Sisowath Quay in Daun Penh, which has been a particularly popular spot for residents and developers over the years in Phnom Penh, is now not the only riverside choice in the Cambodian capital. Reclaimed land, new promenades and developments offer more square meter coverage opportunities for people to call home along the riverside.
The improved connectivity to Koh Norea and the Chbar Ampov area means they are also more accessible and increasingly attractive for residents and developers, while Koh Pich (Diamond Island) has also been transformed and many high-rise condos use the spectacular riverviews as selling points.
Environmental Benefits Of Living By The Riverside
Not many can honestly say that the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh is the greenest city around, but at least the banks of the Tonle Sap, Bassac and Mekong Rivers offer a wide enough expansive space for greenery, pedestrian pathways and even cooling winds (sometimes gusts that can catch you off guard). The embankments dotted with blossom trees can be visually stunning in season, and even green-lined streets with large trees shoulder certain off-shooting roads, especially in the vicinity of the Royal Palace.
From this writer's experience (I am biased as I have lived in the riverside areas for many years) it means, that although there are increasing developments and the appearance of new hotels and condos, the areas along the embankments suffer less from the concrete jungle aspects of the city undergoing massive developmental change and are noticeably cooler while also offering a mental refuge from the hustle of the city.
In the face of more evidence supporting climate change and global warming, more cities worldwide are facing challenges and need to be ready for environmental changes and this is an ongoing one in the planning of the city.
The Cambodian Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction adopted the Capital Phnom Penh Land Use Master Plan 2035 as a guide, and it is intended to ensure the promotion of sustainable urban development.
Green Spaces Are In Demand By Residents
There has been a growing demand for green spaces in residential living spaces as citizens become more aware of the importance of the environment in their well-being & developers are trying to incorporate green spaces into condos in the city.
Examples are canopy rooftop gardens, landscaped gardens, dedicated green areas, and even outdoor parks on higher floors of the condos - these are increasingly evident in developments along the riverside.
Phnom Penh Riverside Transportation & Options
There are already ferries that run in the rivers along the Phnom Penh riverbank and at very affordable rates for passengers on foot, by bike, or by car. One of the main ferry docks is situated near NagaWorld with routes across to Areykhsath and others up and downstream.
The increasing number of bridges that have been completed and are planned to be built will also further (hopefully) ease traffic congestion as well as open up other areas deemed further away in Phnom Penh.
There are many bridges reshaping urban living in Phnom Penh. The Koh Pich-Koh Nora Cable Bridge was completed in October 2023, the Prek Pra Bridge is expected to be completed before the end of 2027 and theRussey Keo Bridge, Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge - Phnom Penh to Svay Chrum, and recently launched Funan Techo Canal will all redefine the use of the rivers.
In 2022, Confluences Ventures signed a Memorandum Of Understanding on the development of water bus routes (in a way to mimic what is offered in Bangkok or Yangon for example where water taxis are a key means of moving people around, including serving as a tourist attraction). The MoU with Tint Tint Myanmar group was planned to develop the water bus/ferry routes.
In 2018, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport launched its own boat network, which was then placed on hold due to the pandemic. More reliable, well-advertised prices, routes and timetables, ideally on an app - would all do wonders for the city.
Condos & Hotels Worth Considering Along Phnom Penh’s Riverside
In 2024 Diamond Bay Garden announced that Ascott Limited would be occupying 10 of the higher floors in the 37-floor high-rise development. The luxury waterfront project has views over the three rivers and the property features a resort-style swimming pool, fitness and yoga centre, and a Sky Garden & Bar.
The Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) has been developing the expansive development of Norea City as part of a massive USD $2.5 billion project over 125 hectares of land.
Four other top riverside developments in Phnom Penh are:
- Wealth Mansion
- Morgan Enmaison
- The Diamond Bay Garden
- Vue Aston
There are also many tourist hotel options for those looking to take advantage of the riverside, and in recent years, some of the additions have included Tribe, KVL, Ibis budget Phnom Penh Riverside, and Sun And Moon Riverside. Old stalwarts such as Cambodiana, Himawari and others are also centrally located with river views.
Daun Penh’s Pedestrian Street Project
There are several key landmarks in the Daun Penh area including the Royal Palace, the Phnom Penh Railway Station (recently revamped), Central Market, Wat Phnom, and the National Museum of Cambodia, while the main natural geographic attraction is probably the confluence of the rivers which make the areas along the banks highly desirable and by locals, expats and tourists.
First announced in April 2024, the ambitious pedestrian street project in the Cambodian capital is meant to see the redevelopment of shops, restaurants, hotels, and a bar street across approximately 57 hectares in the Daun Penh area, which initially was announced to be split between three zones and covers the area from the Phnom Penh Post Office down to Street 184 and includes large areas of the Sisowath Quay riverside area.
- Zone 1 (Food Street and Shopping Area): Located in front of the post office, this bustling zone is bordered by Street 94 to the north, Street 106 to the south, Street 13 to the west, and Sisowath Quay to the east.
- Zone 2 (Entertainment Area): Positioned between Street 106 and Street 184, with Street 13 and Sisowath Quay.
- Zone 3 (Recreation Space): By Street 184, Sihanouk Boulevard, Street 07, and Sisowath Quay.
It should be noted that since this was announced more than four months ago, and with plans to start in May and be completed by the end of the year, there have been scant few updates so the status of the project currently is unknown but pedestrianising the streets have long been called for by several groups from tourism to the F&B sectors - making the city more walkable should be a collaborative ambition.
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