Chakto Mukh

Phnom Penh was once a hub for French colonialists, and the city featured wide roads, beautiful gardens and fine colonial-era mansions. The city was called the "Pearl of Asia" in the 1920s and in the following decades, Phnom Penh experienced rapid development.

Within Sangkat Chakto Mukh, the parks such as Botum Pagoda Park to the east and the park that is home to the Independence Monument have been present for many decades. The same is true of the hotels on the banks of the Mekong River - the Cambodiana Hotel and Himawari Hotel.

There are several pagodas and wats clustered to the west of the Botum Pagoda Park, including the Preah Vihear Wat Botumvatey, Botumvatey Pagoda, and Botum Dhammayutt Pagoda.

Street 240, towards the riverside, also has the Cambodian Supreme Court, City Courthouse and the Buddhist Cultural Centre of Cambodia adjacent to each other.

The area is close to Phnom Penh's central business district (CBD) which is home to many banks and corporate businesses as well as BKK, the riverside area and Tonle Bassac, which are all popular and contain numerous bars, restaurants, hotels, malls and much more.

The area of Chakto Mukh is frequented by most visitors to the capital (tourists and business people) as it's such a central location and thoroughfare in the city.

There is a wide selection of restaurants and bars, hotels and shops here new ones enter the fray quite often.

A huge development was due to be undertaken opposite NagaWorld. In what was previously the Dreamland Park, the area was flattened and in 2016 it was announced the 500-metre high Twin Trade Center was due to be built on the site. By 2020, little development has begun.

Khan Daun Penh, which Chakto Mukh is part of, is one of the most heavily populated districts in Phnom Penh. In 2019, Phnom Penh had a total population of 2.13 million with a population growth rate of 3.92%. The total population density in 679 square kilometres (262 sq. mi) is 3,136 inhabitants per square kilometre. 

According to the statistics of 2008, the total population of Khan Daun Penh was 126,550. The results of the latest census should be available in 2020-2021.

Street 240 is a good example of a street that is popular with locals, expats and international travellers and experiences good foot traffic. Street 240 is close to the Royal Palace and the short street offers boutique cafes, books shops and arts and crafts.

Street 240 and a half has is a short alleyway with cafes, restaurants and SPACE FOUR ZERO Wang Dang Doodle which is an art space and a shop selling music on vinyl and has a great selection celebrating 1960s Cambodian music.

Pencil Market sells clothes, jewellery, fruit and veg as well as kitchenware and fashion accessories. There are also local food and drinks stalls and many punters enjoy a meal in the small market opposite the market.

Sihanouk Blvd (also called Street 274) has many well-known brands and outlets in Cambodia, including the Cellcard HQ, ABA Banks, jewellery stores and popular retail outlets.One of the best book and toy shops in the city, Monument Books based along Norodom Blvd.

There are a number of historical, cultural, governmental and commercial landmarks in Chakto Mukh.

In addition to the parks, pagodas and Wats mentioned, there is also a monument dedicated to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in the centre of the Botum Pagoda Park, constructed after the defeat of the Khmer Rouge.

On the southern border of the Sangkat are the Norodom Sihanouk Memorial and the Independence Monument. The Norodom Sihanouk Memorial is a monument commemorating former King Norodom Sihanouk who passed away in 2012 and is highly revered. The bronze statue is 4.5 meters tall and is housed under a 27-meter high stupa. The Independence Monument is one of the most popular photographed sights in the city, especially at nighttime. The structure was It was built in 1958 to recognise Cambodian independence from the French on 9th of November 1953.

Popular expat eateries include the selection on St 240 such as Enso Cafe, The Shop and on the adjacent 240 and a half are Artillery Arts Cafe and nearby Backyard Cafe. Luna Pizza has also moved to the same street in 2020 and is a popular pizzeria.

Around the corner is The Box Office, which has the biggest selection of craft beers on tap in the country but also has great Sunday roasts, fish & chips and more classic pub dining options. They also host comedy and music nights.

Khema Pasteur (who also has a Khema La Poste branch) offers top-class French cuisine and excellent breakfast, brunch and dining choices. It is located on the corner of St. 51 and St 228.

Nearby, on the stretch along St. 51, is a long term tex-mex and burger hangout called Lone Pine Cafe which serves great food and large portions.

There are numerous local food and cafe stalls in the parks and along the eastern side of Botum Pagoda Park are many more restaurants and cafes including Brown Cafe, Master Suki Soup and Brew House.

Bowls of refreshing rice noodles are consumed throughout the city,  which is cooked with very fine rice noodles and a mix of fresh vegetables and spices. Other commonly found snacks are fruits and vegetables with chilli spices, fried bananas or boiled eggs.

Some of the best pork and rice is rumoured to be found along Street 19 just off the main Suramarit Blvd.

The hotels along the riverside also offer great meals and buffets, in their bakeries, cafes and restaurants as well as poolside dining.

There is a diverse range of nightlife within the city and in Chakto Mukh and it is constantly evolving as the city grows and diversifies.

Box Office (St 244) and Himawari Hotel offer a great selection of craft beers which are starting to boom in the capital.

The popular hotels also host a number of events and live music as well as expat and business networking functions. 

Rokku is a high-end multi-story entertainment and dining venue which is very classy and offers live music, DJs and excellent Japanese dining.

The parks are also particularly busy in the mornings and evenings with people partaking in exercise, enjoying the many food and drink stalls that pop up.

Some of the new hotels along Sisowath Quay also offer rooftop and pool events and nighttime drink promotions. On St 244,  Villa Grange and Jungle Addiction also have live music,  food events - and both have great swimming pools.

It is easy to reach Chakto Mukh from the Phnom Penh Airport. These are numerous options which include by bus, taxi, car or tuk-tuk. 

The most economical way is to take a bus, which can be taken for just $1 and takes around 30-45 minutes depending on the traffic. 

The fastest way is to take a taxi or tuk-tuk. It takes only 20-35 minutes to get from Phnom Penh Airport (PNH) to Khan Daun Penh, and the most popular way is to book by one of the ride-hailing apps. The apps are the best to get around the city and can be linked to your bank card or you can pay by cash. Remember to carry small denominations of Riel and US Dollars.

The makeshift ferry terminal along the banks of the Mekong near Nagaworld are very busy in the morning and evenings and carry people across to Kampong Chamlong and Areyksat.

There are also private boat bookings that can depart from Himawari Hotel.

Chakto Mukh is still one of Phnom Penh’s premier residential areas with Its location close to the centre of the city and proximity to many amenities and the rivers.

There are many hotels, condos and apartments in the area, some of which are considered high-end, but mid-range options are available. 

With a mix of new developments, iconic landmarks, greenspace, rivers and parks, it's a great central location to be based.