Horseback heaven: Saddle up for an equestrian adventure at Genius Resort

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Susan Haythorpe

Horseback riding, as both a recreational activity and a competitive sport, is coming into its own in Phnom Penh with the welcome arrival of Genius Resort. The specialist equestrian center has brought exciting new opportunities for experienced riders and complete beginners of all ages since it opened off Northbridge Street in the Sen Sok area in early 2024.

This gorgeous girl Princess is one of the 50 horses at Phnom Penh’s Genius Resort.

The growing popularity of all things equestrian was fueled a few years back at the Phnom Penh Country Club’s riding school. When the Club discontinued this facility Genius Resort seized the reins, buying up the horses and equipment to kickstart the venture it has since taken from strength to strength.

Genius Resort now boasts over fifty (and counting) excellent horses and ponies, some home-bred and others imported from around the world, along with an expert team of equally international trainers and grooms who ensure young and adult riders alike have an enjoyable, safe and professional experience. Classes are held in Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced categories and both private and group lessons are available. Beginners’ lessons start from age five, while kids from three upwards can ride and learn to bond with the ponies. As horseback riding is known to build youngsters’ fitness, confidence and self-esteem and to encourage a sense of responsibility, it’s a fun and rewarding hobby for them to get into. Continue reading →

Review: Baitong Hotel and Resort, Phnom Penh

Posted on August 27, 2025 by Lina Goldberg

As loyal readers will know, there’s a certain type of hotel that I am drawn to. Although Baitong Hotel & Resort in Phnom Penh isn’t exactly like what I usually go for, in that it’s quite large, it met all of my expectations and more. Despite its size Baitong offers a nice balance of boutique charm and larger hotel amenities.

Baitong Hotel Resort Phnom Penh

Everywhere you look at Baitong there is tropical greenery — appropriately, as ‘baitong’ means green in Khmer. The hotel’s design includes negative spaces that are packed with plants, which meant that my room, which had a window facing one of these urban gardens, had lovely verdant views. Plants similarly cascade down balconies and climb up columns, and the so-called “forest pool” on the second floor actually does send rainforest vibes. A smaller jacuzzi pool on the floor above only adds to the effect, as water cascades over the side creating a waterfall into the shaded pool below. There’s another, larger and more popular pool on the fourth floor that’s sunny and surrounded by sun loungers. Continue reading →

Coconut Park: From kids to clubbers, there’s something for everyone

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Susan Haythorpe

If you’ve yet to discover the diverse delights of Coconut Park, the school holidays are the time to do it. This refreshingly green and peaceful landscaped park on the banks of the Bassac River on Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich, next door to the DIB Club pool complex, is a welcome escape from the bustling city, with enough going on to keep the family suitably entertained for hours.

Refreshingly green at Coconut Park, Phnom Penh.

Imaginatively developed some four years ago by landowner Canadia Group in conjunction with T3 Architects, and using local materials, the eco-friendly project has matured into a haven of lush lawns, tropical flora, and an undulating rustic walkway among which nestle fun play parks, a state of the art roller dome, a kids craft centre, mountain bike hire, a spacious cafe and restaurant, and even a high-end night club. Continue reading →

Making a splash: Garden City Water Park, Phnom Penh

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Susan Haythorpe

It’s hard to imagine a more fun way to cool off in the Kingdom than at Garden City Water Park, a mega complex of pools, slides, flumes and other water-based excitement a forty minutes or so car ride from Phnom Penh city center. But it’s true: Garden City Water Park is a wild, wet and a wonderful family day out.

Making a splash! Garden City Water Park is a wild, wet and a wonderful family day out.

The park spans seven hectares of land not far from the new Morodok Techo National Stadium and has activities to satisfy all age groups, as our multi-generational family group can happily testify. Nicely landscaped with a nod to Cambodian culture and with separate areas for different levels of activity, it’s an altogether impressive operation: clean; professional; well-equipped with changing and other facilities; and with ample friendly staff and lifeguards on hand to show visitors the ropes and ensure the safety of all concerned. Continue reading →

A fine blend of coffee and conservation: The Vann Molyvann house turned Brown Coffee

Posted on June 16, 2025 by Susan Haythorpe

For years an architectural gem has lain empty and overlooked on Mao Tse Tung Boulevard near Tuol Tom Pong. Now entrepreneurial Cambodian coffee chain Brown has stepped in to save the former Vann Molyvann house, securing the future of a valuable piece of the city’s built heritage and creating a stunning new venue in the process.

The Vann Molyvann house, rescued from destruction.

The house was built in 1966 as the home and workshop of Vann Molyvann, the revered Cambodian architect behind the capital’s iconic Independence Monument, whose modernist vision created a new physical landscape for post-colonial Phnom Penh. Brown’s architects have carried out a careful, creative and contemporary restoration of the too-long unloved property, with the support of the Molyvann family and the Vann Molyvann Project , the organization dedicated to documenting and promoting the architect’s heritage. Continue reading →

See the Eiffel Tower in Phnom Penh

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Lina Goldberg

Have you ever wanted to go on a European holiday but balked at the cost? Have you felt compelled to expose your children to European culture, but shuddered at the thought of taking them on a long-haul flight? You’re in luck because some intrepid developer has created a miniature Europe (and a bit of Australia) in a Phnom Penh suburb. Best of all? It’s completely free.

Skip the long-haul flights and head to Euro Park for your next European vacation.

PH Euro Park was brought to you by the geniuses at Peng Huoth Group, a property development firm who recognized the value of having an upscale leafy suburb close to the city, and outdid themselves by adding a pint-sized Eiffel Tower, among other things. The development is located along National Road 1, about a 20-minute drive from BKK1. It’s called ‘Star Platinum Euro Ville’ and features six-bedroom villas, but the truly unique selling point is the Euro Park, which is open to the public. Continue reading →

Shopping malls, Phnom Penh-style

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Susan Haythorpe

When I first came to Phnom Penh in 2012 the nearest equivalent to a shopping mall was the Sorya Shopping Center (not to be confused with Golden Sorya Mall, which wasn’t a shopping mall either but a now-defunct, distinctly sleazy ‘pub street’). Sorya was more like an indoor market hall but it had Cambodia’s first escalator and that alone qualified it as a futuristic shopping experience by the capital’s standards of the time. Twelve years on and the retail landscape has been transformed as Phnom Penh embraces mall culture with zeal.

Aeon shopping mall Phnom Penh

The original Aeon Mall in 2014 was Cambodia’s first “real” mall.

Japanese retail giant Aeon led the way in 2014 with the opening of its first Aeon Mall on Sothearos Boulevard. Locals approached it with eager curiosity while expats cheered the arrival of brands like Mango, Daiso, and Lock ‘n’ Lock and the chance to shop in air-conditioned comfort. This medium-sized mall has since been expanded and revamped and remains the most convenient location in central Phnom Penh to meet your shopping needs. Customers can shop international names like H & M, Nine West, Ecco, Superdry, and Decathlon; an increasing number of upmarket brands like Coach, Michael Kors, and Tommy Hilfiger; and a wealth of sports retailers including Adidas, ASICS, Puma, and New Balance. Nojima has an excellent range of phones and home electrical appliances large and small; there are optical services; pharmacies, and beauty stores; and a very popular World Dining food court on the ground floor. Lively Plaza lives up to its name with regular promotions and activities and of course there’s loads of parking for those ginormous SUVs. Continue reading →

Six of the best places to satisfy your sweet tooth in Phnom Penh

Posted on March 14, 2025 by Susan Haythorpe

There’s no shortage of treats in Phnom Penh for those who want to have their cake (and eat it). From street food to fancy French patisseries, there’s a sugar rush waiting to happen in just about every corner of the capital.  If cakes are your thing as they are mine, these are some of the places you need to know about.

The showstoppers from Love & Cakes just might be too beautiful to eat.

 Love & Cakes

Elena Tumanova is the confectioner par excellence behind this exceptional home bakery where each cake and cookie is a work of art. You name it, Elena and her team will bake it — and present it so beautifully you hardly dare eat it. From madeleines and marshmallows to bento cake boxes and beautiful occasion cakes. Hand-rolled mochi is a melt-in the-mouth speciality. Contact them via facebook or WhatsApp (+855 96 978 8955) to make your order. Continue reading →