This is reflected in the spectrum of visitors to Siem Reap. Siem Reap airport receives more tourists than Phnom Penh airport, and over 50% of all visitors to the country are heading to Siem Reap.

Demography of Siem Reap

Due to the Khmer Rouge regime and the ensuring civil war, nearly a whole generation of people in Cambodia lost their lives.  The ensuing population boom in peace time means that the majority of the population is under 30 years old. As of 2010, 34% of population of Siem Reap was under 17. There are very few “old” people in Cambodia – only 5% of the population in Siem Reap is over 61 years of age – the average life expectancy only being 63 years of age (still nearly double what it was 35 years ago). The balance between male and female is almost equal. 51% of the people living in Siem Reap province are female and 49% are male.Women live in general longer and their life expectancy is almost 66 years old, while for men it’s only 61 years old.

Income

The low life expectancy in Cambodia compared to neighboring Thailand and Vietnam demonstrates the difference in prosperity in Cambodia in relation to its neighbors. Strikingly, despite the huge numbers of tourists visiting Siem Reap, the province still remains one of the poorest in the country. According to World Bank research, 45% of the population under the poverty line, which, for rural areas is approximately 3,200 riel per day – roughly equivalent to $0.75USD. While there are many opportunities within the service industry in the city of Siem Reap, travel just a few kilometers outside and the potential to earn a living wage decreases dramatically. As of 2010, only 20% of housing in Siem Reap was on the electricity grid and 35% of houses still did not have access to safe drinking water. A child growing up just 1 hour outside of Siem Reap city (still within Siem Reap province) is twice as likely to drop out of school as a child growing up within the city area.

Migration

Many families in Siem Reap who are struggling to survive unsurprisingly look for a solution outside their own community. However, this solution is not found in the tourist dollars of Siem Reap, but instead through illegal migration to Thailand for seasonal labor – generally in the construction industry. While the process of migration can be dangerous, and working illegally leaves people vulnerable to exploitation, many people are willing to take the risk in order to make the $5 a day that is on offer across the border. This is substantially more than many people can hope to make in a day in rural Cambodia and even in unskilled jobs in the city. Starting salaries in hotels and restaurants don’t pay much more than this (some pay less) and if employers require a completed high school education then most rural students won’t even bother to apply.

Culture and customs

Due to the social and economic diversity of the population of Siem Reap province, it is possible to have very different experiences of Cambodian life and the attitude of Cambodian people. Many visitors who make brief stops in Siem Reap can feel hassled by tuk tuk drivers, and uncomfortable around the persistent street children. Without taking the time to stop and have a chat it can be easy to feel that the population exists for the pockets of the tourists. In fact, in Cambodia, hospitality is ingrained into the culture. It is customary to always ask a visitor if they have eaten, and to share food if they have not. Many Cambodian people are very keen to share their food, language, culture and customs with visitors, as they are well aware that it is not exported across the globe in the same way as in other countries, and so the majority of visitors will never experience it outside of Cambodia. Cambodian’s are intensely proud of their country and their heritage – and there is a push to keep alive many of the old traditions that were very nearly wiped out during the Khmer Rouge. Any visitors who have the good fortune to be invited to a family home for a visit, for food, or maybe even a wedding should make the most of the opportunity and are likely to be treated as the guest of honor.

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A popular story of Siem Reap’s history centers around King Ang Chan, who ruled Cambodia in the 16th century. King Ang Chan was forced to flee to Thailand (an area then referred to as “Siam”) when his brother usurped the throne. When in Thailand, the Thai King Maha Chakrapat refused Ang Chan permission to return to Cambodia and reclaim his throne. Ang Chan tricked Maha Chakrapat into giving him permission by promising he would hunt and capture a magnificent white elephant that the Thai King had heard about. Ang Chan returned to Cambodia, raised an army and took back the throne. When the Thai King demanded the sought-after white elephant, Ang Chan refused, ending the spell of suzerainty. Maha Chakrapat invaded but Ang Chan defeated the 10,000-strong Thai army. He named the area of the victory “Siem Reap” which means the “flat defeat of Siam”.

French Protectorate

From the 16th to 19th century, Cambodia suffered a period of decline known as the “dark ages” of Cambodia when much territory was lost to their neighbors Thailand and Vietnam. It was not until King Norodom negotiated a treaty with the persuasive French that Cambodia began to retain some of its lands. Siem Reap suffered an uncertain fate however, as the French continued to both battle and negotiate with Thailand and Vietnam for some years. Siem Reap, along with Battambang and Sisophon were under Siamese administration known as Inner Cambodia from 1795 till 1907 until the province was finally ceded to French Indochina.

Rediscovering Angkor

The French rediscovery of the Angkor temples played an important role in freeing the province and city from Thailand. In 1901 the École Française d’Extrême Orient (EFEO) began their long relationship with Angkor by funding an expedition into Siam to the Bayon. The EFEO cleared and restored the whole site, and rediscovered many of the surrounding temples. In the same year, the first tourists arrived in Angkor – an unprecedented 200 of them in three months. Up until this point, what the world now knows as “Siem Reap city” was little more than a small rural village near the Tonle Sap Lake. However with the French discovery, Angkor had been ‘rescued’ from the jungle and was assuming its place in the modern world.

The historical interest of the area, and its potential for development, encouraged the French to invest time and energy in Siem Reap. The popularity of Angkor Wat and the opening of the first hotel, The Grand Hotel d’Angkor in 1932, stimulated tourism in the area. The French influence is still felt today in Siem Reap in the French-colonial architecture in the city center and the high proportion of French business investment and sizeable expatriate community.

Period of the Khmer Rouge

World War II and the complicated period of the Vietnam War with the US had a destabilizing effect on the entire region, and Cambodia’s then King Norodom Sihanouk used this situation to gain independence from the French in 1953. There followed a period of relative prosperity for Siem Reap and Cambodia as a whole, until Sihanouk was deposed in 1970. The Lon Nol government however was erratic and his control over the country waned, giving strength to the Khmer Rouge cause.

When the Khmer Rouge seized power, they closed the country off to all foreign influence and drove urban populations to the countryside to create an agricultural peasant society. The majority of the educated people was tortured, killed or fled the country. The Khmer rouge destroyed the idea of money and currency so the economy completely collapsed. It is estimated that around 2 million people were killed under the Khmer Rouge regime due to their disastrous social engineering policies and mass executions.

1979 – 1999

The Khmer Rouge regime fell in 1979 when Vietnam invaded, backed by a number of dissatisfied former Khmer Rouge leaders. However, peace time was still long in coming as Khmer Rouge forces kept the country locked in civil war for another 2 decades. Siem Reap was one of the last areas of the country to experience peace, as many areas in the north and North West of the country were Khmer Rouge strongholds. However by 1999, following some intense in-fighting between the remaining Khmer Rouge leaders, and Pol Pot’s death, most of the members surrendered or were captured and the party effectively ceased to exist.

21st century Siem Reap

Considering that peace time is a relatively recent, Siem Reap has recovered remarkably quickly, and in less than 15 years has built up its tourism numbers to over 2 million per year. Cambodia has rebranded itself “The Kingdom of Wonder” using the outline of Angkor Wat as its logo. As a result, Siem Reap has become a central attraction in Asia and the scale of investment is visibly growing by the month. Some of the old French colonial buildings still remain, but most notable are the modern facilities and luxury hotels that line the small streets.

Recently, international attention was brought to Siem Reap again, with a new archaeological discovery on the Kulen Mountains. The massive ancient royal city of Mahendraparvata (now being hailed as the world’s greatest pre-industrial city) has been unearthed and identified. It’s too early to say whether this site will in time rival the glories of Angkor Wat as a tourist attraction, but the historical significance of the site is undeniable, and as such brings even more attention to the region.

Siem Reap is a real historical hub, being the center of important changes and development at many different stages of Cambodian history. It is now proving to be a key to Cambodia’s future, as tourism provides a much needed industry for the continued recovery of the country and population.

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Only a few kilometers away from the tourist epicenter of Siem Reap lies the true night life of Cambodian people – which is known to most as Khmer Pub Street. This lively area, open from 6pm – 2am, is located just off of National Highway 6 and is where you’ll find young Cambodians enjoying a night out with their friends in traditional Cambodian fashion – catchy Asian tunes blaring unnecessarily loud from overhead speakers, drinking Angkor canned beer out of cups with ice, and of course, deliciously seasoned, spicy peanuts eaten with chopsticks.

Infamous Cambodian Beer Gardens

The concept of a beer garden, which originates from Germany in the 19th century, takes on a bit of a new meaning in Cambodia. The beer gardens which locals enjoy on the weekends in Siem Reap are usually spacious, outdoor areas, where you can drink a local beer, get your fill of true Khmer drinking food (such as seafood fried rice, various meat dishes, curry, and noodles), and sometimes even sing karaoke off of a small screen with your friends. The scene is carefully curated with glitzy lights and a warm ambiance to create an exciting night out after escaping week’s daily work – including singing, dancing, and pretty hostesses to greet you at the front. Some beer gardens are attached to KTVs (karaoke joints) or offer private rooms for larger parties of friends to drink and blast music as loud as they please. As a foreigner, visiting a beer garden can be a very interesting cultural experience, and Cambodian people will surely welcome you with friendliness and a good conversation – but don’t expect to order food and drink off the menu with ease, as it’s all in Khmer! But you try this amazing food tour to get all the experience without the trouble!

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