Named ‘The Pearl Of Asia’, there was a time not so long ago when Phnom Penh was considered one of the finest cities in the region. Located at the junction of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers, Phnom Penh has been Cambodia’s capital for most of the last six centuries. Having recovered from the dark legacy of the Pol Pot era in the 1970’s, Phnom Penh today is a vibrant economic center with a population of two million inhabitants. Cafes, restaurants and hotels line the riverfront while boutique shops and art galleries are springing up along the smaller side streets. Despite its recent urban development Phnom Penh has nonetheless retained its old world charm with much French colonial architecture still standing, as well as numerous, beautiful temples and pagodas.