Cambodia, sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, is often overlooked for its better-off neighbours when it comes to tourism, instead known for its grim past under the Khmer Rouge, the radical communist group that killed millions in the country from 1975 to 1979.
In the decades since the genocide, the Southeast Asian country has worked hard to rebuild, and its future looks bright.
Members of Gen Z – people born from the late 1990s to the early 2000s make up more than 65 per cent of Cambodia’s population, and they have helped transform the country into a hip tourist destination blending the ancient with the modern.
There is a lot to see, from laid-back beach towns to archaeological wonders such as the Angkor temples in Siem Reap.
Phnom Penh should also be on tourists’
radars. Rich in culture and with some striking architecture, the Cambodian capital has cultivated a thriving food and arts scene.
Getting there from Hong Kong is relatively quick and easy, with flights between the two cities taking two-and-a-half hours.
What’s more Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific last year increased its number of flights to Phnom Penh from five per week to one per day.
One of the easiest ways to explore Phnom Penh’s boulevards and colonial8 architecture – the country was under French rule from 1863 to 1953 – is by tuk-tuk. The three-wheeled vehicles weave through the city streets in a system best described as organised chaos.
Source: SCMP
