Cambodia National Museum

Located between Road 178 and Line 13 in the capital Phnom Penh, in the North of the Royal Palace being a must-see destination when visiting Cambodia. This is the leading archaeological and historical museum over the country, built in 1917 - 1920 by the French colonial at that time and still in existence today. Over a millennium, the museum has gone through many restoration and renovation but still remains its inherent elegant and tradition.

Cambodia National Museum

The French architecture combines Cambodia is the first impression when it was built in the early 20th century by George Groslier and Ecole des Arts Cambodgiens, designed in Khmer's traditional concept. The construction process lasted 3 years under French colonial rule. Therefore, the main architecture owns a mixture of French and Cambodia architecture. Around the museum are the fresh landscapes and many green trees with lakes, bring the comfortable for visitors so that the best time to come here is noon and afternoon, to avoid hot sunshine or harsh, unpleasant weather outside.

In the past, the Cambodia National Museum was stood the horrific moment of destruction. And after the efforts and recovery from Cambodian gorvernment and people, the museum was restored like the present. Therefore when coming here, visitors and local people will feel the destruction and chaotic period in every corner that be considered a place for education and inspiration. The museum with its historical values and meanings which are a solid foundation for Cambodians to constantly rise in life and looking forwards to the good that awaits.

Surrounding the museum

Inside the museum, visitors will admire the abudance of artifacts, ancient religion and Khmer's art that the museum is conserving with more than 5,000 specimens and the oldest collections about Khmer culture. This place contains a treasure of knowledge about culture and history of people and Cambodia country through different periods. It keeps the most detailed process from hardship struggling to regaining the national independence, giving people new life, freedom, happiness and conditions to develop as today. Otherwise, visitors can learn Cambodia's religious beliefs with the original religion was Brahmin religion, they worshiped three supreme deities: Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. Then began to appear the first statues of Buddha.

Collections

Beside admiring and learning Khmer's culture through antiques, visitors can enjoy a traditional dance performance showing from 19:00 to 20:00 everyday. Dancers and musicians will bring the journey from Angkor's palace to the scenes of daily village life combining to the perfect introduction about Cambodian culture and life.

To visit Cambodia National Museum, each visitor have to buy a entrance ticket for 3 USD/per visitor. The museum opens at 8:00 and closes at 17:00. In addition, visitors can pay 6 USD if you want the local guide introduce and they speak some popular languages such as English, French, Japaness,.. On the outside counter, there is a "The new guide" booklet, full of information about this museum with the price is 10 USD and some small stones engraved Khmer's patterns costed 2 USD, you can buy to give the other as a souvernir.