Phnom Penh

Cambodia's capital since 1865, Phnom Penh sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers and carries a layered history that runs from its 1372 founding and its colonial-era nickname "Pearl of Asia" — earned through its French, New Khmer, and Art Deco architecture — through the Khmer Rouge's forced evacuation of the entire city in 1975 and its reconstruction since. The Royal Palace remains the seat of the monarchy, and the city's café and restaurant scene has expanded rapidly in the 21st century alongside growing cultural institutions.

• Population1,573,544
• Nearest water from center 1.9 km1.2 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 21 km13 mi